: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:08 pm  

odemwingie wrote:

He played Coyle against Leeds so he should play Tomkins, he would do better than Smith.

IIRC there was a game at Leeds last year when Sam could have been played. He wasn't.

I think the kid did fantastic tonight, give him another chance, but both he and Ainscough looked as if they picked up knocks / bangs. I'll de wishing for more of the same next week, I like my trips to Headingley, although the last was for cricket!

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:10 pm  

endoman wrote:

IIRC there was a game at Leeds last year when Sam could have been played. He wasn't.

I think the kid did fantastic tonight, give him another chance, but both he and Ainscough looked as if they picked up knocks / bangs. I'll de wishing for more of the same next week, I like my trips to Headingley, although the last was for cricket!

They shouldnt be given chances, they should be given first team rugby. They have proved they can cut it at first team level. They should be on a par with the rest of the squad now and picked on form as Nobby said would happen.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:11 pm  

Thats exactly it, kids struggle for consistency and Tomkins so far is excellent while smith has struggled. It's about competition for places and Smith will come good no doubt. Our squad depth looks very good, it's taken a good few years for Noble to stamp his mark and I think this is the first year in a long time where we're in with a sniff come October.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:14 pm  

NickNJ wrote:

Thats exactly it, kids struggle for consistency and Tomkins so far is excellent while smith has struggled. It's about competition for places and Smith will come good no doubt. Our squad depth looks very good, it's taken a good few years for Noble to stamp his mark and I think this is the first year in a long time where we're in with a sniff come October.

We have been last 2 years also, we need to get into the top 2 and thats not gonna happen this year.

All the problems or rather some of them are not solved just because we have had one good performance, we still have so many average players.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:16 pm  

NickNJ wrote:

Thats exactly it, kids struggle for consistency and Tomkins so far is excellent while smith has struggled. It's about competition for places and Smith will come good no doubt. Our squad depth looks very good, it's taken a good few years for Noble to stamp his mark and I think this is the first year in a long time where we're in with a sniff come October.

IMO we've always been in with a sniff in the past 2 seasons, all we've lacked is that extra umph to get us there. Let's not start getting carried away, after all it was just one game, one good performance.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:17 pm  

Sam should be one of the first players down on the team sheet for Leeds, he has proved he can handle super league and we have looked so much better when he’s on the pitch. If he’s not picked I will question Nobles choice and expect an answer.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:18 pm  

odemwingie wrote:

We have been last 2 years also, we need to get into the top 2 and thats not gonna happen this year.

All the problems or rather some of them are not solved just because we have had one good performance, we still have so many average players.

I think those average players ie. Mathers, Coley, Smith, Phelps will find themselves more and more in the reserve team squad, with well deserving youngsters having thier chance.

Sam and Ainscough have proved its achievable, now lets see the others force their way into the first team.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:19 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

I don't believe in burn-out so I ain't buying into that. They play for their places, if and when Sam has a quieter game (which believe it or not will happen) and Smith is "on-fire" for the reserves then Smith would deserve a shot back in the first team.

Noble has quite clearly said he will pick on form. Therefore Tomkins and Ainscough for the forseeable future should be in the first team.

I respect your view but dont agree about burn out. Even the legend S Edwards was eased into the game at wing.

Alex Ferguson eases youngsters into football to avoid burn out and that is football. Rugby is far more brutal. Too many forwards running at Sam wll take its toll.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:22 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

I think those average players ie. Mathers, Coley, Smith, Phelps will find themselves more and more in the reserve team squad, with well deserving youngsters having thier chance.

Sam and Ainscough have proved its achievable, now lets see the others force their way into the first team.

We need to get rid of them and replace them all with 1-2 world class players who could make a difference, we could then use our young players as replacements when injuries occur, we would then get to see the best players earlier.

Imagine is players like Ainscough and Tomkins had been given a chance last year when we were struggling instead of signing Smith and Phelps.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:26 pm  

EastStandFaithful wrote:

I respect your view but dont agree about burn out. Even the legend S Edwards was eased into the game at wing.

Alex Ferguson eases youngsters into football to avoid burn out and that is football. Rugby is far more brutal. Too many forwards running at Sam wll take its toll.

But wasn't he eased into the game when we had good half backs already. Sam ia head and shoulders above Smith at the moment.