inside_man wrote:
Again, I don't see the need. He'll be a first team prop, so who out of Fielden/Lima/Mossop/Prescott would you leave out?
But if we're going to be after a new prop, let's not get one who's 30 and will demand a good wage. Lima + Fielden can provide the old heads, and Prescott isn't exactly inexperienced!
I can see the angle you're coming from, but look at it another way. The current situation we're in we're missing Coley and Fielden. So next season say the same happens and we find ourselves missing Fielden and Lima. That just leaves Prescott and Mossop. Gareth Hock might have to fill in at prop and Dom Crosby would earn a bench spot, but someone would have to cover at second row to replace Hock etc Our depth is severely depleted with Joel Tomkins (centre) Hoffman and Coley (leaving) out of the pack. Signing Griffin makes sense for me. This year we have five senior props competing for four places - an ideal position.
The argument that people can throw back at you is that we should give Dom Crosby and Ben Davies the chance. Hard to come back to that, but it's difficult for young props to perform consistently in Super League. Ben Davies last season looked out of his depth for example and he's one of the most promising English forwards according to many people. I think young props you have to persist with. Paul Prescott an excellent example. A few years ago we were debating whether he had a future at Wigan and now we'd all be happy to see him tied down on a long-term deal! Dual registration for Ben Davies (21) and Dom Crosby (19, 20?) for another couple of seasons as they both mature and get accustomed to playing against bigger opposition than in the U20's.
As for Griffin's age well that doesn't concern me as a prop. He's the right side of 30 and props tend to reach their peak around this age. He's come into international honours and is doing an excellent job with Huddersfield so there's no doubt about his performance levels. His injury record is good as far as I'm aware. His wage will be covered with Andy Coley and Ryan Hoffman leaving the pack. We'll have plenty of space on the salary cap.
I'd be very pleased if we signed him on a two-year deal.
