: Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:12 pm  

fazwigan4eva wrote:

Thats more like it

Thanks for correcting me, silly mistake

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:35 pm  

kirkamania6 wrote:

Thanks for correcting me, silly mistake

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:18 pm  

Mathers, Phelps, Coley and Bailey should all be shown the door by the club at the end of the year and hopefully us sign say 2 class players to replace them and leave the other couple of spots for some of the youngsters to move up the ladder.

None of those 4 players are good enough.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:40 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Mathers, Phelps, Coley and Bailey should all be shown the door by the club at the end of the year and hopefully us sign say 2 class players to replace them and leave the other couple of spots for some of the youngsters to move up the ladder.

None of those 4 players are good enough.

Spot on and Im not sure some of the others are up to it either.

I dont see the point of us signing Roberts tbh we need good centres not good wingers, your solid proof is at saints with Gidley and Gardner.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:59 pm  

A centre should be a priority for next year imo(along with a 6 and a prop). I like Carmont and he's doing a solid job as ever but the right side is obvioulsy an issue.

As for Roberts he's been a mixed bag so far but all players need time to settle and he'll prove to be a shrewd move in the long run. He is able to play centre apparantly and looking at the try he set up for Pryce on Friday maybe we should give him a shot there.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:03 pm  

We should give Amos Roberts more time before we make any rash judgements. He's come at the club carrying an injury so hasn't had a proper pre-season and hasn't really hit the ground running yet because of it but neither did Pat Richards straight away.

He's been moved from winger to fullback in his first two games which wont have helped but in fairness apart from the Wakefield game I haven't seen too much wrong with him. He had a decent game against Castleford which is encouraging and I'm sure there is a lot more to come from him this season.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:09 pm  

odemwingie wrote:

All the players mentioned are overseas though, lets play Tomkins and some of our other young players and then maybe get one overseas player with experience.

There is nothing wrong with signing overseas players as long as they are of the right quality.

Cameron Phelps and Phil Bailey are examples of players who are not up to the standard expected of our overseas recruits.

Trent Barrett on the other hand is an example of a player who is good enough. Pat Richards and Feka Paleaasina are further examples.

I agree lets give Sam Tomkins games and let the young lads have their chance but lets not put a ban on all overseas signings yet either because although our recruits have been poor they can be pivital players to a side and can bring something to a side that no englishman can.

People automatically assume that just because a club signs an overseas player it means that a younger lad will not be getting a chance. Well that's not entirely true because if the recruitment is right an overseas player covers a position that clubs are unable to fill with their academy players or current english players.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:18 pm  

Cadoo! wrote:

There is nothing wrong with signing overseas players as long as they are of the right quality.

Cameron Phelps and Phil Bailey are examples of players who are not up to the standard expected of our overseas recruits.

Trent Barrett on the other hand is an example of a player who is good enough. Pat Richards and Feka Paleaasina are further examples.

I agree lets give Sam Tomkins games and let the young lads have their chance but lets not put a ban on all overseas signings yet either because although our recruits have been poor they can be pivital players to a side and can bring something to a side that no englishman can.

People automatically assume that just because a club signs an overseas player it means that a younger lad will not be getting a chance. Well that's not entirely true because if the recruitment is right an overseas player covers a position that clubs are unable to fill with their academy players or current english players.

I would rather see an English league with English players, I am sick of all the overseas players, even if they are class. I say 3 per team maximum. We would improve if they lowered the amount of overseas payers you can have as we have a good reserve team and academy. I know what your saying, but its just personal opinion, I would rather go to watch our local talent, but I suppose the odd Trent Barret wont be a problem though

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:37 pm  

kirkamania6 wrote:

Matt Orford could turn out to be another Phil Bailey. He is nearly 31, would want a rather large salary, could just be looking for a holiday, although if he did come to play rugby instead of a holiday he would be a great addition and it would be great for him to partner and mentor Sam Tomkins in the halves

I don't think Matt Orford will be anything like Phil Bailey. Matt Orford is a world class player who has a big reputation in the NRL. Phil Bailey is neither a world class player and I don't remember him coming over with any reputation.

Matt Orford has also won the Dally M Medal, the greatest individual honour in Australian rugby league.

Another Phil Bailey?

The last bit of the post you've quoted is the way I see it. He has captained Manly Sea Eagles to a premiership and will be 31 and played well over 200 NRL games. So already he will bring two things we're lacking. Leadership and experience. As you mentioned he will be a fantastic mentor to Sam Tomkins and could form a really good partnership with the lad.

I see Tommy Leuluai as a hooker if we did sign him which would give us a quality 6 , 7 and 9. Something which I don't think we've had since 2002.

So let's say we didn't get a fullback for 2010 and just bought a top class prop forward and stand off.

Pat Richards
Amos Roberts
Karl Pryce/Darrell Goulding
George Carmont
Sean Ainscough

Sam Tomkins
Matt Orford

Andy Lynch/Luke Bailey
Thomas Leuluai
Stuart Fielden

Sean O'loughlin
Gareth Hock

Joel Tomkins

---------------------------------------------------

Feka Paleaasina
Mark Riddell/Michael McIlorum
Paul Prescott/Eamon O'carroll
Harrison Hansen/Lee Mossop

So that would mean we would have released - Mathers, Bailey, Phelps, Smith and Coley.

And brought in Andy Lynch and Matt Orford. (Only one aussie )

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:07 pm  

cadoo wrote:

I don't think Matt Orford will be anything like Phil Bailey. Matt Orford is a world class player who has a big reputation in the NRL. Phil Bailey is neither a world class player and I don't remember him coming over with any reputation.

Matt Orford has also won the Dally M Medal, the greatest individual honour in Australian rugby league.

Another Phil Bailey?

The last bit of the post you've quoted is the way I see it. He has captained Manly Sea Eagles to a premiership and will be 31 and played well over 200 NRL games. So already he will bring two things we're lacking. Leadership and experience. As you mentioned he will be a fantastic mentor to Sam Tomkins and could form a really good partnership with the lad.

I see Tommy Leuluai as a hooker if we did sign him which would give us a quality 6 , 7 and 9. Something which I don't think we've had since 2002.

So let's say we didn't get a fullback for 2010 and just bought a top class prop forward and stand off.

Pat Richards
Amos Roberts
Karl Pryce/Darrell Goulding
George Carmont
Sean Ainscough

Sam Tomkins
Matt Orford

Andy Lynch/Luke Bailey
Thomas Leuluai
Stuart Fielden

Sean O'loughlin
Gareth Hock

Joel Tomkins

---------------------------------------------------

Feka Paleaasina
Mark Riddell/Michael McIlorum
Paul Prescott/Eamon O'carroll
Harrison Hansen/Lee Mossop

So that would mean we would have released - Mathers, Bailey, Phelps, Smith and Coley.

And brought in Andy Lynch and Matt Orford. (Only one aussie )

That should be the strategy although i’d like Smith to stay pairing Sam at HB. I just feel he's a natural 7 and that’s were we'll see the best of him as we did last year with Barrett. Sam has a natural running game where Smith is the ultimate organiser and has excellent distribution. It could defiantly work like Long and Pryce together or Burrows and McGuire. A good organiser/kicker/passer at 7 with a ball running 6 is the best option we need. Shame Noble doesn’t have a clue when It comes to backs tho.

I'd still get a top class centre and maybe let Carmont go if it means getting a top quality one. Goulding or Pryce would be good enough to pair a true world class centre imo just as Talau was with Lyon and Gidley or Toopi with Senior. Only one of centres have to be world class and the other just has to be a good solid player.

Btw there are three quality centres that could be available next season

SBW
Gasnier
Hape

All three aren't hitting the heights you’d expect in Union and it's very foreseeable we could tempt one. I’d take all of them but in the order above.