I think Eamon O'carroll should be given a game next week in place of Paul Prescott. He struggled for me last night Prescott against a big Wire pack, made a few loose carries and was carried over the line by David Solomona. He seemed to struggle to make an impact against a formidable Wire pack. I think a well deserved rest may be in order.

I understand O'carroll isn't as big as Prescott, but he is stocky and he uses this to his advantage. Plus he will be fresh and keen to impress against a strong Catalans pack.

So I would be tempted to rest Paul Prescott and give Eamon O'carroll a chance.

Thoughts?

If he did that it would be dropping him, you don't rest players after 3 games. If he was tired it would be resting him, yet you stated his form and lack of size as the reasons.

Does he deserved to be dropped? I dunno, if O'carrol came in and did well then yes, if not then no. That's were managers make their money though.

Prescott looks rusty after an off season op and he needs time to get fully back upto speed imo. I really like Prescott as a player but agree he's struggling a little bit and his handling is a big worry long term for me. He just looks like a lad thats not had the same pre season as some of the other forwards because of his operation.

Overall i'd probably agree that O'Carroll should be given a shot this weekend. We can let Prescott get some gametime and extra fitness in the reserves with a view to bringing him back in a couple of weeks down the track.

We gave Eamon O'carroll a rest after the first 3 games of last season IIRC. But yes, point taken, it would be dropping him. I guess I was trying to not sound too harsh, but I think he has struggled these last two weeks.

He was rested for the 7th game of the year but sadly got injured in the pre match Reserve game.

Playing Catalans on a heavy pitch, it may well be a good move to play O'Carroll for a bit of fresh legs after the gruelling game last night.

I actually think it would be classed as a rest for a lad thats not had a full pre season.

If he'd been fit all off season and got through the same amount of work as the rest then fair enough it would be classed as dropping him but he hasn't.

Unlike alot of the other players Prescott doesn't look to have put on any size(smaller if anything).

I honestly don't see where the problem is with Prescott. If people think he's struggling then they must be especially worried about Feka, because Prescott is doing better going forward and doing good enough work in defence (roughly the same tackles per game as Fielden). He was second only to Mossop for metres per carry in the forwards after the Hull KR game.
I obviously can't take into account the exact number of errors in the Wire game, but after 2 games he averaged 1 error per game. Roberts, Carmont, Richards, Coley and Deacon all average more errors per game, so where is the problem?

I suppose it's because he played so well last season. He's done ok in the first 3 games for me but has looked a little rusty. It was a huge forwards battle last night and it will have taken abit out of every players tank.

I'd give him a little rest next week to try and keep the squad as fresh as possible.

I'm hoping Feka isn't injured and if he isn't should play. The game last night can't have taken much out of him because he hardly played so he should be pretty fresh.

I have to admit that when Coley and Fielden leave the pitch we struggle with a significant lack of go forward.

I do like Prescott but he’s struggling at the moment and isn’t making the type of yards he has been doing in the past.

With that being said and I know this will rattle a few on here but I don’t personally rate O’Carroll and I defiantly don’t think he’d be any better than Prescott currently is.

It’s a tough choice and I think it’s arguably one of the few negative things so far this season.

Maybe in order to mix things up one of either Coley or Fielden can start on the bench so we don’t have that lull when they both go off together.

Wish we would have signed Webb now.

The lads doing just fine!
I don't deny O'Carroll has a big heart, but he just doesn't Hurt them enough.

Prescott's a big lad and takes 2/3 men Every time to get him down and for me he hits far more solid than O'Carroll. We'll need his size this week against the Big Cats men with a Boggy Pitch!

Sadly O'Carroll won't make it as a top class prop imo.

I can honestly only think of one player, Webcke, who is of that size who has made it. Webcke is more the exception to the rule rather than a hope for any prop built the way he is.

I've always said I believe O'Carroll should watch tapes of Danny Nutley over and over and aim to be something like he was. He's a similar stature and Nutley was a fine player. He's got alot of the same attributes and will a late developer imo.

As for the team I actually wouldn't be suprised if further down the line this year both O'Carroll and Prescott find themselves on the touchline. We've now got the option of playing Mossop at prop and Maguire has been doing that in the games so far.

We could see a bench of Feka, Mossop, Bailey and Deacon when Riddell comes back in.

IIRC Feka only did 9 minutes last night before getting carted off. He also was clearly not injured. If this is true then I think O'Carroll should be in instead of Feka next week.

Why?

If he did only do 9 mins and he isn't injured then surely he will be the last one out the 4 to need a rest!



Seriously, the 4 are doing great together, let's leave em to it eh? I'm sure MM will change anything if he thinks it needs tinkering with.
Let's not start changing for changing sakes unless there's a real need to.

The forwards are as a whole are doing great however have another look at last nights game Feka was far from great. He offered no impact and the Monaghan targeted him every time. Maguire quite rightly carted him off the field as he was clearly a liability.

Maguire said if players are not performing they would be out the team regardless of who they are. I think this is the first opportunity for Maguire to put these words into action.

If Prescott was going to be dropped then I think Mossop should move to prop and Farrell should play. I know thats not gonna happen but I really want them both to get a go.

Do we know why he was taken off?
Are players not allowed 1 average game before being replaced by a player that obviously the coach must have thought inferior the week before otherwise he would have picked him that week?

If not injured, I'll bet he plays next Friday?

I said last week that i felt Prescotts place was in danger and i think he should be dropped for next week.

He has one major weakness, his carry is very loose and that can and has been very costly for us. It is a flaw that is easily sorted but until it is i would hope he is spending a week or 2 in the reserves till it is addressed.

Why should he be dropped?
What has he done wrong to deserve being "Dropped"?

He's made about the same metres per carry as Coley & Fielden
He's Made about the same tackles as Coley & Fielden
He's got the same error rate as Fielden & Far less than Coley

If you don't want to look at stats then just look at how many he takes into the tackle with him, 2/3 men every time and he takes some getting down. This tires out defenders far more than 1 quick run from a prop who can be brought down 1 on 1.

Lets not get carried away and start chopping & Changing Unneccesarily, the 4 are doing great & with Mossop & Bailey's versatility and ability to play front row we seem very strong in this area.

I haven't seen the full match from last night, just out of curiosity Jonh, how many balls did he drop? Was it as many as missed tackles by Carmont?

If George had played in the second half like he did in the first then i would have been calling for Pryce to come in next week, he had a real stinker and Bridge always seems to have the better of him.

Regards Prescott i have no idea how many balls he dropped but he did put a few down like last week and they were also at important times. We got away with it last night but he really needs to work on it, as to a lesser extent does Joel Tomkins who also needs to work on his carry in contact.

Joel looks to have worked on his handling imo and has cut back on the errors. He made the one big one near the end but it was a terrible pass thrown slightly behind him and high.

Prescott has more of a problem imo. He's being targeted by defences who are trying to knock the ball out in collision and if they don't manage that are taking a few gambles on stealing the ball in the hope they'll get away with it.

Coley also makes alot of mistakes but his seem to be more of a concentration issue then a technical one.

Woah woah woah. I said 'if he was going to be dropped'. I think he played pretty well personally.

Personally I'd exchange Prescott for O'Carroll for the Catalans game.

I just think Prescott seems to be behind the others when it comes to the new found pace and enthusiasm of the side. For me, he hasn't stepped upto the plate or attempted to stand out. Eamon O'Carroll is desperate to play and has as much enthusiasm on the field as anybody else when given the chance so I'd put him in next week and let Prescott work for his place.

I would play O'Carroll on Friday, but would leave out Feca rather than Prescott.