And no matter what NGB4C posts if posters agree with him or not...he is a scapegoat too !!!

I could not go today due to working, as a rule i dont go to pre season friendlies.
But for what its worth and i dont like bagging players but Owen is never a super legue standard player...he would struggle to get into Stanley Rangers second team, his defence, positioning is attrocious...forget its pre season remember Cas away last season. I appreciate the financial position we are in ...but giving him a three year contract is a farce...how does that make financial sense. And this is not a NGBC love in Reece Lynne is not good enough either ...but we have to cut our cloth accordingly and needs must.....As for Webster i the jury is still out....not trolling RL is all about opinions standby for the flack for not seeing through red white and blue glasses.

The guy don't care in the first 10 mins of second half fev player put a chip through he took an age to turn and go for the ball and when he did he hardly did his best to get to ball first and when he knocked on a loose ball he did cos he didn't want to bend his back to get to the ball.his whole body langue to me said he didn't want to be there.id love him to have a cracking season as with every player but don't think he got it

Will say thought trout had some strong runs when he came on

If you must know I've always said lynn has had potential at last he is using it. Owen was poor last year and now this
Vastman opinion is nothing only goes to a few games each year. Owen not even trying laughing all way to bank. Club very dumb move.

God help this been a fans forum. I'm 1000 percent correct to criticise a player on a fans forum that hasn't tried a inch and the biggest dumbest signing for many a year.

Not been impressed with Owen so far but have to say at one point Fev threw the ball out to the wing and if he had not read the play and nailed Sharpe as soon as he got the ball Im sure they would have scored.

Owen is potentially a good winger. The problem is that they were saying that a few years ago, and then he had that injury, and since then he's never showed that.

I remember the first Magic weekend in Manchester. My ticket wasn't in the Wakey section (posh padded seats, you know how it is) and I listened to a Cas fan who slagged him off all the way through the game, and then went silent when Owen pulled off a superb try-saving tackle. For some reason, he doesn't engender support. I'm neutral on him. I would hope Webster will force him to earn his place. In which case, fine. Let's see how goes first.

Although Owen may "appear" not to be interested, his try scoring record is pretty good

59 tries from 121 appearances for Cas and 6 tries from 14 for Trin, which for a player that isn't SL standard, is an excellent return.

I agree that Johnstone should be ahead of him on current form but, some of the stick that the gut is getting is way OTT.

As I clearly stated I'm not an Owen fan - yet to be wowed that's for sure, but your description of him is way OTT s usual.

You're utterly wrong about Lyne and had you attended some matches you'd realise he's shaping up nicely after a dodgy start at the club - he was excellent yesterday all be it just a friendly.

I still see nearly every match you daft bugger, ever heard of SKY and DVD's. Saw all but two matches in full last year and still attended a fair few, so thanks for valuing me so highly!

Regarding Lyne, no you didn't you binned him completely continually bemoaning the loss of Cowling (??).

Some players just look lethargic, I don't know why it's just their natural style and we've had a few in the past - Mathers the most recent. Yet I tend to ignore this so long as their stats match up and Owens actually do.

I do understand why fans don't like these players but I also understand why coaches do.

You may remember in the 90's a fans favourite winger we had called David Jones - total all action brave as alien guy - but he only scored one try in Trinity colours which for a winger is just dreadful. His opposite winger was Andy Wilson, laid back etc who scored far more. As a coach you'd have Wilson every time.

I'm far from Owens greatest fan, he may be giving it all he's got but his demeanour gives the impression otherwise which gets peoples back up. He was a talented kid but since his injury some of that sharpness doesn't appear to be there. It doesn't mean he isn't trying though. But to then make the call that we could have had Omari Caro who has that exact same traits is laughable!

Both were decent defenders!

I'm not going to start the season by slagging Owen off, merely saying that on current form I prefer Johnstone.
Owens a poor defender who doesn't read what's coming at him very well, he gets himself out of position and loses his hips which makes him look like a turnstile as he reaches at attacking players as they race past him.

I agree on the demeanour of certain players, they look lazy, slouching and not bothered but beleive me to get on the pitch in the first place they've had to put in a huge massive effort in training, if they really couldn't be d they'd sack that off straight away.

He needs sorting defensively, if he's bothered by the fans perception of him then he needs help working on his persona (not sure he's at all bothered tbh).

I don't get the 3 year deal, I don't see the need for it, he wasn't a hot property being chased by half a dozen clubs.

Let's see how he responds to the challenge from Tom Johnstone before we stick his head on a spike

Yes, I've just watched the Wakefield Australia game from 1990.

Dave Jones defence in that game against superb opposition was immense.
Along with many others, probably because of his 100% effort, we wanted the guy to be scoring some tries and eventually IIRC his first score came against Carlisle in the cup.
It was worth the trip for that try alone.
Wilson, on the other hand, scored some cracking tries and was at his best whilst nursing a groin strain ??

Which of these would you have in your team, the no nonsense defender who may get the odd try, or the "prolific" finisher, who you could rely on to finish ?

In a winger, I'll take the prolific finisher every day of the week; as a coach, if my wingers were called on to be no-nonsense defenders as their primary attribute, I'd be looking elsewhere on the park for the root of the problem.

TBH Owen is not my favourite player but I'll still give him my support. Was discussing various plays with my mate at the game and how some players just get that scapegoat tag and can't shake it no matter what they do, whilst others can make mistakes and get away with it.
Johnstone I think has looked excellent but not seen one mention yet of the knock on he did close to the opposition tryline where a certain try was begging, had that been Owen people would be purple with rage.