We signed Westwood as a centre too, I remember Plange saying he was the next Keith Senior. He'd had 2 and a half years as a fairly unremarkable centre/winger before starting the 2005 season on the bench after we signed Gleeson and Toa. I think it was an eye injury to Paul Noone that left us short of forwards so Cullen stuck him in the second row, and he never looked back.

As it took injuries and random luck for us to stumble on him as a forward, it may well have happened had he stayed at Wakey, possibly sooner, given that they had thin squads.

What I remember from the time we signed him was him being compared (negatively) to Ellis as a centre, and the Wakey fans being quick to tell us that we'd "signed the wrong one" and calling him Ben Deadwood, bit like the Salford fans laughed when we signed Myler that the true talent was really Ratchford.

Quote: Wanderer "You're correct, he came through amateur RL in the Leeds area and then the Leeds Rhinos Academy. He had a loan spell with Warrington (2002) before breaking into the Rhinos first team.'" https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/ne ... ng-rarely/

Quote: Wanderer "You're correct, he came through amateur RL in the Leeds area and then the Leeds Rhinos Academy. He had a loan spell with Warrington (2002) before breaking into the Rhinos first team.'" https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/ne ... ng-rarely/

I'd much prefer "Hilly & Cooper, Sami Kibula, bibberty bobberty boo."

there's a very fine line between appearing to be in the know, and an ego massage. Some walk that fine line like a ed up rodeo clown.

Inglis to second row maybe...

No GI will be centre all day. King can play back row and cover off the bench.

The problem with buying Inglis is that whilst it will be a big crowd pleaser, it brings problems for the coach in picking a side. At centre he displaces King and Keanan Brand whilst in the BR you would need to choose either Hughes or Currie to step back with no opportunity for eg Livett (if he returns) or Robson. Inglis is an exciting signing, but a commercial one taken no doubt by our CEO.

You talk about it as though those players you name will bring as much to the side as Inglis.

Even if Inglis is only 50-60% of his full talent, then he walks into any SL side.

Your problem with the other players becomes irrelevent. It simply means a coach has to tell them to be professional enough to play for the remaining places in the side.

s

Yes, there is no doubt that wherever he plays he will strengthen the side. And I agree all players need to be challenged to fight for places. But I would say the weakness in the current squad lies with Latu, Akauola, Davis, Luis Jonson, Kibula and to a lesser extent Jason Clark (so far this year). Add in an ageing Hill and Cooper and you have a strong argument to spend good money on a top class prop.

If Johnson is fit ,Ratchford will need to be found a starting place as well.

(the electrifying player we signed from Swinton )

Obviously I don't know the details of Inglis' deal but all the talk has been that he's not on massive money. If that's the case then he's an oportunistic, rather than a targeted, signing but one well worth the risk.

It doesn't alter the fact that we are short in the pack, specifically at prop, but I'm sure that we're still working on that. The problem, as has already been pointed out further up the thread, is that there simply aren't that many good props around. Cooper is a home grown talent and Hill was an exceptional find but pickings have been somewhat slim since then. Akauola frustrates, Latu has all the hallmarks of a panic buy and Kibula was a questionable signing who looks as though he's here to play in the reserves.

I think that Lewis Johnson (SR) is the player furthest away from fitness. Assuming that all the other players missing from round 7 are ready to return (Hughes, Ashton and Dean) then I think that the starting lineup, 1 to 13, for round 8 will pretty well be according to squad number with Jason Clark and Joe Philbin on the bench. After that, has Latu done enough in training to get a spot on the bench ahead of Akauola and is Ashton fit enough to take the last spot ahead of Mamo? Whatever happens for the next game all of the squad should get a chance over the coming weeks.

I think you mean Ashon.

Injuries will happen in 2020. It’ll not be a huge concern. King will learn more from GI. Playing 2nd fiddle for while is a small price to pay for such investment. Look what Johns did for Briers game.
It’s not ruled out completely that GI might do 2 seasons yet. You’re a long time retired and GI has a stuck his big toe there once.