Re: what positions are our weakest? : Fri Oct 06, 2023 10:22 am  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

So looking something like:-

Dufty
Ashton
King
Tai
Thewlis
Williams
Drinkwater
Harrison
Walker
Vaughan
Fitzgibbon
Currie
Nicohlson

Musgrove
Philbin
Kasiano/Bullock
Ratchford

I’ve left off Wrench and Dudson as they’re rumoured to be going to Widnes on loan.

Mmmm I can't see that side winning the GF in all honesty but we should be more competitive. We need to sort the scrum half position. Also is Crowther dropped to squad player now? I am secretly hoping that Sam can work on Bullock. There is a good prop forward in there somewhere.

Re: what positions are our weakest? : Fri Oct 06, 2023 10:39 am  

Wires71 wrote:

Mmmm I can't see that side winning the GF in all honesty but we should be more competitive. We need to sort the scrum half position. Also is Crowther dropped to squad player now? I am secretly hoping that Sam can work on Bullock. There is a good prop forward in there somewhere.

Shame for Wrench, as he seems to be the only one in the backline who can beat a man or break a tackle. But he obviously doesn't bring to the team what someone like Mata'utia did. Whatever that was, because I never saw it.

Re: what positions are our weakest? : Fri Oct 06, 2023 10:41 am  

Bullock has been a good signing - definitely an even better prop hiding in there - he could be excellent.
Hayes needs to be given a good run in the side - I think he'd dovetail nicely with Williams.
Moving Drinkwater and (possibly) Kasiano on would be good.
I'm hoping King and Tai are fighting for a centre spot as Wrench has kicked on and holding down the other...he has the ability.

RL is heavily decided on simply who runs/defends the hardest - this is the side of the game where I'm hoping Burgess makes the most difference.

Re: what positions are our weakest? : Fri Oct 06, 2023 10:44 am  

ratticusfinch wrote:

RL is heavily decided on simply who runs/defends the hardest - this is the side of the game where I'm hoping Burgess makes the most difference.

Yes. Will to win, desire, determination, guile, bending rules. This is where we are very weak and I hope Sam can fix it. I can't see him accepting less than 100%. If the players pull a "Wakefield" I can imagine him battering them.

Re: what positions are our weakest? : Fri Oct 06, 2023 10:46 am  

Wires71 wrote:

Mmmm I can't see that side winning the GF in all honesty but we should be more competitive. We need to sort the scrum half position. Also is Crowther dropped to squad player now? I am secretly hoping that Sam can work on Bullock. There is a good prop forward in there somewhere.

Few things I'd say I'd probably start with Musgrove. It would be Bullock for me and I'd expect Hayes to get game time this year.

It's a strong starting 17, it's better than this year and it's not always the starting 17 which makes the GF I'm happier we have some depth.

I think you also have to look in the context of our rivals. Wigan in a reversal to previous years seem to have a strong pack but look thinner in the backs than previous years. Saints need to address their Centre and Wing positions the integration of Clark and the squad generally aging. Catalan have wholesale changes and are a bit of an unknown. Leigh I think may suffer a little from second season and will see if they can maintain. Hull KR (this years GF winners) will struggle to maintain this year's success. Leeds are again an unknown but if they get their act together who knows.

Re: what positions are our weakest? : Fri Oct 06, 2023 10:52 am  

easyWire wrote:

Shame for Wrench, as he seems to be the only one in the backline who can beat a man or break a tackle. But he obviously doesn't bring to the team what someone like Mata'utia did. Whatever that was, because I never saw it.

Dufty is second in the league for tackle busts and both Ashton and to a slightly lesser extent Thewlis are easily capable of beating men inside or outside.

I always said I think Wrench will be Wire right winger in the future and in the meantime is Centre/Wing cover for injuries/lack of form.

Re: what positions are our weakest? : Fri Oct 06, 2023 10:58 am  

Bunkaib wrote:

Dufty is second in the league for tackle busts and both Ashton and to a slightly lesser extent Thewlis are easily capable of beating men inside or outside.

I always said I think Wrench will be Wire right winger in the future and in the meantime is Centre/Wing cover for injuries/lack of form.

Sorry, I meant back line as in 'threequarters' rather than including Dufty, who is probably easily top line breaker.

I think Wrench's step, swerve and passing ability is too good for him to be on the wing. Wasted opportunity. Maybe I don't know what sort of attitude he has in training though.

Re: what positions are our weakest? : Fri Oct 06, 2023 11:05 am  

easyWire wrote:

Sorry, I meant back line as in 'threequarters' rather than including Dufty, who is probably easily top line breaker.

I think Wrench's step, swerve and passing ability is too good for him to be on the wing. Wasted opportunity. Maybe I don't know what sort of attitude he has in training though.

Cool, I think step and swerve is just as important for wingers, but I agree his passing has come on leaps and bounds. I want him to do well at Warrington and be part of the team for years to come. Tai is a bit of an unknown and who knows what King we will get, if Connor Wrench finishes next season as dream team centre and has it nailed for the future I'd be well happy.

Re: what positions are our weakest? : Fri Oct 06, 2023 12:10 pm  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

I’m just going off what Abe said.

Abe mentioned Dudson, Hayes, Thomas & Holroyd. to Widnes, unless a missed a later post?

Re: what positions are our weakest? : Fri Oct 06, 2023 2:27 pm  

Alffi_7 wrote:

Abe mentioned Dudson, Hayes, Thomas & Holroyd. to Widnes, unless a missed a later post?

Apologies. I'd seen it posted somewhere and thought Abe has said it. I've just checked the recruitment thread and he hadn't.