The season is not over yet. The team can still make the playoffs if the will is there.

There is a definite need to get rid of Lovell, with his turnstile defence. But apart from that the building blocks are there. What the team showed against Wigan in the first half would be sufficient to make the top 8. But it is up to the coach and the players to get an 80 minute winning mentality.

too early in the morning for me, but you carry on

If you think the Broncos have any chance of finishingin the top 8 your living on fantasy island.

Here is an interesting idea.

Everyone complains that London lacks quality centres. Actually I know of one whom everyone seems to have forgotten. His name is Tony Clubb. This young man actually played in the centre position for England. Maybe that makes him good enough to be a centre for London? It would certainly stiffen both the attack and defence in that position. Fewer tries scored against London, and maybe more scored by London.

Here s a possible London backline in which Tony Clubb is used in the centres:

Robertson

Colbon, Clubb, Howell/Hurst, Dixon

Dorn
Gower


Clubb could be the great spine stiffener that sets London on the path to greater success, and helps London to realise its potential to be a top 8 side.

*Checks OP's username*

*Leaves thread*

Clubb has been out with a virus for two months, do keep up!

Is that a virus that attacks the defensive system?

Hello Jean,

In theory the club could choose any two from Howell, McMeeken, Hurst, Lovell, O'Callaghan, Sarginson, Grady, Channing and Clubb given that all have experience in the centres.

Clubb, Grady, McMeeken and Lovell are power based centres whilst Channing, Hurst, Howell, Sarginson and O'Callaghan rely more on technique and elusiveness. So there are options.

However only Clubb and Sarginson have a demonstratable scoring record.

Most of these names are unproven whilst Howell has had two seasons with 0 tries and 3 tries and O'C has only scored 18 times in nearly 90 games, making little case for their inclusion.

When you look at the very limited talent pool of English centres throughout Super League and perhaps more importantly with the lack of proven ability at our club, I can understand Jean's point about Clubby returning to his previous position as a Centre Threequarter.

He is a great attacking threat with deceptive pace, the desire to crash through anyone else to get to the line and looked like he could be a modern day senior.

However, I felt that Clubby looked exposed in defense towards the end of his spell in the backs.

An unsuccessful partnership with his winger where has was covering too much field and rarely playing in his wing man seemed to be the main problems

With someone like Colbon as a wing man and a good tackler at full back then he could be tried once again.

I would go with a back line of Robertson, Dixon, Sarginson, Clubb, Colbon, Dorn and Gower. My forwards would be Wheeldon, Lee, Bryant, Rodney, Grady and Bailey. Bench: Kaufusi, Fisher, Melling, Cook.

Cheers
Rammo

No Randall

Did Howell not score at the end of last year?

Agreed, both very elusive. When there's defending to be done, there's no sign of them!

Maybe it is you who needs to keep up

Hi Wire,

Howell scored just eight Super League tries between 2010 and 2012, with a 5, 0 and 3 contribution. He looked a bit better for a brief period last season.

O'Callaghan has 14 Super League tries from 81 games. He must have the worst win percentage in the competition with 15 wins from 81 games.

By comparison Clubb has 46 tries from 145 first class games - which includes many games as a forward/interchange player - and Sarginson 11 from 28 games.

I would not select Randall because he has poor statistical performances in that has missed over 250 tackles since the start of the 2011 season - about 1 in 5 of all attempted tackles - creates relatively few tries, only a handful per season and none this year and hardly ever scores, plus has only made 27 metres a game so far this season. I do not see what he offers in attack - I do not expect a James Roby, but this is exceptionally poor.

My thinking on the team Jean is that, given their previous strike rates, you'd be expecting about 10 tries per Clubb and Sarginson per season and a similar number from Colbon whilst both Dixon and Robertson would weigh in with around a try every two games, so this could take us to around 55-60 tries. Dorn could be scoring another 15 or so and perhaps about 5 from Gower would see us getting about 80ish, or at least three tries per game from the backs.

Just one try from the forwards per game and a 75% kicking rate would see us with 22 points or more per game and give us a chance some of the time.

Some of the more dubious defenders would obviously leak tries at an alarming rate but I think this keeps most of the weaker defenders out of the squad.

Cheers
Rammo