Quote: McClennan "How many games has he played at first grade? IIRC he didn't appear once last year and yet you're suggesting that with a bit of work on the weights he can step in the place of a relatively seasoned pro. Crazy idea. There's every chance he may get a break or force his way into the team and he may do that next year. However I'm not prepared to take that chance on the back of a hunch that extra weight will render him more effective and more game aware than a guy who has played in four consecutive Grand Finals.
I won't argue with the choice of Lomax because he's already shown he has some potential at first grade. If we'd have thrown Lomax in at the start of last year it would also have been crazy. You can't just throw youngsters to the lions especially when the terraces are full of bloodthirsty Romans waiting to jump on who they deem to be the next expendable slave to our cause.'"
I agree with the reasoning behind what you are saying but is that not what we have done this year with many of the kids? including Armstrong in a similar position, albeit due to more pressing reasons i.e. Meli being ridiculously stranded at home?
I merely picked Foster based on his reputation as expressed to me by people within the club and his abilities at centre. I find this no more or less crazy than us giving Armstrong the spot in the first 4 games or Wheeler the starting birth on the wing as we did in the following game against Salford. As I stated I would have named Armstrong in my lineup ahead of him based on his showings at the start of this year, but for his allegedly being loaned out.
My comments about Foster's weight etc were put in to suggest that
physically his size is similar to Ade's though admittedly he was lighter weight this year, which i believe has been cited as 1 of the reasons he hasn't been used this year since the preseason games. I was by no means suggesting that a bit of gym work could replace years of 1st grade experience, i'm not
that naive.
That said TBH I couldn't care less about Ade having four consecutive Grand Final appearances under his belt if he has underperformed in the last 3 and for most of the past season. Bryn has played in 2 consecutive Grand Finals now and many would happily replace him with Frodsham next year providing he grows some. And lest we forget the familiar fact that Rickey Bibey has two challenge cup medals in his collection, the point being that these achievements stand for nowt if their contribution to the team throughout the year is minimal and could potentially be replicated by someone with much less experience.
