Re: Betts hails squad strength

[Mike]

Fabulous competition for places says Betts. I'm not too sure :conf:.
This is how I see the competition for first choice places with a fully fit squad:

Code: Select all

Position    First choice           Close Competition      Forced change
==================================================================================
Full back   Radlinski              none                   Colborn,Melling
Wingers     Dallas, Carney         none                   Colborn,Melling,Williams
Centres     Vaealiki,Aspinwall     Wild,Brown             Colborn,Melling
Stand-off   Orr                    Brown?                 other options
Scrum-half  Moran                  none                   Coyle
Prop        Davico,Seu,Sculthorpe  none                   Prescott,Hargreaves
Hooker      Newton                 Godwin?                none
Back 2 rows Faz,O'Loughlin,Hock    Tickle,Wild            Beswick,Allen,Hansen

In other words, I think if the squad is fit, there is no meaningfull competition for the important positions of Full back, Wing, Scrum-Half or Prop (always at least 3 in a team nowadays). These positions pick themselves if the players are fit with only youngsters ready to deputise in case of injury. This isn't exactly putting the encumbents under pressure - as Denis Betts was saying.

[robjoenz]

When I read the headline I assumed Betts has a sense of humour and was being sarcastic.

[warrior till i die]

maybe mike if radders gets injured put vaieleki there. And then a centre as wild or brown. And backup secondrow maybe wild as he said that sr was always his position

[Captain Chaos]

warrior till i die posted:
maybe mike if radders gets injured put vaieleki there. And then a centre as wild or brown. And backup secondrow maybe wild as he said that sr was always his position

We now have a free space on the squad list due to Mark Smith leaving.

Why aren't Wigan knocking on Bradford's door and try and nab Stuart Reardon.

Bradford get some money for the Ellis deal, Wigan get extra full back and wing cover and let's face it if I was Stuart Reardon, Wakefield or Wigan???? Hmmm, I think the phrase "No Brainer" comes to mind.

:doz:

[wigan_babe_13]

Well, looking at the 2005 squad and the positions that each player can play in....

Rads - full-back
Dallas - wing
Aspinwall - centre/wing
Vaeliki - centre/full-back
Carney - wing
Orr - stand-off/scrum-half
Moran - scrum-half
Seuseu - prop
Newton - hooker/second-row
Davico - prop
Hock - second-row/loose-forward
Tickle - second-row/loose-forward
Farrell - loose-forward/second-row/prop
Brown - centre/stand-off
O'Loughlin - stand-off/loose-forward/centre
Sculthorpe - prop
Godwin - hooker
Wild - centre/second-row
Melling - full-back/wing/centre
Hansen - second-row
Allen - loose-forward/stand-off/second-row
Colbon - wing/centre
Coyle - scrum-half
Williams - wing
Beswick - hooker/loose-forward/second-row

...then I don't think we're looking too bad! There is plenty of cover for the outside backs and with Coyle, O'Loughlin, Brown etc then we have cover at half-back. We've got enough loose-forward's to last us all season and with Hargreaves and Prescott, we've got two, young and enthusiastic props waiting for their chance!

[warrior till i die]

cant agree with you more Captain Chaos if Reardon is available get him! He can play anywhere in the backs and just look how he played for g.b on the wing.

[DaiJones]

I encountered our two new Kiwi signings in the gym today and have to say both look the part. Although neither are giants: Seu Seu is built along Smith (Craig not Mark!)lines with a certain "Don't Mess" stare about him and Vaealiki has an almost Iroesqueness to his physique, if they can stay fit they will be big pluses next season I'm sure.

[*!Wigan Babe-Luke Robo Is Class!!*]

looks like a good team to me!! x

[mrs_carney]

robjoenz posted:
When I read the headline I assumed Betts has a sense of humour and was being sarcastic.

No thats only you rob