Where will we find improvements for 2016?
Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2015 5:03 pm
After a subdued few weeks when I couldn't find much enthusiasm for the forthcoming season because of my normal pessimistic outlook on life combined with the lack of activity in the transfer market, I'm feeling more optimistic after receiving my season ticket and drinking too much over the past few days. I've been thinking about where we could find the improvements we must surely need to win something in 2016 and there is some hope:
Fullback - Sam at his best would be a big plus, however, how can he be at his best before the playoffs if at all? I hope young Lewis can make an impression but if not, I'm confident that Dan Sarginson will. So a combination of Lewis, Dan and then Sam could well be an improvement (although not a huge one?)on Matty Bowen's efforts over the whole season. Conclusion - slight improvement at fullback but it could go horribly wrong if Sam doesn't recover fully and one or both of the others can't step up.
Wingers - Dom could improve further and Josh should improve too. However, if Dom is played on the wrong side are they a better combination than Dom and Budgie at their best? Conclusion - no improvement on the wings
Centres - Gells can play much better than last season and Bateman could improve a bit as a centre (if we play him there). I'm assuming that Dan will be a fullback but of course, he may well play centre for all/most of the season. Young Ollie will improve but I don't think we can expect him to play well for a whole season yet. Conclusion - overall, we should be stronger at centre.
Backrow - Willie Isa is a solid signing but we're strong in this position anyway. Joel will be better for the operation and Faz is Faz. I don't know what we'll do with Greg Burke. Is he a prop, a loose forward or a backrower? Is he better than Jack Hughes/Larne Patrick? Conclusion - a stronger backrow overall
Loose Forward - Sean won't be able to play more games or to a higher standard than he did last season so I can only hope that he can maintain his high standards. If not, Bateman could be used if he's not playing centre. I think John is a top player but it will affect our style of play if he replaces Sean. Conclusion - no improvement.
Props - Ryan Sutton should improve and so long as we don't overplay him, has a big future. Ben Flower should benefit fro a full off season. If we can keep Tony Clubb fit for a few more games that will help too. Tauati must improve? and Mossop may well be more confident in his fitness this season. Conclusion - a bit of improvement at prop.
Half backs - I hope that George continues to make progress and we need Smith to take more control. We were very lucky injury wise with these two last season and both will miss much of the preseason due to being on England duty. Conclusion - should improve as a pair (if the coach gives them more freedom?) but if they don't we won't win anything.
Hooker - Mickey Mac didn't have his best season and we now know he was playing injured towards the end of the year. Sam Powell made progress but I still don't think that he offers something significantly different from Mickey (he can't play the same type of game). However, Sam is still young and if he could run more and utilise his kicking game more, we could see an improvement. Conclusion - slightly better than last season
Obviously there are other variables especially injuries, the effects of so many players being on England duty and the unknown (to me) abilities of the newly promoted players. Please let me know if you think that any of these could make a real contribution this season.
There, I've convinced myself that we could be stronger this season. I'd appreciate your thoughts if you haven't fallen asleep or lost interest yet.
Fullback - Sam at his best would be a big plus, however, how can he be at his best before the playoffs if at all? I hope young Lewis can make an impression but if not, I'm confident that Dan Sarginson will. So a combination of Lewis, Dan and then Sam could well be an improvement (although not a huge one?)on Matty Bowen's efforts over the whole season. Conclusion - slight improvement at fullback but it could go horribly wrong if Sam doesn't recover fully and one or both of the others can't step up.
Wingers - Dom could improve further and Josh should improve too. However, if Dom is played on the wrong side are they a better combination than Dom and Budgie at their best? Conclusion - no improvement on the wings
Centres - Gells can play much better than last season and Bateman could improve a bit as a centre (if we play him there). I'm assuming that Dan will be a fullback but of course, he may well play centre for all/most of the season. Young Ollie will improve but I don't think we can expect him to play well for a whole season yet. Conclusion - overall, we should be stronger at centre.
Backrow - Willie Isa is a solid signing but we're strong in this position anyway. Joel will be better for the operation and Faz is Faz. I don't know what we'll do with Greg Burke. Is he a prop, a loose forward or a backrower? Is he better than Jack Hughes/Larne Patrick? Conclusion - a stronger backrow overall
Loose Forward - Sean won't be able to play more games or to a higher standard than he did last season so I can only hope that he can maintain his high standards. If not, Bateman could be used if he's not playing centre. I think John is a top player but it will affect our style of play if he replaces Sean. Conclusion - no improvement.
Props - Ryan Sutton should improve and so long as we don't overplay him, has a big future. Ben Flower should benefit fro a full off season. If we can keep Tony Clubb fit for a few more games that will help too. Tauati must improve? and Mossop may well be more confident in his fitness this season. Conclusion - a bit of improvement at prop.
Half backs - I hope that George continues to make progress and we need Smith to take more control. We were very lucky injury wise with these two last season and both will miss much of the preseason due to being on England duty. Conclusion - should improve as a pair (if the coach gives them more freedom?) but if they don't we won't win anything.
Hooker - Mickey Mac didn't have his best season and we now know he was playing injured towards the end of the year. Sam Powell made progress but I still don't think that he offers something significantly different from Mickey (he can't play the same type of game). However, Sam is still young and if he could run more and utilise his kicking game more, we could see an improvement. Conclusion - slightly better than last season
Obviously there are other variables especially injuries, the effects of so many players being on England duty and the unknown (to me) abilities of the newly promoted players. Please let me know if you think that any of these could make a real contribution this season.
There, I've convinced myself that we could be stronger this season. I'd appreciate your thoughts if you haven't fallen asleep or lost interest yet.