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.

Agree with that, plus for the first few games he's going to be bit of unknown quantity for the opposition.

Thats fair enough and he's not a kid you're right, and if Potter agrees with you (and most other people it seems

) then I'm happy to trust his call, it'll just prove why he's a super league coach and I'm not



I'm just a bit more cautious having talked to a fev season ticket holder I know who thinks he might take some time adjusting (but is certain he will, just a question of timing) and having seen him myself. We do have quite a start, he's joined us late, but I really do understand your logic of if he's our starting 6 for the year then he plays asap and either swims or sinks in the opening games, and normally thats exactly my thoughts too....all I'm saying is its not what [uI'd [/udo in this instance, without seeing him yet in a Bulls shirt. I'll be seeing him at the wakey friendly and maybe at the dewsbury one (hopefully) so I might well change my mind.

[size=85#waits for next person to tell me I'm wrong

#[/size

The thing is, Briggs has got a month before the game against Leeds. Which includes a week of warm weather training. There's no reason he won't be up to speed with the rest of the team.

I'm sure MP will know if he's ready when we get to Cardiff.

For those suggesting that Briggs plays a few U20's games before he plays in the first team. The U20's season doesn't start till the 21st of Feb that would mean 2 first teams games have already been missed.

Well yes, cheers for the info, that could well change my view, no point having the lad not playing at all.

and isnt it the situation pretty much across the league that most teams only have 1 dedicated standoff and then have have to resort to other players playing out off their natural positions?. We have reasonable backup for standoff with kearney,ah van, addy and southernwood (who wakey fans told us when we signed him is equally at home in the standoff role). Note I said backup. Of course Briggs ideally would be available and starting. Im not convinced we should rush him in against leeds and wigan but If he goes well in remaining friendlies then my opinion on that could change.

I'd personally be more worried about our squad depth for the scrumhalf position. As it stands we have herbert, southernwood then at a push maybe l'estrange. According to fev fans briggs is an out and out standoff and cant cover scrumhalf

There is generally less and less difference.

agree in principle but in practice you tend to find one half is better at organising and the other is better at support play. Typically the scrum half is the organise and the standoff is the support player although the exact opposite can be the case. Ideally you'd have two halves who excelled in both areas but that doesnt happen very often and there can be an issue having two organisers in the same team anyway.

Whilst I am absolutely delighted that we have a genuine SO recruited now, I can't help but think why wasn't he signed earlier ???

Area that we were in greatest need ?
Can't imagine he is the highest earner we have signed (so not affected by the Awful situ)

We then wouldn't be having these discussions about if he's ready / knows the moves etc