Quote: Cherry_Warrior "Itchy and Juke i agree with you both on points raised but at this stage, we are top of the league, and i suppose it's all a bit relative.
Itchy i agree and have always been an advocate of having a utility player on the bench, similar to what Wire do with Ratchford when they have a full strength side. I also agree Isa hasn't pulled any trees up but his endeavour holds him in good stead. However endeavour doesn't win you games, having a utility player such as him in the squad can only be a good thing. We also have the nice selection problem of what happens if we have a full strength side. We have 3 SL class second rowers in Farrell, Bateman and Tomkins. We also could put Bateman at 13 in the absence of Lockers (but he might not be injured again) We have people who can do the centre spots. My personal opinion is that it should be Gelling and Gildart but will probably be Gelling and Sarginson but then we have J.Tomkins, Bateman and Isa who can fill in here. It's a nice selection headache when fully fit. I think Isa would be better as an impact player who can cover a few positions rather than a starting spot and we also have Gregson who is obviously wet behind the ears but has huge potential, Higginson can only get better, Let's be fair he was good at going forward but got caught out of position a lot, Similar to Gildart last season, but games can only improve that.
Juke i agree that you was alluding to. Have we played 2010 vintage? no of course not but we are doing enough at this stage. We are always late bloomers and to be in the position we are now has to be a bonus and with Sam's imminent return it is going to strike fear into the opposition and they won't know if we are coming or going. We will have the pacey Williams running things from 6. We will have the mellowed Smith having a lot more time to make decisions at 7 and we will have an (hopefully) full of beans Sam back at 1. There isn't one team in the league that will want to face that. It will be like Jeckyll & Hyde all going in the same direction and a puzzle for other coaches to suss out. I think we are in a good position and it will only get better. Matty Smith has been disappointing on the whole since he signed but he could well end up being one of the most influential players we have signed. I believe it so but only time will tell to see if i am right or not.'"
I don't really go with the "impact" player. I can count on one hand the number of players who really do make an impact on a regular coming off the bench. I want my starting 13 to be my best 13 players and ideally baring injuries I want them all to play 80 minutes.
My biggest criticism of our set up is that we do nothing different and have nothing differnt on the bench when things don't "go to plan". It drives me mad when we kick high to the wings on the last tackle on virtually every occassion even when we have the shortest winger in comp playing.
By the way for entertainment the 2012 season takes some beating and for me was better than 2010.
