Thought it might be worth opening a new thread. As stated on the Keighley topic, Full-Back appears to be a problem for us. Pickersgill looks shot of confidence. Him being hauled off yesterday won't improve that or shows that Kear has faith in him I wasn't convinced by Ryan either, not because of his mistakes which can happen, but our attack looked really stunted yesterday and I thought he struggled to draw the defence in coming into the line. It then takes our best attacking threat away with him being at FB which was noticeable yesterday (think he would have finished one of the long balls over the top had he been on the wing yesterday)

So does Kear stick with Pickersgill and hope he gets his confidence back and starts improving and get Ryan back on the wing. Put Ryan at FB, but lose a massive attacking option on the wing? Or does he take a punt on Stephenson, who is young but a natural FB?

Signing someone is out of the question at the moment with Easter coming up.

This is a re-building season with few expectations so I see little point in making, what I'd have to describe as a 'panic signing'. We're comfortably mid table and have a few players shortly to come back from injury and we have a few people who can play FB, with Ryan and Pickers probably the two most likely at this stage. Personally, I think Ryan has the attributes to make a good fist of it but he obviously needs time to 'bed in'. I'm far from sure we really have money to spend, in an area where we're admittedly only average but hardly desperate.

I think we’re kind of stuck with who we have at the moment. None are ideal. I’m told on very good authority that Ethan Ryan much prefers the wing. I also think at the moment it’s in that position that he provides most impact for us. The reason he’s displaced Pickersgill is that apparently Pickersgill isn’t making anywhere near the metres needed in kick returns or having the desired impact in attack. He certainly is having a lull in form.

Ethan had a mare in the 1st half but came back better in the second. I’m not sure he’s the long term option for us though. I think we’ll end up having to bring someone in for 2020.

Well, Ryan didn't exactly cover himself in glory at times yesterday, did he?

And, without pulling it off topic, I thought Pickersgill looked poor at HB. So, unless we are really going to be stuck at HB (if Keyes and/or Chisholm don't come back) I don't see him ever playing in the halves again. So he needs to concentrate on making a proper fist at FB.

Who else do we have who could play Full Back? Hitchcox - but he's injured. Or Stephenson who is untried as yet.

One thing our various fullbacks have yet to master is chiming into the line in attack. 9 times out of 10 they come into the line and run a line that is too sideways. It takes space away from the centre and wing when it is meant to be doing the opposite. It’s such a basic mistake I wonder how it’s been allowed to go on so long. The whole point is to provide an extra man by committing the defender.

None of the options is ideal but I'd say most clubs have a position or two where they don't think they've got [iexactly[/i the right man in situ. How many times, over recent seasons have we not even had a single proper halfback?

If Ethan really doesn't like FB there is little point in persevering with him, though it does depend on his actual reason for preferring wing. I understand that not every player is a Danny Addy, but if it's just because he feels more confident on the wing then that is something which is only to be expected as he's a very accomplished player in that position. However, if he's prepared to stick at it he would probably become just as accomplished and comfortable at the back, simply because he's such a good rugby player. From his personal perspective it looks good on his CV and makes him more valuable to his club too.

Losing McNally was a blow, but given the circumstances we had to let him go. I too think Ryan can master fullback but he’s so important to us on the wing I’m not sure we can do without him there. The backup options such as DFJ and Grant aren’t anywhere near as good so we’d lose a lot in attack while he learnt the fullback role.

I think we need Pickersgill to find some form or we give young Stephenson a shot. Once Hitchcox comes back we have another option but that won’t be until the end of August at the earliest.

I think the critisism of Pickersgill is unfair. I think we've got to remember that last year was his breakthrough year only because McNally was injured most of the time. Add to the fact it was a league that hardly has quality running throughout the teams, its easy to see how he doesn't look as good this year.

This is therefore his first proper season and I think he needs time to develop and grow his confidence. Lets face it we aren't getting relegated or promoted so why not use the season to see how he goes. If he's not up to the job by the end of the year then a new FB should be a priority.

I think more concerning is Kears general tactics and team selections. Why is he not being questioned more than he is... he had the biggest budget last year and we scraped into the Championship through the playoffs, this year we again have one of the biggest budgets and should be getting a better tune out of the squad.

The props are playing far too many minutes because he is determined to play only 3 within the squad for some reason and play backrowers as makeshift props. The centre combos are getting flipped around like a pack of cards week in week out so there is no consistency or partnerships being developed and tactics seem to be 5 (ineffective) drives and a kick (or lack of based on the Cougars game).

Kear might be upset with the players but I'm more upset with Kear... i've lost faith in him and think we need a younger hungrier coach at the helm.

Think that's a bit harsh. I'll give you the L1 stuff etc and we started this year unconvincingly, but I think we've turned a corner since Batley. Also take the first 3 half-backs out of any side and they'd struggle. I expect us to move up the table in the coming weeks. Our next games are against Dewsbury, Halifax, Barrow & Rochdale. I expect a minimum of 3 wins from them 4. All the teams above us seem to be playing each other so we've a real chance to move up the table. If we cock-up and end up only winning half of those, with players oming back from injury then fair enough, questions should be asked.. I take your point about the budget but let's see where we are after Easter when we start getting players back, and the others lose their D/R and loan players.

Wandered a bit off topic here. I would like to see Stephenson get a chance at FB and Ryan return to the wing, where he is our only attacking threat (apart from Flanagan scrabbling over).
As for the comments about Kear, I wondered who would break ranks first. I've been on the brink myself all season, but last week he made some tactical changes that resulted in a good win.
In general though, and yesterday was a prime example, we just offer nothing in attack and must be a very easy team to coach against.
As has been said, the next four matches, whilst all difficult, all offer at least a chance of winning. However if its going to be 5 drives and chuck it anywhere again, then serious questions will start being asked.
Hopefully all will be well. Kear has been a fantastic coach in his time and come what may will be at the Bulls all season, but performances, particularly in attack, need to improve or we have to think of moving in a different direction, long term.

For me Kear is what we need now as we consolidate in the Championship but you look at Ford and others and you start to think that the best thing we can do is moving him upstairs in 2020 as Director of Rugby and look to provide money to fund it through not spending on a big name signing for 2020 and instead getting a coach with new ideas who probably won't be on the same wage as JK.

More like going up a blind alley yesterday

Quite surprised and disappointed that Picksersgill hasn't continued last season's good form. I thought he had it in him. Not really a fan of Ryan at full back. I'd persevere with Picksersgill at Full Back over Easter personally and if he doesn't improve then he's had around half a season to cement the jersey and it will be probably time to give Stephenson a run out.

Don't see the point in making any panic buys, as mentioned we arnt going to get relegated and we can still probably challenge for top 5 with what we have got. Although Hanbury is a free agent and would and a nice touch to the squad for the right price.

Not gonna criticise Kear. He's the right man for me. This season and certainly into next, even bottom end of SL if we get promoted within the next few. You're never going to see much attacking flair from his side's. That's just not how he plays. He wants to play the stats game and swing the scales in our favour.

We have got the coach and the playing personnel to be playing that way. I definitely feel we are capable of another 50%

For me we don’t need a new coach yet. We’re playing in a much tougher comp and we’ve been plagued with injuries to our halfbacks and props which would affect any team. Defensively we’re better than we’ve been for years.

I don’t see what age has to do with a coach’s ability to do the job. Kear knows this division very well and is proven at this level. For me this year was always going to be tough. A lot of the squad are very young and learning the game. Consistency will come when we get a settled spine in the team and players get used to what is required at a higher level. We’re pretty much where I expected us to be.

I wouldn’t let a poor performance at Keighley colour my judgement. Against Batley and Leigh we showed signs that the attack was coming together. Did anyone expect us to stuff Batley in those conditions? As for Leigh they’re a good side but as we saw they too have issues. Go on the Fax board and you’ll see plenty of fans that aren’t happy with them either. We only lost 14-0 to Toulouse who thrashed Toronto.

Perspective needed I think.

If we’re still playing like strangers when we’ve had a settled side out for a few weeks then complain.

Ashley Gibson has played full back.

So has Sir Keith Mumby

Gibson is a good solid centre. Wouldn't put him anywhere near Fullback. I'd like to see someone better come in at Fullback like I said at the start of the season and have Pickersgill as his understudy but as a few have pointed out this is just a 'hit and hope' year. No real chance of going up (and tbh I wouldn't want to this season) and I don't think we'll be bottom 2 either. So instead of wasting cash. I'd like to see Pickersgill and Stephenson get a run of games and hopefully that prepares them. If things don't improve towards the end of the season I'd look at getting someone in for next season.

I'm scratching my head at people calling for Kear's head. It was a major coup for us to get him, and quite apart from the fact we can't afford to pay him off, who do you think we could get to replace him and at what cost/ Wayne Bennett, maybe? I agree that our attack is shiit, but with more injured halves than you can shake a stick at, and lacking a number of go-forward props for large parts of the season, I do think some slack should be cut for Kear, although much less for the team, as they showed last week what they are capable of, and there is really little excuse for how many of them played against Keighley.

Kear knows what's what, and his post-match comments are refreshingly blunt and usually spot-on. Also, whilst we were embarrassed by Keighley, we could do without the Cup and if we lose to Fev I for one won't give a hoot

We're short of numbers now but the same excuse can't be said for the majority of last season, when our attack and general style of play was also incredibly uninspiring to put it nicely.
It's pointless calling for him to be sacked because it is never going to happen, but I really don't like the way JK has us set up to play. It's boring to watch. If we can't steamroller over the top of our opposition then we've no other ideas. The only true flair player we have in our squad is now supposedly out of favour and being offered around. I think that says it all about how JK wants us to play. It might help us avoid relegation but it certainly won't see us promoted any time soon either.

Yet we scored more points than anyone in League 1 last year.

I agree with some of what you say. We do play very conservatively and I think we could loosen up a bit and try a few more offloads and back players up a bit more. As has been said already we’re in a much tougher league and we’ve been playing with umpteen combinations at halfback. Were we ever serious promotion candidates this year? I think this year is more about becoming a solid and difficult to beat side that has engrained some good habits. We’re not there yet.

Seriously, if not Kear then who????

Common sense, which I totally agree with. Might as well see whether either Pickersgill or Stephenson is going to make the grade this season, and then re-assess for next year.

Making a signing at FB would only be necessary if we were really serious about getting promoted (or relegated for that matter) and neither of those two things is likely.

Agreed. Stick with Pickersgill and Stephenson for now.

Not fullback related but the player I think we are missing the most for creating things is Joe Keyes. No idea when he’s back but we are missing him.
Elliot scored a lot of tries last year by simply just backing him up, granted the opposition is better this year

Lee Greenwood? James Ford?

Neither yet proved themselves really. Possible targets for post Kear though definitely.



Very good point. That right side attack has really missed their combination.