I’ve lauded Hill I think he’s going to be a hell of a player but I’ve also noticed a few posts about Eseh almost as if he’s a bit of a project signing.

Eseh was really pushing for contention at a genuine member of the top 17 squad. His injury came at a really bad time and it’s almost as if he has become a bit of a forgotten man.

I can assure you, when he is fit Sam will be pushing for a genuine place in the 17. He offers something totally different to our other props as he is a natural off-loader.

He became a solid target last year after our home game against Trinity when he had a bit of a running tussle with Isa and came out on top. The lad is the real deal.

The key for us is having a plan around all these props because they are all SL ready and they need managing. Thankfully that is something we have been very good at but I do see the age and number of talented young props we have as our greatest test of how good we actually are at it.

For me, the only players who should be allowed to speak to or approach the ref are the captains

I’d love to know if Thewlis actually had an issue. On the replay Lisone seemed to miss him completely but maybe O’Connor got a piece of him in the front on challenge. Either way, lads running in and Williams running towards the referee for a guy trying to put a shot on is ridiculous. Williams was vocal on the disciplinary but he can’t have it all ways and that goes for the players in general. They think the disciplinary are OTT (and they’re right) but they’re also prepared to roll over and play dead, scream at the referee etc and try to get players sin binned/sent off.

For sure Hill is already beyond "prospect" and looking like a reliable prop. He was immense in the Academy and Reserves and has developed physically this off-season. Scarily, he has not had the opportunity to really show his great footwork and passing just yet. Usually props are in their mid-20s before having the necessary strength to play every week - Harvie seems to be there already.

Well done to the club for having a really good age profile for the props, perhaps with Cooper approaching retirement and Hill just beginning and plenty inbetween.!

Totally agree, and so prospect is probably not quite the right word. But the ceiling of what he could be in five or six years is scary to think.

Correct. I think you have to laud the young players' mentality at our club too. They are obviously being taught and told when their time will come and patience will pay off. Hopefully there is a big poster of Matty Nicholson in the youth dressing room with text underneath along the lines of 'This is what happens when you chase the money, no more big contracts and no honours, just another painter and decorator who used to play a bit'