Am I being a bit thick here but why didn't we give Burrell a try in the front row? 19st sat on the bench when we needed some beef.

What's the worst that could have happened?

Thoughts?

He will get shagged out faster than sita and the opposition will tear him a new one as he's lay on the groubs gasping

He'd have been gassed faster than sita. In the future maybe, I'm interested to see what Burrell is like after a full pre season and with the new less Conservative e rugby that Steve price is definitely going to deliver next season.

A RU centre is all about big strong lads running onto ball in a bit of space and blitzing the defensive line. In between they pop over to the dug out, have a cup and tea and do the Sudoku puzzle in the paper. Its no surprise that Burrell is a bit puffed after a few minutes playing RL and he will not get the space he is used to either. Perhaps he will surprise us and get sufficiently fit and elusive to play centre, but I would have thought he was more likely to end up in the second row. Prop ? no, I think that's unlikely.

I can't see him as a backrower either W/O.
I'd have been tempted to play him as a winger like Lineham in a couple of games? He can run the ball in as a forward but also get some width he requires in expanse.

He's like the RL version of Burgess in Union...square peg in a triangular hole.

Burgess would have been great if England had picked him at 6. He was one of England’s better players 4 years ago against Wales.
Burgess is a world leading talent. Burrell was a bog standard prem rugby union centre. Hopefully a full pre season will sort him out.

On paper I still think second row is his most likely position.

Do we have a front row? ... watching the NRL GF it would be dream to have enforcer type prop like Papalii or JWH

The next 5 months are the key to his next 3 or 4 years. If he doesn't "hit the ground running", come March April May, he might as well go back to rah rah.
He's been with the side for 3 months or so, and he looks no more a RL player than an Olympic swimmer does. If he doesn't buck his ideas up, he'll be the biggest flop since Dick Fosbury

From what I've seen of the fella, he looks lost, almost like a YTS lad on his first day at his new job (has someone sent him out for a long stand, yet?).
He's a centre, that's where it begins and ends. He doesn't look the type to be a 60+ minute second rower. Prop? No chance.. "Ball player?" We'll wait and see.

I want the fella to do very well, but from what I've seen, I ain't holding my breath

If the service, or rather distinct lack of service, our threequarters get is evidence of the amount of time they get with coaches or the coaches view of their roles, I'm not suprised he is struggling.

Given our more experienced backs look likey they've never played the game half the time I'm amazed Burrell doesn't think passing to his winger is illegal.

Get on the phone to Allan Bateman and give him four months - King & Gelling would learn plenty too.

Bateman was a polar opposite to the modern RL centre. He was a stepper, a good pair of hands, and, for his weight, a tremendous defender.

I'm not sure what he could say to the modern centre, bar 'are you sure second row isnt your position?'.....

Jared waerea-hargreaves Would be a great addition to our Squad next year, i'd definately throw a contract at him. He's won a grand final 3 times and played for New Zealand etc so might be tempted by a new challenge?
Burrell i would like to see in the Front row, he's a big unit and i think the speed of league at centre is too much for him. I'm excited to see what he does next year after a full pre-season and like Lefty said i hope he does really well for us, i've got high hopes for him

Front row and Burrell are two distinct issues for me.

Is there really a place for Burrell next season bar back up wing? I don’t think so.

I think we got to much money tied up in our ageing front row without the value.
Time to offload one of the props while there is a fee possibility, and invest in a couple of hungry youngsters.
Hill has got a nice line in toilets in his showrooms tho.

he is probably more a modern day winger, than a prop.

He’ll be more of a modern day water carrier next year, just not seeing it. I’m sure he will play a fair few games as he suits our slow sloppy and boring style of play.

i think you have to give a former RU player a full 12 months before judging him.

It was the same back in the day... all those great RU converts were rubbish for ages.

its been so long since RL took some talent from RU, we dont know what the yardstick is anymore.

I certainly wont be writing this signing off before he has had 12-18 months here.... Any experience he has got from the game this season, is just a bonus really.