Roby only really moved to a halfback role when Lomax went off, didn't he?

I wanted to imply that I think Wheeler can be as good a centre for us as a 5/8, but we don't seem to get as much ball to that channel as you'd think, given were playing some pretty good rugby.

Wheeler is getting just over 7 carries per game and Shenton just over 9. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011

Wheeler is getting just over 7 carries per game and Shenton just over 9. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011

Quote BackrowSaint="BackrowSaint"Wheeler is getting just over 7 carries per game and Shenton just over 9. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011'" [url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics_player.php?hs1=2011&hp1=4873&hs2=2011&hp2=2919&stat=errors&season=2011Compare that to (randomly selected) Kris Welham and Leroy Cudjoe[/url,who both have over 11. Or [url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics_player.php?hs1=2011&hp1=229&hs2=2011&hp2=2596&stat=errors&season=2011Yeaman and Carmont,[/url with well over 10. Plus, I reckon at least 3 of Shenton's were from dummy half, which isn't really the type of possession we're talking about.

Quote BackrowSaint="BackrowSaint"Wheeler is getting just over 7 carries per game and Shenton just over 9. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011'" [url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics_player.php?hs1=2011&hp1=4873&hs2=2011&hp2=2919&stat=errors&season=2011Compare that to (randomly selected) Kris Welham and Leroy Cudjoe[/url,who both have over 11. Or [url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics_player.php?hs1=2011&hp1=229&hs2=2011&hp2=2596&stat=errors&season=2011Yeaman and Carmont,[/url with well over 10. Plus, I reckon at least 3 of Shenton's were from dummy half, which isn't really the type of possession we're talking about.

agreed, shenton has started to drift inside looking for work, which is brilliant of him, i just wish he didnt have to

I'm pretty sure it will come, but its odd that,given the entertaining level of rugby and the 4 good results we've had, our centres don't seem to get and awful lot of ball in their proper channel.

To be fair the "entertaining" rugby doesn't have much to do with shifting the ball wide, more quick PTBs and offloading up the middle. Not really any different to how we've played for years now, I don't see a huge difference in style to be honest, although we have a bit more pace to make it count.

Although Roby's obviously still one of our main threats, more seems to be going on from around 1st receiver than last, even if it is still forward orentated.
I hope this doesn't mean we've fallen into the trap of just bullying lesser teams and are due a hiding off the tough run we've got coming up!?

Well, there must be something going out wide because both our wingers scored on Friday; Foster scored twice, didn't he? (I've lost track of our tries!) All our backline scored in fact. When was the last time that happened? (Not sure whether Wheeler was playing at centre when he scored, though, but he was officially centre for that match anyway!)

I think our distribution outwide has been limited in part by our inexperienced halves. They have had to play off Roby as he has the experience. We've been going left for weeks now and I think that's the same issue. Hopefully as the season progresses, presuming we manage to obtain that elusive settled team, we will see our outside backs on both sides becoming more involved.

This season Foster has 7 (Although the Super League site thinks its 6), Wellens and Gardner both on 6 and Meli has 4.

That suggests to me that the ball is going out wide but sweeping moves are perhaps missing out our centres at times.

To be fair, I tend to discount games like at the weekend against a dreadful Wakefield side. Our wingers scored a fair few tries in similar results last season, but we weren't a team that shifted the ball wide much, and we still aren't in my opinion.



Agree with that - but everything we do well is happening up the middle of the park still - we have benefitted hugely from the return of quicker PTB's, which hampered us big time in recent years. Roby is destroying teams with a little more space and time.

Can't wait to see us get something resembling our first choice side out, will be a hell of a line up.

I didn't think Wakey were dreadful, actually. I think Bradford were, but not Wakey. Wakey lacked quality halves and experience, but they worked their butts off. Their goal line defence when the game was well and truly out of their reach was very impressive; they were just fooled in the end. But I get your point. However, even though what you say is probably the best way of viewing things, it still gives an idea of the style we are playing.


At this rate we might just see that at some point next season!

If Wheeler gets a dozen games under his belt he'll be a completely different player. He's been patiently serving his time as a rookie and now only a touch of under-confidence (and rust) is hindering his transformation into a fully developed SL player.