Speedsters : Tue Nov 29, 2016 7:22 am  

With all the talk of props nobody picked up on something else CC said.

He stated that MCB was faster than TJ but then qualified if as under 40 metres.

For starters this is just plain good news, two speedsters on the books. Also bragging rights will keep them motivated.

The really interesting bit was the 40 meters suggesting TJ could do the full distance which is by far the rarer of the two. No offence to MCB but there are a lot of 40 metre pace men but very few like TJ with after burners that allow him to go all the way, we really are lucky here.

Also CC heavily emphasised that MCB could play centre which is what I personally thought would be the case. If so pacy line up if you add in BJB and Gibson who can also motor as can Jowitt.

Happy days hopefully.

Re: Speedsters : Tue Nov 29, 2016 7:31 am  

vastman wrote:

With all the talk of props nobody picked up on something else CC said.

He stated that MCB was faster than TJ but then qualified if as under 40 metres.

For starters this is just plain good news, two speedsters on the books. Also bragging rights will keep them motivated.

The really interesting bit was the 40 meters suggesting TJ could do the full distance which is by far the rarer of the two. No offence to MCB but there are a lot of 40 metre pace men but very few like TJ with after burners that allow him to go all the way, we really are lucky here.

Also CC heavily emphasised that MCB could play centre which is what I personally thought would be the case. If so pacy line up if you add in BJB and Gibson who can also motor as can Jowitt.

Happy days hopefully.

In all my day s watching this club, this is the first time we have had a genuinely quick back line. In fact I would put them against any squad in SL - it's just not us.

We have had some good wingers, but we have relied more on strength than pace, with the odd speedster over time.

When we have had them, we have failed miserably to release them. Paul Sampson being a case in point, but you could also pick Andrew Frew and even Jon Wells who scored tries for fun until they came to Wakey. So the challenge this year is to give them those half chances that they can put away. The 2 centres that I think can do that job best are Gibson and Arundel, but I'm hoping that Williams will miss them out on occasion!

Exciting prospect!

Re: Speedsters : Tue Nov 29, 2016 8:04 am  

TRB wrote:

In all my day s watching this club, this is the first time we have had a genuinely quick back line. In fact I would put them against any squad in SL - it's just not us.

We have had some good wingers, but we have relied more on strength than pace, with the odd speedster over time.

When we have had them, we have failed miserably to release them. Paul Sampson being a case in point, but you could also pick Andrew Frew and even Jon Wells who scored tries for fun until they came to Wakey. So the challenge this year is to give them those half chances that they can put away. The 2 centres that I think can do that job best are Gibson and Arundel, but I'm hoping that Williams will miss them out on occasion!

Exciting prospect!

I agree though I'd swap Lyne for Arundel.

I've not been working much recently and I've also bought myself an Amozon Firestick. This means I've watched endless YouTube videos from evert game over the lat two years plus any featuring our new recruits. I've probably watched more footage than CC and JK combined!

Lyne is a poor defender though improved but his attacking game is a lot better than folk think. He actually draws the winger and releases the ball a bit of a lost arc. It's probably Lynes last chance season to fulfill his potential or go. But it's there it really is he just needs to recognise it himself. He's quick and strong and quite brave but he just takes to many wrong options yet he offers more imho than Arundel.

That said they will pick Tupou every time because he's powerful and runs the ball out strongly.

Re: Speedsters : Tue Nov 29, 2016 8:27 am  

Yes, there is definately pace in our backs.

Weve mentioned Caton Brown, Johsntone, and Bishop, but I think all the other players in our back line have pace.

Think with Lynes defence, it is more positionai than anything. According to the Super League stats website I saw a few stats regarding some of our players who played centre in 2017 on tackles made and missed.

Arundel Tackles 331, missed tackles 25
Lyne 255 tackles, missed tackles 14
Bill Tupou 192 tackles, missed tackles 22

I didnt put Hall in, as he is no longer with the club, and didnt put Browns in as he was at Salford, and there could be a different dynamic.

Looking at the above, don't think he is any worse than anyone else. Tupou won't have played as many games so his tackle count was lower, but missed more tackles, than Lyne.

Re: Speedsters : Tue Nov 29, 2016 8:28 am  

vastman wrote:

I agree though I'd swap Lyne for Arundel.

I've not been working much recently and I've also bought myself an Amozon Firestick. This means I've watched endless YouTube videos from evert game over the lat two years plus any featuring our new recruits. I've probably watched more footage than CC and JK combined!

Lyne is a poor defender though improved but his attacking game is a lot better than folk think. He actually draws the winger and releases the ball a bit of a lost arc. It's probably Lynes last chance season to fulfill his potential or go. But it's there it really is he just needs to recognise it himself. He's quick and strong and quite brave but he just takes to many wrong options yet he offers more imho than Arundel.

That said they will pick Tupou every time because he's powerful and runs the ball out strongly.

Lyne is a very popular member of the squad, but the one who released Johnstone the most is Arundel and I reckon he's under-rated for that.

I never know what to do with Tupou. I reckon he's the most athletic player on the books - big, strong, fast - but he doesn't have any subtelty. I agree though, he will play centre most games most likely.

Re: Speedsters : Tue Nov 29, 2016 8:36 am  

Yes, I do think Arundel is under rated.

With Brown coming in, I think it is a big year for our centres to prove themselves, Gibson, Arundel and Lyne all off contract at the end of this year, and I think all with something to prove. None of them I dont think are poor, and I feel that some are better at certain skills than others, and where they are lacking in one skill, make up for in another.

Yes, I'm not too sure yet about Bill Tupou, expected a few more tries if I'm being honest, but his try at Catalans was one of the best of the season by anyone at the club, so I am hoping it may just kick start him on a little.

Re: Speedsters : Tue Nov 29, 2016 9:14 am  

Maybe if we dont acquire a backrower before start of season Tupou will cover there if need be?

Re: Speedsters : Tue Nov 29, 2016 9:32 am  

It's easy to forget how impressive Gibson was at centre before that horrible injury; if he comes back and picks up where he left off, we'll have some exciting options at centre for next season.

Re: Speedsters : Tue Nov 29, 2016 9:49 am  

Eastern Wildcat wrote:

Yes, there is definately pace in our backs.

Weve mentioned Caton Brown, Johsntone, and Bishop, but I think all the other players in our back line have pace.

Think with Lynes defence, it is more positionai than anything. According to the Super League stats website I saw a few stats regarding some of our players who played centre in 2017 on tackles made and missed.

Arundel Tackles 331, missed tackles 25
Lyne 255 tackles, missed tackles 14
Bill Tupou 192 tackles, missed tackles 22

I didnt put Hall in, as he is no longer with the club, and didnt put Browns in as he was at Salford, and there could be a different dynamic.

Looking at the above, don't think he is any worse than anyone else. Tupou won't have played as many games so his tackle count was lower, but missed more tackles, than Lyne.

Arundel. Tackles. 331 missed. 24/7%
Lyne Tackles 255 missed 33/12%
Tupou. Tackles 192 missed. 20/10%

Re: Speedsters : Tue Nov 29, 2016 12:11 pm  

bren2k wrote:

It's easy to forget how impressive Gibson was at centre before that horrible injury; if he comes back and picks up where he left off, we'll have some exciting options at centre for next season.

He's classy but fragile which is why most Coaches I'm guessing will go for Arundel and Tupou.