Whats happening with Washbrook? Keep hearing murmurs he maybe off, but he's contracted till 2011 isn't he? Is he getting much game time this year?

Wont be going anywhere. Future club captain, just needs to make a position his and stick to it with no injuries.

No pressure then.....not a leader for mine and will struggle to nail down a position in the team for starters. Hope he doesn't go but cant see where he is going to fit in Agar's thinking. Not big enough for LF and not good enough for 6/7, only position I can see him getting a look in are as a back up 9 but would hope we would have a specialist in there.

Yeah but, no but!
When we have any of our first choice pivots missing, and we have a good pack of forwards, then wouldn't having a creative 13 be a better option?

I could understand having an extra forward last year, but now (when fit) we have a much better pack, but we often lack that creativity especially when Long is out.

I agree but the only LF creative enough to compensate for that would be Sinfield and we ain't gonna sign him. Whititng might have done it once but the club have played him in the wrong position for far too long, he's still got the ability to read the game but not the flair due to being bulked up and messed about position wise.
Although saying that Hall does have the flair and pace to make an excellent 6, given that half backs tend to be covered defensively, so maybe Richard Horne could play LF.

I think when Fitz goes he may get a prolonged run at 13. Until then we can simply use Washy as cover for 9 or 6 etc. (and we always need plenty of cover)

Washy is one of the most natural leaders we have. He was a great U20s captain and watching the guys on the pitch is one of the most vocal members out there. I'm lead to believe he leads from the front off the pitch too in training.

Think it may need a change of coach for him to get an extended run at 13 due to the type of player we play there, can he wait that long though????

Absolutely spot on that Dave.

As far as i can remember Agar has never used a Loose man except when injuries have forced it. It has always been used for a 3rd prop. I cannot see that changing in the near future either.

I'm still hoping the thing that changes in the future is our head coach!

Would think thats at least 2 years ahead and Washy will need a contract renewal before then or so I believe.
If he has changed into a leader then it is certainly not something that is natural to him. I have watched him playing from about the age of 8/9 when he was at Humber Social and all through his Youth days at Skirlaugh and on to Longhill and he was never a leader at any of those clubs, always had a decent halfback alongside him to do the leading ( seem to remember Matty Brooks being the leader at Longhill ) I suppose things can change but certain things cant be coached, Richard Horne being a case in point, and I just haven't seen the same leadership qualities that you obviously have.

Would appear that way. Ive only seen Washy since he played for FC 20s but i'd say him been given the captaincy for our very successful 20s shows he has a certain amount of leadership ability. I'm always very impressed with him when i see it.

The other point about his contract renewal and Agar still been in charge. Thats going to be a call that could go either way imo. Depends how much and where Agar uses him between now and then imo. If Washy isnt getting much game time he could well choose to leave for more rugby. I'm pretty sure FC will offer him a deal to stay though.

i'm afraid i'm of the view that Washy just doesn't cut it as a play-maker/leader in our squad. i agree he would make a better LF than half-back but he just doesn't give us enough attacking options. only my opinion but i think we should look at replacing him with a better back.

He's the only player we have that i've seen really take the line on over the last 12 months and give decent cut out balls to the winger. He has a couple of assists for that. He's smarter in attack than he gets credit for a lot of the time.