Common sense really. You would think after a few seasons of the worst halfback pairings in the league at Odsal then people could appreciate the talents of McGuire. Petty narrow minded anti-Leeds bias at its best. There is no other logical reason.

I'm kinda inclined to agree with Duckman

He's signed when the Bulls have pretty much gone through pre-season - although thankfully I believe he has gone on the warm weather training camp - so he's going to be behind the rest in terms of fitness and conditioning. That's no disrespect to the lad, just a recognition that a part-time Championship levels of fitness are way short of Super League. I'm sure he can 'catch up' but can he do it before Millennium Weekend.

I guess I'll trust Mick Potter and his team to be able to assess that. And, after all, its not as if we don't have options for the start of the season. Kearney at 6 with Royston at Full Back is pretty decent IMO

Again appreciated. Especlly after I said I thought Briggs was good but lacked pace. Which didn't go down too well. it would have been easy for you to jump on that like other bulls did. I hope the kid does well!

It looks like i'm going to be agreeing with a lot of stuff you say.

McGuire's talents are limited to being a decent support player. In terms of actually being a creative pivot he's never struck me as being able to take charge of a game. Now, that may be down to short comings in his ability or the fact that he's had players like Sinfield, Diskin and Burrows taking the hard work.

I doubt that he could do the job of say a Briers at Wire or a player of that ilk.

You couldnt be more wrong if you tried. Maybe 8-10 years ago. But McGuire is our most creative pivot before Webb sinfield burrow and buderus. McGuire is a maker and a provider of trys he's up there in the top of the sl try assists with sl 6's as well as been as good a finisher in the game. some teams have one or 2 pivots maybe 3, Leeds have 4 or 5 and his number of assists are more impressive by this fact and say he is far more than a poacher. Which is obvious to anyone who watches him week in week out.

I'd give him a couple of games in reserves purely to give him time to learn our plays without the added pressure of being in spotlight against leeds and wigan. Dont agree that he needs time to get his fitness upto superleague levels as I'd say championship first team is already a higher level than our u20's otherwise why do we send our better u20's out on loan to championship teams. IF he fits in well in friendlies then obviously throw him in at cardiff, but we've a lot off new players to integrate already and kearney and herbert have a month or two advantage over kyle in terms of getting a combination going.

Let's not turn this thread into another 'is Danny McGuire a World Class stand off' again.

McGuire if fit would walk into our side and probably most in the league.

A few years ago he was mainly a support player but from what i've seen the last couple of seasons he has a lot more to his game now.

So does Briggs play against Leeds then or what?

too early to say. takes a while to integrate a half into the squad. Personally I'd stick with kearney for leeds and wigan games then bring him in. But if he goes well in training and remaining friendlies then who knows.

It might be a bit early for him against Leeds.

He's come from part time training into a totally new squad at a higher level than he's used to.

I agree - no point wrapping him up in cotton wool, he's not a kid, but I don't think he'll be up to speed by MM.

My thoughts exactly. Ease him in against Crusaders.

Lets not disrespect them, we don't want another embarassment like Murrayfield

I meant that it's going to be easier physically and mentally on the kid unlike big names like Leeds and Wigan.

Yes! First game, second game or third game he is still going to have to do it.

I say let him play 

i wouldn't say that fitness would be the main reason for sending U20's on loan. there's a lot of experience in that league and it's a good way to get your younger players to tap into that game day pressure that they wouldn't get in the same way at U20 level.

Some people are suggesting he would have to adapt to full time training and moves.

1) Kyle Briggs last season was a full time member of the club
2) A vast majority of RL clubs use the same moves (just some are better organised)

Also Kyle has played in numerous high profile games with Featherstone including a leading role against Warrington earlier in 2010.

Our first game is against the previous champions at a showpiece event, our second game is against the current champions. If Briggs [ihad [/ito play I'm sure he could, I saw enough of him last year to know he's a good player.

My point is he doesn't [ihave [/ito, we have other options that have been through more of our pre season, so I personally wouldn't plan on putting him in for those games and would spend more time getting him ready,... unless its very clear during training and the next couple of friendlies that he's ready, I'll trust Potters call on that, if he thinks he's good to go then great, I'm just saying what I'd do at this moment...I'll see how he goes in the friendlies first hand before I change my view.

An excellent signing though and I'm looking forward to seeing how he goes.

I'm really not sure about the other options. As it stands they are;
Kearney - below average at SO and as it stands our one back with real class at FB.
Addy - A second rower with less experience than Briggs
Ah Van - Never played SL and not a stand off
Royston - Ditto

The start of the season is a month away. Briggs has plenty of time and friendlies to learn the plays.

Well, if you want someone with 'experience' then there's always Paul Sykes

Oh...wait.....

To say ah van isn't a dedicated standoff he certainly did the business on sunday. Plus he played in halves most of last year in Toyota cup so he's definitely a backup option

A point well made Paul.

The fact is that any discussion of SO options very quickly reveals a distinct lack of options. He's the only genuine stand off in the squad and the only thing that will get him settled in is playing.

Ah Van is a back up option but no more than that.

at what point would he stop being a backup option? if he's played in the halves last year then surely he'd fit better into that position than any other?

To be honest, if he's training in the squad as number 6, with the intention that he should be the number 6, then I can't see any point in not playing him at 6. It would be an unnecessary disruption with little, if anything, to gain and as I said before he's not a kid anymore. For sure he may well need a bit of patience (from us fans as much as anyone) but the only place to learn is in the middle.