Quote: morrisseyisawire "Well, Rhys to second row is a new one. Quite how a player who can't bust a tackle in the centres is going to cope in the maelstrom of the pack is an interesting one. I don't know how Joe Philbin would feel if we whipped out the shoehorn again and prised either Evans or Atkins into the second row, but pretty hacked off probably covers it.
Please, [iplease [/i let's have the players in the right positions. Putting you on the wing doesn't make you a winger, any more than popping a skullcap on your head makes you a prop. If messrs Russell, Atkins & Evans are not going to excel any longer in their natural positions (FB and centre respecitively) then they become squad players or move on.
Gidley and Ratchford are exceptions as they have been utility players for most of their career, and are capable of outstanding performances in many positions, but putting players in positions they are not suited to, comfortable with, naturally gifted at or have the physical and mental prowess to adapt to, does them, and the team, a massive disservice.'"
I agree Evans is no Currie or Bateman who can side step and then power thru a defensive line - but neither is Hughes or most of the other 2nd rowers in the Superleague (which is why Currie & Bateman are the stand out 2nd rowers in Superleague)
Evans is a solid defender with a good first contact tackle who makes decent yards when carrying the ball - very much in the young Westwood mould. Its quite obvious he isn't a natural centre so the options available are Squad player (dual reg) keep him where he played in 2016 get rid or utilise him in a new position at least until Currie is available