Rich Whiting the real deal ?

Quote: Uppo58 "Rich Whiting has always been a popular player, works hard, fills in wherever asked, Mr Utility we called him, would never let you down we’d say. However it is now becoming clear that week on week we are now seeing a very different Rich Whiting.
I asked him back at the 2010 player of year awards if he would be staying with the club after his injury had cleared up. He said - he hoped so but really wanted to have a crack at playing in the back row. He felt centre was not his best position and certainly not winger. But he did the job as he’d play anywhere.
In 2011 he never got his wish and Agar played Rich as Mr Utility once again.

But this season what a transformation. We are half way through the season and he is not only growing into the role, he is excelling. If these already high standards improve further, and he can retain his well known consistency we might just have a back row diamond on our hands. Gentle saw enough in Rich’s footballing brain to play him in a more pivotal role against Leeds and he fitted into that role impressively. Like he’d never played anywhere else. He can be a workhorse or he can be a footballer.

I do not want Willie Manu to leave, he’s got star quality and the X factor rare in the 2nd row. However he does sometimes go missing in a game and can have spells in a season where his form has raised question marks to his consistency.

I believe that Rich Whitings transformation into a top backrow forward has allowed PG to do a major re think. In fact I believe that Rich Whitings all round game even now, is worth more to the side than Willies, and he’s getting better !
I believe also that a fit Westy will be behind Rich in the back row pecking order.

I believe a back 3 next season of Ellis, Tickle and Whiting will be a formidable trio, and if Joe can raise his consistency levels to match these 3 which he will have to do if he wants a starting spot then we have something special. That’s without including Pitts and Aspinwall who’s own performances have put pressure on all the aforementioned.

Had Agar given Rich a sustained run in the back row I think we would have seen him as a better player but not what we are seeing now. I believe PG is the man to raise a glass to. In the same way he has raised everyones game individually and as a team unit, he has given Whiting all the tools necessary to become something special.

For me Whiting is no longer a fill in after the 13 are selected. He is now a player of real quality and will be one of the first on the team sheet even without further improvement to his game.

I’m not just singing his praises after the Leeds game as he has played well all season, But his performance against Leeds was special. Having now watched it and him umpteen times I have to say it was a performance of real class. He was an inspiration, a go to player, and I felt he grew in that game to someone the rest of the lads were looking to for a lead.

Having put him on a pedestal I hope he does not blow up in the seasons 2nd half. But with his consistency I do not see that happening I see him improving to a level where pound for pound he will be one of the outstanding backrow forwards for the next 2 or 3 seasons.'"

God knows what sort of player Rich would of been if he had of being blessed with genuine pace?.I would imagine he would be up there with the best in the business.He would of been a try machine with his interceptions alone.