Quote: Chris71 "It's pure fantasy that Crooks or Miller were scapegoated by Radford!! Crooks after one good season (along with lineman) got the idea he was a world class player and wanted far more than his worth. Miller on the other hand was a young kid with a lot of potential but due to McRaes appalling deal was being paid way too much. Radford due the mess left by poor recruitment under McRae/Gentle meant hard tough decisions had to be made. We needed an experienced halfback so Miller had to go due to his over the top contract & taking an overseas spot, likewise Crooks chose to leave rather than sign a contract the club deemed he was worth.
Think Radford has been proved correct when releasing players as Crooks has really set the world alight since leaving. Miller whilst being decent is still not as good as Sneyd or Kelly so again correct decision when the squad needed changing and the use of the salary needed to maximised. Both Radford and Motu have done a great job in addressing and resolving the issues left when they took on their roles.'"
Agree with your Miller comments.
I would add also that I think Gentle put him in too early, we all hoped the young budding starlet from West's would be an instant hit, but the more Gentle persevered the more Miller struggled and his form drifted the wrong way.
Actually I felt sorry for the kid, so young, making a brave move across the world, joining a club who were waiting for "the one" after so many false starts.
The lad was instantly placed in a high pressure situation and I don't think that cauldron helped him one bit. He had his moments but he was never quite the answer.
I was sad to see him go, as there was obviously a player in there somewhere, but his salary determined time would not be on his side with his tenure at Hull FC. Whilst he probably was glad of the move just to let himself catch his breath and start again.
I don't think he changed that much in his first season at Trinity, but his time since then has seen him develop into a very good half indeed. I think there is less pressure at Belle Vue, and he has profited massively from that, building his game slowly without the expectation of needing to be the instant solution we craved.
I think he's now established as a key playmaker, and a real running threat who can create something out of nothing.
Jacob Miller has served his time now, and has passed a tough test of character, I think he will go on to a more established club in time, where he will make a name for himself and have the success and career we all hoped for with us.
He just wasn't quite ready, and we just never had the time he needed.
. Hope Gaz Hock knocks his 'ugly sexist' head off on Thursday, then justice will have been served.
