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Barney841 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 5:17 pm

nathan_rugby wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 5:10 pm

bill.inger wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 4:44 pm

Don't be surprised if we see Thornily appear there for a few games early season. He's no Gary Mercer I know but he could be suited to second row.

Heard it all now.

Yeah sorry bill.inger but I’m with Nathan.
We shouldn’t be looking at Thornley as a back up in the back row, we need proper second rows.
The only time you should look at playing someone out of position is if there’s a lot of injuries in that area, not for having enough of them. Recruitment is key

Kallum Watkins?

morley pie eater wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 5:23 pm

Barney841 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 5:17 pm

nathan_rugby wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 5:10 pm

Heard it all now.

Yeah sorry bill.inger but I’m with Nathan.
We shouldn’t be looking at Thornley as a back up in the back row, we need proper second rows.
The only time you should look at playing someone out of position is if there’s a lot of injuries in that area, not for having enough of them. Recruitment is key

Kallum Watkins?

I would of had him but with signing King and Wardle, thornley as back up and maybe a young lad coming through(if there is one) to have the odd run out I’d say we have centre covered

Back row, Farrell , Isa, KPP Nsemba, Smithies ,Shorrocks and O'Neil. That should be enough cover without having to play Thornley there?

Is Thornley reliable as back up injury wise

medlocke wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 7:40 pm Is Thornley reliable as back up injury wise

No, the thought of him having to run it in from 2nd row would be enough to injure him.

Shame but he’s made of broken biscuits.

Barney841 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 5:29 pm

morley pie eater wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 5:23 pm

Barney841 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 5:17 pm

Yeah sorry bill.inger but I’m with Nathan.
We shouldn’t be looking at Thornley as a back up in the back row, we need proper second rows.
The only time you should look at playing someone out of position is if there’s a lot of injuries in that area, not for having enough of them. Recruitment is key

Kallum Watkins?

I would of had him but with signing King and Wardle, thornley as back up and maybe a young lad coming through(if there is one) to have the odd run out I’d say we have centre covered

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting we sign Watkins. It was a response to your comment about "proper second rows".

It’s the wing situation all over again. We had Davies, Manfredi, Burgess and Marshall at one point and worried how to fit them all in and within no time had just Marshall left.

Last year we started with Bateman, Farrell, KPP, Isa, Nicholson and McDonnell. There’s every chance that come the start of 2023 we’ll have just Farrell left. That’s a poor situation to find yourself in and whilst I have some sympathy at what would seem a situation beyond their control with Bateman, losing all 3 of the young lads is not a good look.

He’s still far from the finished article as far as I am concerned. He was played at centre mostly last season and I am happy we have specialist centres next year. He had some good games but I think he was exposed a few times in that position.

I would have liked to see him in the back row but if we have other young players coming thought I’d invest in them rather than him in 2023.

Or put another way we can’t build the back row around him anymore. Need to look elsewhere either in our academy or make a signing.

I can’t tell if he’s being professional and seeing his deal out or is going to be here reluctantly next season. If the latter there is almost no point in playing him.

NICKYKISS wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 9:51 pm It’s the wing situation all over again. We had Davies, Manfredi, Burgess and Marshall at one point and worried how to fit them all in and within no time had just Marshall left.

Last year we started with Bateman, Farrell, KPP, Isa, Nicholson and McDonnell. There’s every chance that come the start of 2023 we’ll have just Farrell left. That’s a poor situation to find yourself in and whilst I have some sympathy at what would seem a situation beyond their control with Bateman, losing all 3 of the young lads is not a good look.

Losing federation players, especially the young guns, is a nightmare. They are very difficult to replace. I’ve stated on this forum before that any club that allows this to continually happen will soon find itself in decline. There is much work to do behind the scenes, I can live with KPP going to the NRL but to lose Nicholson and McDonald to SL rivals is unforgivable. Added to that, when you are carrying a number of average non-federation players the problem increases dramatically.

Hardly shock of the century is it! Been on the cards for sometime hasn't it.

As for the comparison with Gildart, I genuinely think he was more impacted by injury and match fitness as opposed to being half hearted....each to their own on this.

Thornley at 2nd row is a huge red flag for me....about as logical as Jackson Hastings playing fullback for us! Apart from the fact he's never fit!

This season has to be the end for Isa, no concerns on Faz, presumably Bateman has gone? KPP is definitely needed for this season. Not sure I subscribe to the thoughts of him being in his prime and leaving though....still a way to go for my money in his development (and more so down under).

Should he return in the future....we've all seen it before. No hard feelings though, it's always going to be more attractive than SL I'm more ways than one.