The obvious difference being that our new owner can afford to splash his hard-earned squillions on our club whereas Cas' new owner is currently passing round the begging bowl asking for donations from wherever he can get them from

I'm the same.
I don't mind them being a success. I just want us to be better.

No, no, no...I detest both Cas and the Whino's exactly the same...hope they both finish joint bottom of the table

About that..
Dunno if the comparisons I make in my own head with our recent wingers are colouring my judgement but, I decided a season ago, he just doesn't have that something that sets him apart.
He's competent, knows his job and does it well, but I keep expecting him to burn the touchline up when given half a yard, or to be in the air challenging for and winning more than his fair share of kicks in the corners, or to be a monster stepper kick returner, just something, anything, he's none of those.
He still has an air of fragility despite training with a full time squad.
He's dependable and a fair finisher but ultimately isn't outstanding in any facet.

Sounds like your writing a guy off before he even gets to play a single SL game.

Lads scored 110 in 109 games. Hes finished try’s with little space and from distance when put in space. He doesn’t miss tackles hardly and has held up very well against Hall and got the best of Senior in the past two games.

It all points that he can step up fine to me. I’m not expecting him to be a top winger in SL but he will defend well and score given the opportunities.

You look at Marshall at Wigan. He is none of those you listed and he just has the ability to be in the right place and finish chances Wigan create. Not every winger has to be a freak in in a certain area and most imo that do have something extraordinary about them tend to have a part of their game that is below par.

My point was that I just don't know.
And I think that's kinda what Upanunder is saying.
Because he has got a particular skill it's hard to see where he'll excel.
Marshal is very fast and has a step.

Russell for example hasn't played yet but people know what he can do. Walmesley may well be better but people lean to what they know.

I hope he shows what he has got....I'm just going to have to see it to be confident.

Of course we don’t know and have to see how he goes but I don’t think a bit more confidence would hurt. Though I suppose with the unknown it’s only natural to have some reservations.

I’d think it you put Marshall and Walmsley in a foot race there’s not be much difference in the end. No way would Marshall have finished the Walmsley try in the corner either, he’s not got the athleticism. He’s not trying to be Marshall though and I wouldn’t expect him to be at that level either. If he gets the better of wingers like Senior snd other teams around us then I’ll take that for a debut year in SL.

We will see but I’m more confident in Walmsley after what I’ve seen but seems a few fans have reservations whether he’s SL level. We will see soon enough but hopefully he gets given a few games.

Talking about Matty Russell. Surprised we haven’t seen him yet. Wonder if he’ll feature his week with the likes of Cozza, Vagana etc.

It probably didn’t help with him being played out of position at fullback or on the replacements bench. He has also been switched to the right wing for this season. What makes a good winger is a good centre who is able to create the space necessary and let’s not forget he with O’Rourke got back to stop the Leeds winger.

Olpherts was picked over Walmsley for the semi and the final at the back end of last season despite Olpherts being told he was leaving. That made me wonder whether Powell had the same reservations. I expect Walmsley to start the season, and then it's down to him if he keeps the shirt or not.

I wondered why Jacob and his family were back in England, they were at Luke Gale's testimonial game: https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/hu ... field-star

I wondered why Jacob and his family were back in England, they were at Luke Gale's testimonial game: https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/hu ... field-star

Walmsley has looked decent in an outstanding team that slaughtered the Champs comp.
I just don't see him pulling up trees in SL, I'd be ecstatic to be proved wrong though.
He'll not be alone in the less trees pulled up stats tbf, but he in my mind shows the least promise of finding another gear.
I'd have given Olpherts the shirt if he was still with us and make walmsley fight for it.

Agree with all that, but I think that’s why we brought it Matty Russell. He was a straight swap for Olpherts really - does all the same things but slightly more consistent. I imagine Walmsley will start the season, and if he can’t hack the physicality then Russell will take his place. I’m with you though - I really want him to prove everyone wrong, he’s a really likeable character.