Re: WESTERMAN SIGNING CONFIRMED : Thu Oct 28, 2010 12:12 pm  

PAUL M wrote:

I tend to think it's a position we do need to strengthen. In order to play more exciting rugby and look more dangerous in attack we need a more traditional 13. There is Whiting although he has never been tried there so we don't know about him and there is also Washy who seems to me like he will now be the backup hooker to Houghton. For me the key pivots are 1, 6, 7, 9 and 13 and our starting players in those positions are all quality players and british, Tansey, Horne, Long, Houghton and Westerman. We do need cover for the halves and we need good recruitment next year for the haklves but players like Tansey and Westerman will be crucial in our style of play assuming we are trying to change it.

Is right mate, well said. Cracking signing and anyone thinking different needs to wake up. There's a lot of quality in them positions you've mentioned too mate, all English quality. I'm delighted with this signing, seen the rumours on here for a while just glad they came through. I can't understand why anyone is questioning the transfer fee paid either, if it is £150,00 it's nothing, it's not like we can't afford it. The lad's only 20, he has a very bright career ahead (I'm delighted it'll be with us) and bags of talent, he couldn't want to play with a better group right now and he will flourish under fitzy's guidance.

Why are we trying to give him a new position on here. Agar has paid a nice transfer fee, chased him for a considerable time I would imagine and brought him in now so he can work under/with Fitz, surely there's no way he'll play anywhere else other than 13 unless for cover.

Re: WESTERMAN SIGNING CONFIRMED : Thu Oct 28, 2010 12:12 pm  

Hutchie wrote:

I would say Burnett and wouldnt be suprised to see him leave this off season

I wouldn't be surprised either, but he's not kicked on enough, TBH. And he still gives away far too many penalties too.

Re: WESTERMAN SIGNING CONFIRMED : Thu Oct 28, 2010 12:14 pm  

carl_spackler wrote:

There are always certain moves that would just have too much fallout for clubs to sanction though. With Chase being their talisman now, unless he tells Cas he wants out I don't think they can afford to do it. Could be a catastrophic reaction from their fans.

It's a bit like us and a slightly different situation. We desperately need a halfback more than anything else, and there's a certain somebody available, but we still shouldn't possibly entertain the notion under any circumstances.

If a lack of cash causes them to put in a substandard franchise application then they won't keep hold of him in NL1 anyway. The long term future of their club would be more important than hanging onto Chase for another season. This is all hypothetical to an extent but if the money is right then no player is ever not for sale.

Re: WESTERMAN SIGNING CONFIRMED : Thu Oct 28, 2010 12:16 pm  

If rovelli is signed then I see no choice other than to loan out Washbrook and Burnett for the duration of their final year.

Re: WESTERMAN SIGNING CONFIRMED : Thu Oct 28, 2010 12:19 pm  

carl_spackler wrote:

I wouldn't be surprised either, but he's not kicked on enough, TBH. And he still gives away far too many penalties too.

Burnett is a frustrating one. Always had the strength and skill to make it but has had a very average 2010. Either needs to kick on big style pre-season for 2011 or be loaned out for 12 months to develop.

Re: WESTERMAN SIGNING CONFIRMED : Thu Oct 28, 2010 12:21 pm  

Robbo4 wrote:

If a lack of cash causes them to put in a substandard franchise application then they won't keep hold of him in NL1 anyway. The long term future of their club would be more important than hanging onto Chase for another season. This is all hypothetical to an extent but if the money is right then no player is ever not for sale.

Whilst I can see what you're saying, I just think that letting Chase go could be at least as damaging to their chances. They're always defensively suspect with the way they play. If you then also take their most creative player out of the side on the back of their best strike player (Shenton), they could end up rooted to the bottom of the table.

Losing Chase would have the most impact on their side out of their entire squad IMO, so they'd be better off losing 2 or even 3 others than him. So we'd probably need them to have no other options before they'd consider it, and there's always going to be some interest in others (as we've just proved).

Re: WESTERMAN SIGNING CONFIRMED : Thu Oct 28, 2010 12:22 pm  

PAUL M wrote:

The one player who is now under threat is Washy imo. Whiting will be our utility player and should we sign an overseas half who can cover 6,7, & 9 then it leaves Washy as a fringe player.

I can see our bench being one of two options - 2 x props/backrow/overseas half

Or with Fitz likely to play the full 80 mins - prop/utility/backrow/overseas half

I'd go with:-

Tansey
Sharp
Berrigan
Yeaman
Briscoe
Horne
Long
O'Meeley
Houghton
Fitzgibbon
Tickle
Manu
Westerman

Moa
Whiting/Radford - Depdending if we need a 2nd prop or not
Lauaki
Rovelli - hooker cover unless injuries to 6/7

Whiting
Moa
Radford
Lauaki

As things stand now:
If needed I think Whiting may go to centre while Berrigan spells Houghton.

I could even see Turner being on the bench before Washy, unless Turner gets loaned out.

Re: WESTERMAN SIGNING CONFIRMED : Thu Oct 28, 2010 12:23 pm  

Big Dave T wrote:

I dont disagree. The one problem though is that Whiting has spoken about this himself previously but doesnt seem able to put the weight on.

I agree. But I also think he'd need to put some weight on to play LF, I don't think he could take the punishment for 80 minutes as he is now. So the problem is present regardless of which way we'd like to go.

Re: WESTERMAN SIGNING CONFIRMED : Thu Oct 28, 2010 12:24 pm  

B0NES wrote:

If rovelli is signed then I see no choice other than to loan out Washbrook and Burnett for the duration of their final year.

As i said earlier, we should of just thrown Washy in as part of the deal, Assuming he's happy to go, of course. Burnett won't make the grade in SL IMO. Last year was his chance, we now have 2-3 youngsters who can back up, if needed.

Re: WESTERMAN SIGNING CONFIRMED : Thu Oct 28, 2010 12:27 pm  

east hull FC fan wrote:

As i said earlier, we should of just thrown Washy in as part of the deal, Assuming he's happy to go, of course. Burnett won't make the grade in SL IMO. Last year was his chance, we now have 2-3 youngsters who can back up, if needed.

It's getting to the point now where he may have to be loaned out to prove his worth because he won't get many more in the first team. As you say there are a few youngsters who can back up so Burnett's best chances may have come and gone.