There is an obsession in the U.K. game that your position is set in stone, despite these positions often being rather randomly handed out to kids as young as 8 or 9. Frankly it’s ridiculous, there are so many factors that can change as a player grows up.

Imho when a player enters the scholarship system at SL level they should be regularly be re-evaluated.

Simple example. Although Jowitt is now cracking it at FB did anyone ever look at him at some point and think, this lad can lay on a good pass, perhaps SO is a better option? This is at ages 16+.

Or as some players go through growth spurts do the clubs look and think a change in position is worth a look at? You could argue that just because your tall doesn’t mean your prop and that’s true. However be scientific about it, look at the father, is he tall and skinny or is he thick set and obviously capable of carrying some weight. Its genetics and its a well known science.

Maybe clubs do this but I do wonder. One thing I’m certain about is that it’s never too late for a player to find his true calling.

It happens in Australia all the time but in Australia players can drop out and re learn their craft at bush level. Then they get the chance to trial again for NRL clubs, something that doesn’t seem to happen in SL anymore, whatever happened to A N Other?

Instead we have a never ending merry go round of players from an ever decreasing pool of club trained players, many of whom are well past their sell by date.

As a game SL really needs to start thinking more outside the box where talent is concerned.

Rant over.

It happens more than you think. I seem to remember Max playing six during his Scholarship days, and Chester has used him there as well. Hampshire is another, viewed as a half but is used more at full back and even on the wing at Cas. Didn’t Danny Kirmond start out as a winger at Fev? Even Joe Arundel, played centre all his professional life, is seen as an adequate second rower these days, even if it’s just cover.

I doubt though we’ll see many do what Nigel Bell did, start at scrum half and finish at prop! Closest I can think of is Tony Clubb. I’m sure he played centre for England and now he’s prop at Wigan?

I think the other problem in England is the mantra that big lads go in the pack.

I always felt that if Mal Meninga were English he'd be a prop. And probably an average one.

Lucas Wallshaw, centre as a junior but Agar decided he was big and played him at prop. That would be fine but Wallshaw was happy at being a centre and didn’t want to prop.

I know the lad had issues out of the game but in his case imagine what he’d be like now if he’d have got his wish and his head together.

So yes it works both ways but maybe some coaches shouldn’t always assume they know what’s best for the player. Give the players a chance to work it out for themselves. May take longer but the results may be better.

Not in the current era, but Don Fox did and was top class in every position he played.

Getting back to prop forwards for a moment.

There may be a logic going on here that we have not taken into account.

Bit of bored speculation on my part, no actual evidence at all.

Now I’m not being cynical here just totally realistic. It soon becomes obvious that the season will be delayed, personally, I think it will start late March.

So why bother at this late date to sign/loan a player who isn’t actually needed just yet. Why not instead save the pennies so that if the time comes we are in a position to go for the best we can get?

The horrors of Covid aside this is really good business. I suspect we already have players in mind and deals worked out. All ready to be implemented but only if needed. This is especially relevant with any loan signings, let the parent club pay for their keep, not us.

I’m not brown-nosing MC but it is very much in keeping with his ethos. Yet as I say it’s not cynical or exploitative, quite to opposite. I think the club has used this forced hiatus to give an extra two Academy players a leg up that they otherwise wouldn’t have go, which to me is a good thingt.

Still as ever may be totally wrong.

I know there are massive differences between the 2 sports but I coach junior football and the FA's ethos is that at junior level players should be played in all positions to get them comfortable on the ball and to let them naturally develop towards what their final position will be.
It is also the main philosophy of the very successful Ajax team that produces some exceptionally talented players. Right through there youth development they are encouraged to play everywhere from goalkeeper to striker and everywhere in between.
As you say people develop at different rates and choosing a position for someone based on where they played at 10 or 11 is not always going to work.

I agree. When at trinity I thought not big enough, lacks punch at this level. Seen nothing to change that view

And re the mention of Titus Gwaze above, I am very disappointed we did not give this lad a good go, especially last year on a free hit season. The few glimpses we got, I thought he has it myself.

Think you've answered your own question in your reply to Trout.

My guess and its pure guess is size, You can get away with being short as a prop but only if you have other facets to your game, maybe he doesn't, we don't see them day in day out. Like you though, I thought he did ok.

In his case, I suspect it was a tough call but considering our missing prop situation perhaps it is one that could be re-considered? Maybe a cheap as chips one year deal, see how it goes. Who knows but I wish him all the best, always enjoyed watching him at Academy level.

In all honesty I think he did ok but I think it was simply a case of Titus or Aydin and with reduced finance could we afford two young props with potential yet unlikely to be playing many first team games in 2021. From what I saw Aydin seemed to be more of an ‘athlete’ I suppose they say these days. Aydin was also already signed for 2021.

Titus maybe a victim of circumstance but hope he goes on to have a successful career.

I'm not sure that he's more of an athlete though he may be, more that Aydin is a better player IMHO. Titus could be a bit lose, Aydin seems more concentrated and less likely to error, vital for a prop.

Either way, early days for both.

That’s how I see it as well. Whilst Gwaze didn’t do anything wrong, I think we’ve seen more from Aydin in the few games he’s played to suggest there’s greater potential there. Just guess work on my part, but had finances not been as tight we might have signed Gwaze up for another year. Still plenty of time for both of them to prove the club right or wrong, but hopefully Aydin will get a few games under his belt this year.

I watched Yusef at Eastmoor only played a couple of games and was green as grass but something about his physique and attitude told me he would be a good prospect hope he proves me right.