I think it will be hard to get any top class Aussie because of the exchange rate,so probably we are better sticking to English based players.

This is why we need a 'fans forum' at the club to clear up some of these issues as i have stated on another thread. IL can re-assure some of the fans on our recruitment for next season and any other business happening. We havent had one for ages and they were well attended previously. Im pretty sure supporters would like to know who will be pulling a shirt on next season. In light of our incresed season ticket sales i would think the club would like to keep it on an upwards curve next season and recruitment is very much a part of that process.

But it's rare, if at all, that any concrete news is released at the fans forums. All we get is generalities and spin. He's not going to come out and say we're after <insert player name> until it's all finalised, and a press release works fine for those announcements.

He has also said the replacement half back is already at the club which must mean one of the junior players if he says Sam is staying at 1. If so I don't see how they can be considered good enough to be a first choice half back in exactly the same way Russell can't be considered ready to play at full back for the first team. In fact given he has been on loan and got some SL experience he is further down the line in acquiring the necessary experience to play 1st team footy than any of the junior half backs.

If Russell isn't ready neither are any of the home-grown half backs and with M Smith and a junior player at 6 and 7 the drop in quality and experience from Finch and Tommy is going to be huge.

If Wane doesn't want to plug that glaring gap with Sam that is up to him but unless we do sign someone we are going to have a problem at half back next season at some point. Junior players can be sensational for a while but soon get worked out by the opposition unless they are freakishly good like Sam.

Just because a player hasn't had first team experience doesn't mean they aren't good enough, it just means they don't have experience. You seem to be getting ability and experience mixed up and assuming that anyone who plays first team must be better than anyone who hasn't.

Russell has massive flaws in his game that so far haven't been ironed out and that would almost certainly make him unsuitable to be first choice fullback.

I don't disagree about concerns over which player from within the club will step up as playing someone who doesn't have first team experience is a big risk. That might mean having faith in Joe Mellor, who doesn't completely convince me, or Sam Powell. I think Powell is more likely to be successful but he's still out injured and that means if he is expected to play a part for the first team next year it will be better for him to get some experience this year, either on loan or with the first team.

Russell's first team experience makes him one of many possible options, but it doesn't necessarily mean he's the best option or the most likely option, as seems to be the case with Wane saying Tomkins will stay at fullback.

logan tomkins he is going well at widnes

do you mean joe mellor?

yeah thats him oops

I think it will be Smith and Sam at halfs

If thats the case then thats

Finch, Carmont, Leuluai, Lima, Roberts >OUT

Smith <IN

Thats 5 spaces on the quota which no doubt leaves a nice chunky space in the cap for a big signing!

Sam will not play 6 under Waney.

he said it was a possibility early on, regardless of what he has said recently so who knows.

Massive flaws in his game? Nothing like having to do one of our own junior players down to back up your argument is there!

I am also certainly not getting anything mixed up. I just happen to think you need both skill and experience to inherit a first team half-back slot off Finch or Tommy given we are losing both.



If Powell is considered the junior half back with most ability then unless he gets some experience in 2012 Wane's options are play a completely inexperienced half back and keep Sam at 1 or move Sam to 6 and have a player who has played SL at 1. I think the latter option is better if all we sign as a half back is Smith. At least until the likes of Powell can be given some 1st team game time [iat Wigan [/iplaying to our system. Wane seemingly doesn't think this way which is fine as its obviously his job but that doesn't mean we have to think he has got this one right.

On Saturday whilst on the way back to Calella I told Conroy that Matty Smith and Rangi Chase would be our halfbacks next season, he didn't believe me, I think he may do soon.

www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... ml&BID=480 £350,000

www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... ml&BID=480 £350,000

Ahh so I'm not allowed to say anything negative about a Wigan player? No opinions allowed whatsoever unless it's positive? You think I'm deliberately criticising Russell purely to prove a point to you? How arrogant is that?

Just watch Russell play! His ability under the high ball is very poor right now and has been for a while, his positioning still isn't good enough for the highest level although one positive is that he does seem fairly strong when making a one on one tackle considering his size.

In attack he's brilliant with ball in hand and has some of the best footwork I've seen from a young player, but when he needs to pass the ball he struggles. It doesn't look like it comes naturally to him which is perhaps understandable for someone who pretty much just danced through defences at academy level.
When joining the attacking line his timing is still off as is his positional sense with when and where to join in.

If you're a fullback who gets nowhere near the ball when the opposition kick high I'd say that's a pretty massive flaw wouldn't you? Certainly if someone is expecting him to be first choice fullback for a team expected to be among the best in the league yet again next season.

Russell is only 19, he's got plenty of time to work on his game and continue to improve but from what I've seen of him so far he's definitely not at the level yet where he can fit into a top side and do well week in week out.

If he starts to show some improvement in his game I may well change my mind. If he starts looking much more confident and composed at Super League level I almost certainly will change my mind but right now I haven't seen anything to convince me that he's got enough about him to be thrown right in at fullback, effectively replacing Tomkins, and make a success of it.

He's got the potential to be a top class player, but not every potential top class player is going to be good enough at the age of 19. Some players take longer to mature as players and even out the weaknesses in their game. I think Russell is still at least a year off being a first team player at least.

As for the last bit, I agree that if Wane is going to rely on Powell next year then he will have to get some first team games this year otherwise it's a big risk and one that's probably asking too much of a young player. Of course Wane might want Mellor to stay at Wigan in which case he'd probably be the most likely player to be used at 6 if we don't sign another halfback.