Re: Williams : Fri Jun 29, 2018 12:45 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Our halfback doesn't have to be British, just pointing out that he's no different to 99% of the other British halfbacks who come through the systems in this country. Plus its getting increasingly difficult to attract top quality Australians.

Widdop is a good all rounder but came through an Australian youth system. I would say Jake Connor and Danny Richardson have the potential to develop an all round game in the future. But maybe we have to accept that the players available to us in that position will inevitably have weaknesses. Point illustrated by us playing Johnny Lomax at 7 for England - another player with little pace. As well as being a poor defender - see NZs first try.

I don't think the answer is with any of our current HBs, as I pointed out they have glaring issues with their game. I like Williams and think he will develop his all-round game. Not convinced with Woods (he's not suddenly going to get any faster) Powell or as discussed Matty Smith.

Re: Williams : Fri Jun 29, 2018 12:49 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

I don't think the answer is with any of our current HBs, as I pointed out they have glaring issues with their game. I like Williams and think he will develop his all-round game. Not convinced with Woods (he's not suddenly going to get any faster) Powell or as discussed Matty Smith.

I wonder if Woods will eventually fill out (or bulk up) and make a loose forward. He has a decent passing and kicking game but I do feel his lack of pace (and that's being kind) will prevent him being a top class half.

Re: Williams : Fri Jun 29, 2018 12:50 pm  

Criticising half-backs for not being as good as Shaun Johnson is a bit daft. Do Latics fans complain their players are not as good as Lionel Messi?

Woods can neither be cemented into the team, mor written off, on the basis of a couple of games. But the lad is growing in confidence and provides a welcome option in the halves.

Re: Williams : Fri Jun 29, 2018 1:00 pm  

moto748 wrote:

Criticising half-backs for not being as good as Shaun Johnson is a bit daft. Do Latics fans complain their players are not as good as Lionel Messi?

Woods can neither be cemented into the team, mor written off, on the basis of a couple of games. But the lad is growing in confidence and provides a welcome option in the halves.

Who ever compared him to Shaun Johnson?

Re: Williams : Fri Jun 29, 2018 1:02 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I wonder if Woods will eventually fill out (or bulk up) and make a loose forward. He has a decent passing and kicking game but I do feel his lack of pace (and that's being kind) will prevent him being a top class half.

It's a fair suggestion. Would make a skilful link man. I saw someone compare him to Kevin Brown; which I feel is a fairly good assessment/likeness for his abilities. When I saw him play, I feel his attributes would be better suited to a RU 10. Closer skillset to that of George Ford.

Re: Williams : Fri Jun 29, 2018 1:41 pm  

From the east stand he looked very much like kevin brown!

Re: Williams : Fri Jun 29, 2018 1:49 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I wonder if Woods will eventually fill out (or bulk up) and make a loose forward. He has a decent passing and kicking game but I do feel his lack of pace (and that's being kind) will prevent him being a top class half.

I said the same thing to my sons last night.
His lack of pace will probably mean he will struggle to maintain a first team place in SL which would be a great pity.
Did he play in the forwards at anytime before he became a full time pro??

Re: Williams : Fri Jun 29, 2018 4:12 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Woods only carried the ball four times for a total of six metres!! If we wanted someone to just pass and kick we may as well as kept Matty Smith. Last nights half back pairing must have been the slowest for Wigan since Dave Walsh and Adrian Foster.

He picked the ball up over 10 metres from Leeds line for his try so unless he went backwards during his other three carries the superleague site is off.

He looks to have a good running threat to me. I’ve seen him start games at Hull KR in the cup and then Leeds in the league recently and he’s scored a good individual try in both and in his limited carries he’s looked a threat. Yes he’s not the quickest but with pace in the halves alongside him via Williams and speed all around him in the team via Davies, Marshall, Gildart, Hardaker (next year)etc then I think we can afford somebody pulling the strings who isn’t lightning quick.

Will he ever be absolute top class with that lack of pace? Probably not but in this current superleague you don’t really need to be.

Re: Williams : Fri Jun 29, 2018 7:28 pm  

Lack of pace hasn’t stopped Powell being named at half back consistently.

Sinfield was a good half as well later on when he was slow.

Sneyd as well is probably the slowest player at Hull.

Re: Williams : Fri Jun 29, 2018 7:34 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Yet from those four carries he made one half break and one break for his try. Two more breaks than Smith in literally any game. I also seriously doubt Smith could have made some of those passes last night. Plus he's only made a handful of appearances and still has some physical development to go.

Its a relative weakness absolutely but he has great qualities and hopefully there is scope for improvement in his running game.

Im not suggesting Woods is in Williams' league but I enjoyed the skilful passing of Woods last night far more than Iv enjoyed Williams running around like a headless chicken in some games this year.

Yeah the criticism of Woods today is incredible.

He came in last night and looked incredibly composed. He's clearly got very good hands and a strong kicking game.

So he can't convert a half break into a pitch length try like Albert Kelly - so what? He controlled his side of the field, set up a couple of tries WITH PASSES and actually scored one himself.

I'll take that every week, thanks.

And yes he does look like Kevin Brown!