Quote: barham red "Did he? Pretty sure the guy managed to get a number of MoM performances and was in the top 5 SL try scorers. I saw massive improvement in him at FB (Wembley aside) week on week. I think we're far too quick to give up on a player because the fans spot a weakness and can't see past it. Hardaker would look poor in our defensive line, its been said before a FB is no longer the last line of defence.
I agree on the wing Sio is head and shoulders above him both physically and defensively but has he really proved himself at FB?. He looked shakey in the first game he played there and dropped a lot of ball under no real pressure. The rest were in games against poor opposition that we struggled against. I think we lose too much out wide by moving Sio, just rewatch the magic weekend to see how much.'"
You're right. Dixon was more than OK at FB last year, his 1st season in this role, despite a Wembley Horror Show and a couple other below par games in the position. He was excellent on the wing too.
Sio was good on the wing and post Wembley at FB, but like Dixon he had the odd sub par and costly game, most notably on the wing in the home Hull derby.
Both are excellent players with flair and strike and need to be in our starting 13, interchangeable as required depending on the opposition.
For me, Sio's physical strength and Jarryd Hayne style running lines make him more of a threat at FB from deep and when joining the line than Dixon. He is a better passer and tackler too. He could be a Dream Team contender in this position next year. That said Ryan Shaw also offers us further credible depth and flair at FB and wing and Charlie is non too shabby either.
If Thornley starts at right centre as is likely, he is tall, strong and physical and will compete for the high balls better and will score more tries as a result. If my memory serves me correctly, like Goulding before him he used to be a provider of tries for Charnley at Wigan and can set up good try scoring opportunities for his winger from this position than Salter can. Whoever is on the wing outside him, say Dixon to begin with, would also be a major beneficiary of any extra space and ball supply.