[sizeNobody ever expects Kevin Sinfield[/size


...To sign.


*I'll get my coat...

Wouldn't mind us taking a punt at that Hauraki top be honest, I still think we need one more decent prop.

Congrats smithy!!! 50 pages great off season entertainment!!

now let's see if it can run to 1,000 posts before chrimbo lol

Just my opinion founded upon my observations of what is required to be a champion side in rugby league. That is, 4 decent props.

so who is the player that was rumourd with then am confused

Who are we talking about and where has this come from just a wishful post on your part??

Mate, me and you must enjoy a different type of RL, as I'd rather have x3 Peter Williams than 3 more props, champion side or not.

But the old style of RL simply wouldn't work in the modern era. The players are too fit, the defensive lines too organised and the overall game too physical for the free passing, care free style of days gone by. That's not to say that the good passing, free running, exciting RL doesn't have a place in the modern game. Hell no. It just means that you have to earn the right to play through gaining dominance, momentum and a platform to exhibit your skills. This is why it's important to have a decent set of props. You're team could be full of Peter Williams's, but it'd be useless in the modern era! Yoo know, there's some scientific research conducted on the amount of pressure generated in a collision between two prop forwards running at full tilt. The pressure was equal to that generated when a Nissan Micra hit's an 80kg object at 30mph. (Citation needed) I.e., it'd be like being hit by a Nissan Micra travelling at 30mph!!! Ouch!

Backs score points but forwards win games.

Just a wishful post, I think bringing in a decent prop, and using Leo Latu at exchange hooker for the last 20 of each half and having M.Smith in the hooker role when Leo Latu is off would be worth a try, that is if we have Ratchford playing in a covering position so when Smith covers at Hooker Ratchford can cover in the halves.

RP, you are probably right in saying that the old style of RL wouldn't get the job done in today's modern game.
Sad, but probably true.
I enjoy the collision, the power and fitness levels, and the defensive attributes of the whole squad are far greater than they used to be (more accurately, than they needed to be), but I fear that the game as a whole is becoming too much of a science with the packs hammering away at each other until one of them submits.
God forbid that our game ever becomes as forward dominated as the terrible spectacle that is RU.
I'm no expert (and don't all shout "we know" as one), but who's to say the modern coaches' idea of RL is any more, if infact as, entertaining as the game of the 70's and 80's ?
My ideal free flowing game involving fast, smart, creative centres may well be a thing of the past. Sadly, I don't think we'll see the likes of the brilliant Paul Newlove again.
Definitely a loss to the entertainment value of the game, and certainly a shame that the younger RL fan may never get to see what I am referring to.

I agree with red preacher, you need to earn the right to play, build a platform to attack from and control the ebb n flow of the game, you get your forward going forward and you can do almost anything off the back of it.

Thats how the ozzies will get the results in the tri nations, good teams dont necessally have the biggest or the strongest set of forwards they just know who to give the ball to at the right time its not always about getting the short gain.

Feka for example for wigan wasnt used in every set as a battering ram, he'd run wide sometimes 3rd reciever, sometimes he'd be a late dummy runner the defence would have to stand allowing s tomkins to probe the edges.
I love attacking flair rugby but there is a time and a place for it preferably when your 3 scores clear and your deep in their half. Other wise play your set out force an error, keep your disaplin and sqeeze the life out them.

As for other signings to come its all smoke and mirrors i recon smithys mole knew he'd blabb eventually and sold him a dud so they could seal the deal on their number one target, we'll have to wait n see now if it occurs.

What a shame that the last four or five posts from the optimist, JJ and Red Preacher could get lost in this thread, some great and well made points that have me remembering some really good open play, and as for Peter Williams, he was a player, IMO one of the finest ball players we've had at the Willows. Happy days!!

Would a Nissan Micra count on the overseas quota? It would certainly be a lot cheaper than a decent Superleague prop and it could go for the full 80 without an interchange, or would it? Acceleration could be a bit of a problem? The RL could introduce a new honour to run alongside The Man Of Steel Award . . 'The Scrap Steel Award!