Quote Simba16="Simba16"

Quote Simba16="jonh"

Quote Simba16="sergeant pepper"

Quote Simba16="jonh"

Quote Simba16="sergeant pepper"Apart from some potential depth, we don't need anyone in the backrow.

Faz = best 2nd row in the comp
Smithies was outstanding last year and it was criminal Wane left him out of the WC. I hate to see us move him for anyone - make him VC and give him the 13 shirt.
KPP = one of the games most sought after prospects.
Isa and Nesmba as a backup.

Props an issue however. Singleton, regardless of what people say on here, is one of the worst props in the game. It's criminal he's even a pro, nevermind a Wigan player. Mago, seems well liked, but doesn't seem to trusted or able to do big mins either.'"

Under that scenario you are expecting either Isa or Nsemba to be a key part of the 17 every week.

Isa is a warrior but I would not be comfortable with him in the 17 every week. Asking a kid with bags of potential to step forward into that role could very well destroy his career.

Singleton I rate he is the throwback we lacked for so long who may not do the eye catching stuff but puts his head where others don’t.

Mago needs to offer more consistency.'"

I'd happily see us share that role between Isa and Nesemba.

That line about Singleton is one of those myths that gets rolled out when people talk about him. It's one of the RL'isms and the opposite to when a player is labelled as 'soft'. In the real world, his stats are dire and we struggle to get on top, when he's on the pitch. It's why we signed Cooper i.e the player we thought we'd got with Cooper.'"

Just following up on the “dire stats” and as I’m a bit of a stickler for such things and if you are sad enough to actually spend 40 minutes analysing the stats of all our props from last year it makes very interesting reading.

Based on the following criteria over the course of the season -

Average gain, marker tackles, offloads, tackle busts, tackles, penalties, missed tackles and errors.

Singleton shows up pretty well. Probably our 3rd most influential prop in the squad statistically, 5th best from an attacking point of view but just first on defence and the first and second are a long way of the rest in the defensive department.

What was also interesting statistically is the fact Ellis is probably our number one prop over the course of the season and perhaps why the coaches speak so highly of him.

We have on our books next year Cooper, Singleton, Byrne, Havard, Mago, Ellis as front line props. We also have Smithies who has moved forward into that position at times very well last year and Hill coming through who made the England Knights squad.

If Bateman goes I’m more convinced than ever we need to replace him with either a like for like or a “middle”.

It’s also interesting that you seem to be pushing Nsemba over Hill as a first team prospect in 23 over Hill an England Knights player.

Like I said though interested to understand why Singletons stats are “dire”.'"

Interesting stuff on Singo and Ellis.

Its possibly easier to transition a 2nd row into the team than a prop and now that Batman has been confirmed Nsemba will get game time. That Hill is being pushed forward shows what great potential he has.'"

Simba16Father Ted:

We probably don't have any cap space. So many players have had their contracts renewed it's bound to affect the salary cap.


Trouble is our two highest paid players and them being two of our three marquee players haven't played for months. French has been out for a couple of months and Thompson since the Catalans game when we also lost Walters.  Although Walters has returned he was out for around 10-11 weeks Thompson still hasn't played.  That is just too much talent missing from the squad  not to have an adverse effect on performance..


If there was a shake up needed then Forber to be bench 9 instead of Leeming.  Walters right 2nd row and Junior off the bench. Maybe also Eckersley to replace Wardle for a couple of weeks so get Jake rested and fit again.


IMO our first 17-20 is the best in SL and by some distance. For that to be reflected in performance they all have to play especially our best players which they plainly have not.