Absolutely...so you at last acknowledge the problem

Yes Watkins needs to be "coached" that it's sometimes better not to try the fancy pass and take the tackle.....but I'd rather him in the side than bluddy Senior who again was totally anonymous/lazy. At the very least Watkins should swap positions with the way-passed-his-we-told-you-so-best. I do then pity Hardaker WHO DOES DESERVE BETTER ....a real talent it would appear, at risk of having his confidence battered by a lazy past it centre who will leave him to do all the defending.

Watkins is our future left centre....so why hold him back in favour of sentiment ?

because senior can actually defend?

this he's playing on the wrong side is total crap!! heck lee smith is a fullback but he would of stopped both those tries.

Where was he when Wellens scored or when Shenton outjumped Hall??
The meli try was a mismatch that close to the line and which other trys were Watkins fault?
I did'nt see yer post praising him last week for his defensive efforts or quality play with the ball so does that indicate your on a witch hunt to blame a kid for a teams failings?.

his out the back flick is becoming predictable....it won't be long before it starts getting picked off

He’s young and impetuous, trying the things he got away with in the Academy which only occasionally come off at SL level.
He has bags of potential and once he’s learnt what his limitations are he’ll be worth all the mistakes he’s currently making.

There's more chance of him joining BJB in suffering another extensive injury lay-off than learning how to defend properly.

I hate the fact that he goes for the flashy flicks when a normal pass would suffice. His carry of the ball is loose and he also seems to feel the need to unload it when it's blatantly not on. If we can channel his potential there is a future International in there, but I fear without the correct guidance he'll turn into a show pony.

I think that Lee Smith, even on post RU form which has been uninspiring to say the least, is a better centre than either of the 2 on show last night.

how tall is he?....what would he look like 15-20kg heavier?



it's a really bugbare with me that our england 3/4's,while a similar height, are nowhere near the same weight as the aussies and kiwis... it annoys me that kids roughly the same height and weight as the likes of inglis & hodges get shunted into the 2nd row...my mates 17 year old son is at huddersfield (nathan mason), he's 6'5",lean,athletic and quick...he's every bit the 'down under style' we need...but he's stuckin the 2nd row...its wrong!

We have a 6'3" second rower stuck at left centre.

In Watkins' case I'd agree that bulking up may help him - another 5-10 kg of muscle wouldn't do much harm IMO, with a possible loss of pace more than compensated for if he feels more confident in collisions.

I'd take issue with the idea that centres can play right and left with ease. Most are definitely better on one side than the other - including the best Australians/Kiwis. Les Dyl was a left centre, Garry Schofield a right centre, Paul Newlove left, Connolly right, Inglis left - the list goes on. Centres who can play both sides equally well are very rare.

Senior has always been a better left centre than right. I'd prefer him to be exposed on that side than Watkins (if Senior isn't performing its unfair to have Watkins play on his wrong side) if we have to, but if Lee Smith is fit I'd put him in there. He'll never be a great centre but he did a good enough job for a year to suggest he's a better bet than the alternatives.

Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't it Watkins who twice got back to save certain tries against Salford last week? One especially stood out when he took the ball off the guy as he was about to go under the sticks.

Now I know that was only Salford but he's not exactly awful! Young, improving with game time and a great prospect.

These weaknesses in Watkins game that posters now appear to be waking up to (ball watching defender, inability to keep in defensive formation, loose carry, poor concentration) have all been there from the beginning of his 1st grade career (and highlighted previously) except perhaps on those occasions he's been pressed into service on the wing.

When bodies allow (Smith's hamstring or even Delaney) I'd be tempted to give him a run there to gain some confidence.

The obvious flaws and the failure to address them must be casting some doubt on his immediate future in the centre and if they aren't what are the coaches watching.

While those deficiencies you highlight can all be worked on, I would argue that his game more naturally suits wing than centre at the moment anyway. If him and Smith are to play on the same side they would be somewhat interchangeable. A tough decision to be made.

I'd be reluctant to play Delaney there as I think our pack is crying out for him - if fit my back 3 would be Delaney, Clarkson, Ablett with Weller and Ali demoted to the bench

I would agree with the back 3 there. Only seen Delaney there for one game but he had good go forward, and from his comments he seems to like the back row and tougher side of the game in the forwards. and both Hauraki and ali look better impact coming from the bench