Expecting a big night from Ryan tonight

Oh right.

If only there was already a thread concerning Rocky that you could have posted this comment in.

This post has nothing to do with Hampshires face not fitting

I was going to start a thread on him this morning so I'll use this one. I expect to get flayed for this, but I fail to see what lifts him from mediocre to almost God like to many on here. He linked up well for one of the tries admittedly but his kick off was a howler and immediately put Wakey on the front foot, he got in the way of Burgess trying to diffuse a bomb and threw a couple of Gellingesque passes. True, he did manage to catch the one bomb aimed at him (one of their downfield kicks cleared him by 20 metres) but it was in perfect conditions and he still ended up facing his own posts.
Was he in the same Academy side as Burgess and Manfredi? I know he came through with Williams. All 3 look far superior to me and, personally, should Bowen return I don't think we would be too worse off.
I hope any responses are reasoned because I think he is worthy of a debate rather than adulation at this stage. Shaun Wane has been cautious in introducing him and I for one can fully understand why. Next season he doesn't get in for me, injuries notwithstanding.
I'll finish by saying I sincerely hope I have mucho egg on my face at the end of the season!

He was the one I think most was expected of as a junior. But it wouldn't be the first time such hopes came to nothing.

However, I think he should be given more time to prove himself yet. Plus, as others will no doubt say, his preferred position was stand off, not full back.

His looming problem for next season is that both slots will be more than adequately filled if Williams continues to improve. I know Matty Smith should be involved in the mix too but IMO he is safe until someone else develops a kicking game.

I thought the stage was set for a big performance yesterday but he produced the worst performance in our back line.I have yet to see anything which says he is going to be a future superstar but I don't watch the junior games so I'm only judging him on his performances at full back this year and the few he's had previously.
There are however people on this forum whos opinions I do respect and if he becomes anywhere near the player they say he can,we have a superstar on our hands but I do think a lot of people are jumping on the bandwagon and regurgitating other people's opinions of him.

I think many of us can see huge potential when it all clicks. I would have thought that you can't entirely judge a player until they have a few dozen games under their belt, and Rocky is short of that. The key thing is whether he can spot and remedy his weaknesses (with help from the coaches). He can run like the wind and has a great pass on him - his link work is much better than Bowen's. He looks shaky or invisible under the high ball, and makes errors of judgement. Give him a long enough run before writing him off. If he was safe as houses but couldn't run or pass he wouldn't be worth the effort - you can learn one, but only god gives out the other.

I thought his decision making was poor last night, although you could say that about half the team.

I have to say that I've yet to see him live up to some of the OTT fuss on here and elsewhere. Williams is improving and growing into the role but I don't see that yet with Hampshire - granted it's probably not his preferred position.

ATEOTD he's not a 1. His biggest weaknesses are catching high balls which doesn't lend itself to that position.

He's been no worse playing out of position than what Williams has been out of position at 6. Let's not sugar coat how bad Williams was at the start of the season either.

I have zero idea what Wane was on when he decided Williams (a talented 7) should play at 6 and Hampshire a talented 6 should play at 1.

In the modern game, in our structures, what's the difference between 6 and 7?

I must be watching a different Ryan Hampshire, I think he'll be a superstar for years to come. Having said that I would re-jig the team next season by using Smith as a bench hooker and playing Hampshire and Williams on the halves

Quote: jinkin jimmy "I was going to start a thread on him this morning so I'll use this one. I expect to get flayed for this, but I fail to see what lifts him from mediocre to almost God like to many on here. He linked up well for one of the tries admittedly but his kick off was a howler and immediately put Wakey on the front foot, he got in the way of Burgess trying to diffuse a bomb and threw a couple of Gellingesque passes. True, he did manage to catch the one bomb aimed at him (one of their downfield kicks cleared him by 20 metres) but it was in perfect conditions and he still ended up facing his own posts. Was he in the same Academy side as Burgess and Manfredi? I know he came through with Williams. All 3 look far superior to me and, personally, should Bowen return I don't think we would be too worse off. I hope any responses are reasoned because I think he is worthy of a debate rather than adulation at this stage. Shaun Wane has been cautious in introducing him and I for one can fully understand why. Next season he doesn't get in for me, injuries notwithstanding. I'll finish by saying I sincerely hope I have mucho egg on my face at the end of the season!'" Young players have average games and that's normal. Hampshires preferred position is at #6 but at present he is the best #1 at the club on current form. The kick off was a non event, the problem was the misread / communication between Gelling and Smith or was it just a superb pass, I guess the two coaches will have different views of it. He didn't have any effect on the Burgess miss catch. Burgess had his eyes on the ball all the time and Hampshire ran the block, just an error. I will agree on the flick pass out of the back of the hand, it's a great play when it comes off (v Saints to Charnley a couple of years back) but it's high risk and sometimes the straightforward pass through the hands is a better option. Overall I don't think he had a poor game, but not a great one either. Wane will be fuming over that try just before half time. About 1min 30 to go and Gelling loses the ball, but Wakefield were still 80 metres from our line. Then we give away two soft penalties and our two props (I think) allow a try direct from dummy half. Criminal in my view. Here are the stats for the game. www.superleague.co.uk/report/11188

Quote: jinkin jimmy "I was going to start a thread on him this morning so I'll use this one. I expect to get flayed for this, but I fail to see what lifts him from mediocre to almost God like to many on here. He linked up well for one of the tries admittedly but his kick off was a howler and immediately put Wakey on the front foot, he got in the way of Burgess trying to diffuse a bomb and threw a couple of Gellingesque passes. True, he did manage to catch the one bomb aimed at him (one of their downfield kicks cleared him by 20 metres) but it was in perfect conditions and he still ended up facing his own posts. Was he in the same Academy side as Burgess and Manfredi? I know he came through with Williams. All 3 look far superior to me and, personally, should Bowen return I don't think we would be too worse off. I hope any responses are reasoned because I think he is worthy of a debate rather than adulation at this stage. Shaun Wane has been cautious in introducing him and I for one can fully understand why. Next season he doesn't get in for me, injuries notwithstanding. I'll finish by saying I sincerely hope I have mucho egg on my face at the end of the season!'" Young players have average games and that's normal. Hampshires preferred position is at #6 but at present he is the best #1 at the club on current form. The kick off was a non event, the problem was the misread / communication between Gelling and Smith or was it just a superb pass, I guess the two coaches will have different views of it. He didn't have any effect on the Burgess miss catch. Burgess had his eyes on the ball all the time and Hampshire ran the block, just an error. I will agree on the flick pass out of the back of the hand, it's a great play when it comes off (v Saints to Charnley a couple of years back) but it's high risk and sometimes the straightforward pass through the hands is a better option. Overall I don't think he had a poor game, but not a great one either. Wane will be fuming over that try just before half time. About 1min 30 to go and Gelling loses the ball, but Wakefield were still 80 metres from our line. Then we give away two soft penalties and our two props (I think) allow a try direct from dummy half. Criminal in my view. Here are the stats for the game. www.superleague.co.uk/report/11188

No difference as they are given the freedom to play if they think 'its on'.

What I will say is it's very dependeny on the players. Did Green play the same game as Smith last season? They obviously didn't so that means you need different styles for your half back combo.

If Smith is to start every game (which he's done for 24+ months) then you need to pair him with a naturally attacking option. Hampshire, imo, is more attack minded than Williams so why didn't he get the first chance?

Wane seems to put stock in everything apart from natural flair.