Myler 6, lilley 7 and sutty 13 might work between them.

Does anyone know the feed back of lilley at Bradford? I know they're bottom of the league which would suggest playing behind a beaten pack. A bad day for any half. But I wondered how he'd dove under circumstances.


I'd like to see him get a game this year, just cos last year we were so beaten up front, it'd be nice to see how he goes on the front foot. I certainly wouldn't write him off if he had the likes of myler or suttcliffe to provide a running game.

Myler, not for me. On a good day slightly above average. As a young player he looked a tremendous prospect, unfortunately never fulfilled his potential.

Lilley will never be a top SL player - if he is the future for the Rhinos at half back then the team will be severely compromised

still has potential to fill. what is he 27-28 still 5-6 years of prime playing career. also think he has never been the main man in any team, think he needs to be the main go to player and see what he can do. good signing for me if true. not like there is a plethora of good halfbacks around at the moment is it.

WRT to potential he has only just turned 27 a few weeks ago. For comparison Gale is about to turn 29, Matty Smith almost 30. Brough was 30 when he won MOS. McGuire whilst he scored tries for fun back in 2004-05, arguably was at his best as a more complete HB in 2010 when he was 28.

Whilst I understand others concerns about him because I've never been fully sold on him also, age wise Myler still has more to come if you compare to other HB's.

Thought myler at salford was superb , quite a few clubs after him when his contract finished at salford . Warrington paid a substantial amount for him. Fully expected him to go on greater things, this never materialised. Have not seen anything from him at Catalans to change my veiw. may end up going down the Aussie route.

If what I have read today (I think it was love rugby league),BMD wants Sutcliffe and Myler at half back next year. I think this would be a good idea if sutty can get better with his game management and learn how to put a team around the field. Myler would be the perfect foil IMO.

Not sure about anyone else but I would love to see this.

Im just not sold at all with Sutcliffe at 6. He should stick to centre now imo.good size, a step and good hands he could become a handy player there if we stopped moving him round positions.

Exactly. How many more games does he need at 6 for it to be realised he is simply a passenger in a shirt.

As would I. A lot of people have written Sutcliffe off at half back but I do think with time and the proper application from both himself and the coaching staff he could make a successful half.

Thing is, it's not a lack of application that's held him back. I used to think he could hack it at 6 but I'm a lot less sure now.

I think he has all the skills but he struggles to put them together but when he does he's an impressive 6. Saints Away and Wigan Home in 2015 he was untouchable and had people pencilling in him for the England squad.

He seems to be a confidence player, a couple of errors and his head goes down. This is definitely reflected in his kicking game as he either kicks 100% from every angle or misses a simple conversation and struggles for the rest of the game. If they put in the work to help eliminate the simple errors in his game and worked on his confidence I think he'd be a revelation.

Every time I have seen Patton he has looked good (minus the last 45 seconds in the cup today). I like that he kicks and seems to think like a kicker rather than just guessing what to do.

A tricky one really, I honestly don't think Lilley is SL standard and we can do better than Richie Myler too. Don't really know about Cory Aston yet.

I like moon hes not a traditional half back but he's talented and unpredictable.

Is he a long term solution I'm not sure but is there a lot of better options out there.

Not sure about Lilley yet could do with a full season at a good championship club.

A three year deal close to being agreed with Myler according to League Express

If we do sign Myler, does it suggest that the club think that Lilley is not ready or never will be?

He is still only 20 i think, very young for a half back in SL so maybe playing the long game. i'm sure he will get some game time over the next few years but probably won't mature into a reliable half until he is 23/24. getting another half in is a priority anyway especially with McGuire's retirement looming. I can see Lilley going out on loan (possibly Bulls again) for probably another year at least before he returns to the first team squad as a regular.

To be fair that's the sort of approach that ought to be taken where possible with halfbacks. With Sinfield/McGuire/Burrow we lucked out with having a combination that worked well together, but none of them were individually fully-formed halfbacks even when they were stars at a young age.

The way the game's played nowadays with much more emphasis on set plays and an absolute requirement to be able to tackle, its hard to see a Goulding come through aged 18 or 19.

And how many half backs have been ruined or had to go down the leagues and rebuild their career because they were entrusted too early on, quite a few over the last few years i reckon. Either that, or if they have a bit of pace converted to full back at the earliest opportunity. It's ok putting young lads 18/19/20 in if they look the biz, but you are never going to get the consistency at that ageo ver the course of a season and if you are having a bad day at the office in the halves where the strings are pulled it stands out a hell of a lot more.

Even some modern great half backs like Schofield, Fitler, Daley, Johns started out life in different positions with less responsibility for their first few years.I'm not Saying Lilley is ever going to mentioned in the same breath as those guys, but a year or two more of honing his skills away from the microscope would be best for all concerned imo.

Can you name one? just one. Because I would say none. Infact I would say the complete oppossite. If they are "ruined" it is entirely because they were not trusted and developed, and even then I can only name Moore, Brambani, and Briggs (although I don't think he ever did get a shot anyway).

By contrast, the likes of Tomkins, Williams, Fages, Myler (before big money move), all flourished. And that is not just in super league, over the pond too.

I agree with your other point though, that generally you find people moving into those positions now rather than starting off there. For me though, that is down to the level of coaching, and just do not know how to coach half backs.

I was probably exaggerating a bit I'm sure there are several cases throughout the SL clubs down the years but Gaskell spring to mind and of Course the best half in SL currently Luke Gale had to drop back for a few years. Tomkins was about 20/21 i believe when he came through same as Eastmond and both were moved pretty swiftly to FB.

I like Patton he will be a good un, i hope Wire keep faith with him but he is a perfect example of the natural up and down nature of young halves who are having to develop on the job.

Eastmond still flirting with the idea of returning to RL?