This might not go so well in ways I don't anticipate right now, but anyway, let's give it a try:

How would you (honestly) rate your team in each position? Score from 1-10 based on the strength you feel your club has in this area relative to "the competition" (as in other clubs). This doesn't have to be for Super League only by the way. If your a supporter of a Championship club then join in too.

I think it will be interesting to see whether there are areas where everyone is weak and for the good teams, where fans think they are particular strong.

Descriptions/justifications are optional, a score will do.

Full Back:
Whilst I wouldn't quite say we have an embarrassment of riches, full back is one of the clubs strongest positions, both in terms of strength and depth. Loanee Ben Jones Bishop (the incumbent), Chris Melling and Will Sharp all have this as their preferred position and are all capable of doing a good job. On top of that O'Callaghan, Wells and Howell can come in if needed.
7/10

Wing:
Very weak. We don't have a single winger at the club who I'm confident would finish chances which came their way. Sharp and O'Callaghan take these positions at the moment. Sharp is better at full back and O'Callaghan lacks experience (he played reserves mainly as full back). Wells is currently injured, but last year (even though he played his fair share of Rugby) didn't post a single try.
1/10

Centre:
David Howell on his day is very good. Not Gidley or Senior good, but at least as good as an Evans or Nero. He's not particular fast though, but he is good in defence and is one of the few players able to make a clean break. Tony Clubb on the other hand spent most of last season in the back row and to me looks unsure of how to play centre. After that the only cover is May and Bryan, neither of which have any more experience than Clubb. Although May is a bit quicker.
2/10

Half Back:
From time to time, as individuals our trio of Luke Dorn, Danny Orr and Luke Gale are capable of some good pieces of skill (kicks, passes, sidesteps). All look better playing six, with another player dictating play. Danny Orr in particular is whole-hearted and committed, but often fighting a losing cause. The problem is, we don't have that other player. An out and out scrum half would improve us no end. Even having some creativity from Purdham at lock helps greatly.
3/10

Prop:
Karl Temata is good in defence and carries the ball reasonably well, but he's not getting any younger. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook has talent, but isn't playing his best rugby at the moment. I'm not convinced that Wilkes ever will be a top line Prop forward. Danny Ward I don't see the point in - he seems to go to ground far too easily and I can't recall him breaking the line. Dave Williams has put in some very good performances for the reserves, but apparently was not so good against Warrington. I guess it's not easy when an inexperienced player comes into a poor side. Ben Jones plays for Skolars, Matt James left. Yeah, basically, we're naff. No go forward, no points, few wins.
2/10

Back Row:
Purdham is by far our best, but every season I've followed the club he has had at least some time out injured, included some extended periods. Jason Golden tries hard and is a good defender, but physically he is small compared to his peers. Luke Williamson works hard in some games (although not every game) he certainly hasn't lived up to the billing he was given when the club signed him and I can't see what he does to get the praise our head coach hands out to him after nearly every game. Jury still out on Ryan Esders. What we lack is a real big ball carrier who can come on and make an impact (this is particularly pressing as none of our props are great ball carriers either) and start getting a few offloads away. Basically we want a British version of Solomon Haumono, he was our last back rower who actually seemed to scare the opposition.
3/10

Hooker:
Well Randall is as good as anyone on his day, although his form has been a bit down this year. Ben Kaye has been siphoned off to Featherstone. Great hopes have been placed on Andy Ellis, but as he's long term injured and hasn't played a single Super League I will reserve judgement. Melling fills in from time to time. He tries hard, but he's not hooker.
5/10 - If Ellis is another Lunt, this will be higher.

That leave 23 out of a possible 70 (~30%) which is a decent reflection of our league position.

Full Back

9/10

Reardon, Halley, Kearney, Platt & Sykes can all do a decent job there.

Wing

2/10

Sheriffe can be good, but is error-prone, Reardon needs to learn the positioning, then we only have Platt & Crookes for cover

Centre

3/10

Sykes & Nero aren't the best, but can be good on their day. Platt, Menzies & Crookes as back up.

Stand-off

7/10

Kearney is quality from what we've seen so far and Sykes & Menzies offer good back-up

Scrum-half

10/10

Best in the league backed up by Kearney, L'Estrange & Sykes

Prop

9/10

Lynch & Scruton are quality, Hall, Kopzcak, Sculthorpe are solid and two Burgess's and Crossley & Lilycrop coming through.

Second row

8/10

Langley is one of the best in the competition, as is Hall. Good youngsters coming through (Whitehead, Tate, Olbison) Shame we have Worrincy though

Loose

7.5/10

Menzies has experience and that touch of class, whilst James Donaldson is a star in the making.

Hooker

8/10

L'Estrange is solid, and is a crafty bugger at the ptb. Godwin is one of the best at running at tired defences and giving a lift to the pack. O'Brien & Horton to back them up.

Saints:

Fullback: 4/10 - Wellens was once an inspirational player who defended like a brick wall. Those days are over and he seems to a few steps too late these days.
Wingers: 4/10 - When on form Meli is as good as any in SL. But he'll also cost you two titles in 3 years, which isn't a great record. Gardner is not the player he once was.
Centres: 5/10 - Gidley is still probably the best centre in SL along with Keef, but has been quiet since signing the last contract of his career. Wheeler isn't going to be a centre and Soliola appears to be trying to mimic his idol Darren Anderton.
Half Backs: 10/10 - Bar the game against Hull Leon Pryce has been sensational this season for me and Kyle Eastmond is the most dangerous individual player in SL.
Props: 6/10 - For me James Graham is the best prop in SL. Fa'asavalu is also slowly getting back to his best. But Fozzard, Hargreaves and erm... We struggle for depth here.
Back Row: 5/10 - On form Puletua is amongst the best in SL and Wilkin is all class. But he's not often in form. Flannery, Clough, Dixon, Ashurst are just 'solid' clubmen.
Hooker: 10/10 - Cunningham is still the best in SL. Without him we are rudderless and lost. With him we dominate. The pattern in games now is for Saints to gain an advantage in the periods Cunningham is on the field and then go down to nil in the periods he's not on the field. Roby and Moore are not bad either, better than any in SL bar Buderus and Monaghan.

Tad on the generous side perhaps, given the utter shytness of the Bulls at the moment?

I suppose so, which would you mark down sir?



We're good for 40 minutes a match anyway!

Wigan
Full Back: 7/10 - Phelps has his qualities, mostly in attack.. defence can be iffy. Good cover in Roberts/Richards if needed.
Wingers: 9/10 - Richards and Roberts have probably been the two best wingers in SL 2010. Cover in Ainscough/Goulding.
Centres: 8/10 - Carmont is a quality attacker, defence can be dodgy. Gleeson is also dependable and very skillful (at times). Goulding/Bailey and other academy players are decent enough replacements
Half Backs: 8/10 - Still not convinced that Leuluai is a 7 (or 9) but Tomkins is a future/current England half-back and Deacon is good enough to replace either.
Props: 7/10 - Coley has been fantastic for the past year or so. Fielden has started this year well. Good young props in O'Carroll and Prescott. The less said about Feka the better at the moment. Mossop can play Prop/SR.
Hooker: 6/10 - Riddell is great for half a game, we haven't yet got an impact hooker. McIlorum is just coming back from injury and Leuluai's form at 9 is patchy.
Back Row: 8/10 - O'Loughlin is the England 13. Hansen is a solid player especially in defence. J.Tomkins I think is another future England player and Mossop has a bright future. Bailey doesn't provide much impact and will probably leave at the end of this season.

Fullback, stand off and the back row. You've given them a 9 for fullback but I know Hodgson, Greenshields and Webb are all better than Halley or Reardon.

It doesn't mean that Bradford aren't a 9. I put it so high because we've got 4 players who are capable of playing FB at SL level, quite well. Greenshields is better, but is there any depth?

I don't think i've been overly generous in the back row, most sides would take Langley, Menzies or Hall, and most would love to have Donaldson or Whitehead coming up through their ranks.

I would bump up the Wigan full back and winger marks, on the evidence so far this season.

Richards and Roberts with Ainscough and Goulding in reserve. That's a 10 for me.

I thin Saddened! is being a bit harsh on the Saints back row as well.

You have 4 players that can play full back but they're all poor players. I'd rather have one Ferrari that 4 3 wheelers.

Kearney's a poor player?

Played in city vs county and first choice fullback for 3 years in the NRL.

Reardon has been capped for GB several times at FB

Platt, admittedly isn't the best, but at his best he was quality ( see his 4 try game at Wire), even though he's playing in the centres now.

Halley has time on his side and hopefully will develop a good sidestep.

But Kearney isn't playing fullback.. Personally i'd give the Bulls a 4 or 5 in that position. Halley tries but doesn't have any real class.

Kearney is playing stand off and doing it well but i would say his best position is fb. But then who goes in at stand off... Sykes did well end of last year.

Kearner played in a city vs county game ?

Thats means absolute zipp mate. Chris Flannery played a number of State of Origin games and is poor!

Kearney is a decent player actually. The other 3, Reardon, Halley and Platt are awfull players imo.

Reardon is awful at FB? How did he get in the GB team?

Halley isn't awful, the effort and pace is there, and the skill is always developing.

Ewwenorfolk in 'massively inflated opinion of average Bradford players' shock.

TBH, I laughed when I saw 'best scrum-half in the league'.

Name better then.

Thomas Bosc

Paul Deacon

Love how this has turned from a "what are the strengths of your team" topic to a "let's have a crack at Bradford" topic.

Oh and Ewwenorfolk, i agree with most of your summing up of the Bradford team but I'd rate 2nd row as round about 5.5/6 mainly due to the enormous drag factor of Worriency brings the average down

Danny Brough, who I think has a better kicking game. Don't get me wrong, Orford is class and a few years ago I would have agreed with you but now he's not consistent enough. I remember after the first game, some Bradford fans were slating him already.

SAINTS

FULLBACK: wello was once the best fullback in super league but his lack of pace has become real problem. 7/10

WINGS: Meli is a very good player with the ball but can lose you a game bigtime!! gardner is rubbish. 5/10

CENTRE: Gidley is up with the best in super league when given the ball. Wheeler is turning into very good centre 8/10

HALFBACKS: Pryce has been awesome this year apart from hull game. Eastmond is pure class. 9/10

PROPS: GRAHAM is best prop in SL and one of the best in the world. Fozzard is finished. maurie is back running strong and causing problems. Tony p IMO should be prop. 7/10

HOOKER: KC is not a patch on the player he was but important to us and great in defence. Roby has had ok season but is messed about playing wing, centre, scrumhalf, hooker, 2nd row and loose this year. Moore, im not sure on yet. 7/10

BACKROW: IMO is big problem for us, tony p IMO aint a backrow, flannery works hard but no attack, wilkin is a over blown, overrated let down, clough is ok. 3/10

i cant see how Bradfords front row deserves a 10/10 either. That would mean it was the best front row in the comp with very little improvement available. I dont think thats the case. It is a good front row but its not the best in the league.

anyway, for Leeds,


Fullback=7, Webb is quality, we dont have a great deal behind him though.
Wingers=7, Hall is a good young player, strong, fast, and dependable, will improve but as good as most in SL. Donald is also as good as most out there. Again, not much behind
Centre=9 Senior is still as good as any in SL, Delany is strong, solid and will go well. among the best partnership in the league. Watkins, Coady, behind and Ablett able to fill in if needed, Eastwood has also played there
Halfs=7, a fantastic triumverate who have dominated SL for the last 5 years. there is however no depth at all
props= 9, good frontline with lots and lots of depth, Peacock, Lueluai, Bailey, Burgess, Pitts and Ambler, with Eastwood and Kirke filling in if needed
backrow=11, the best back row in SL by a long way imo. JJB, Ali, Eastwood, Ablett and Kirke Sinfield

For Wakey
FB 6 - blaymire safe catcher and returner, and offers a steady offense
Wing 7 - Murphy, Blanch, George all fast and know their way to the line
Centre 7 - Millard has been a revelation this year, leading the line and scoring tries for fun. Gleeson similar to blaymire, steady away in Attack and Defence.
HB's 9 - Brough is Talismanic for us, undoubtably one of the best in the league, and Jeffries has returned from Bulls, and looks hungrier than ever before.
Props 9 - Korkidas is going well this year and although poor for cas and hudds, looks the real deal in a Wakey shirt, and Tronc is deffo gonna be one of the imports of the season, offloading king and awesome power.
Hooker 7 - Obst useful, small, nippy - much like burrow for Leeds, tries hard in Defence but sometimes his size betrays him.vLeo latu gives us another unpredicable option
SR's 7 - Steady away in Henderson, although having his best season in a Wakey shirt so far, Morrison has so far stayed clear of injury and is playing well, also providing another captain style player on the field.
LF 5 - Sadly although Demetriou has been one of best and most consistent performers for Wakey, he now looks a bit out of sorts, now lacks the pace required at Centre and the handling ability of LF - still tries though and Wearing the captains armband does a good job of rallying the troops.

Some harsh ratings.

Wellens is more than a 4 still, despite his slight decline. I do agree we need a bit of pace there, but it's hardly a massive weakness either. I'd say 6 or 7 rating.

The wingers I'd agree. Meli is a good player, but is prone to brainfarts and Gardner has taken a big step back. We could do with a genuine speedster. Amos Roberts would excel outside Matt Gidley.

Centres I'd say 6. Gidley is still a quality player, but is past his best. Soliola hasn't featured so unfair to judge yet. Wheeler has done well there and is good as a squad player to use in that role.

Halves - On their day, 10 is probably fair. On a consistency basis I'd say 7 or 8. Both have explosive speed and line breaking ability, but their ability to organise in tough games is still questionable and it's a test for both to prove they can gel together and perform on a consist basis. It's still early days in their partnership.

Props - agree. We're light by a good prop. If we had someone like Carvell or O'Meley we'd have real quality in this area with Puletua, Fa'asavalu, Fozzard and Hargeaves to back up.

Back row - 5 or 6 is fair. Solid area of the team, nothing more.

Hooker - agree with the 10 rating. We have 3 very good hookers with different attributes. A real strength of our team and with a fast ruck, we'll kill teams through the middle.

Marks roughly 50 out of 70. Shows we have obvious quality in some areas but room to improve in others.