Edited for accuracy.

Agreed.

I think Sam was so effective from full back last season as well because he had more time and space as our team dominated the best part of every game. If you look at how many metres Warrington and Leeds have made against our defence in the past two games nearly every high bomb was pressured by attackers putting Sam under enormous pressure (which he dealt with quite well) but nullifying his attacking impetus.

Last season I think we kept sides away from our full back on last tackle kicks more often with sides getting less of a chase on Sam or whoever was at FB.

Sam was playing at stand off in the last 15 mins, joel had moved out to the wing and amos to full back.

It was moving sam to 6 that changed the game.

Glad you value my opinion, I do not value yours. Not sure why you have to bring me in to this either?


for what its worth I feel Roberts is the best option as he has more to his game than Pat that suits him to that position. Pat on return rarely troubles the defence and has a fairly average passing game.

At the moment If he were still here I would have Phelps at 1, but of the 2 we have Roberts has shown way better form that Pat could dream to achieve.

I would rather one of the u 20s play over Pat at 1. By utilizing him at 1 you take away much of what makes him a quality wing, bit like playing sam there.

I trust Micheal Maguire thank you very much. There's a reason why Sam got the 1 shirt and we signed a stand off, and thats because its his best position, he can chime into the line wherever he wants and he has the best effect running wide.

Your joking arent you? Pat is the best winger in SL, we scored a pan full of tries from kicks to pats corner last season.

Spot on Brian.

I dont think that Roberts was anywhere near as bad on Friday as some are trying to make out. I also think that he is much better suited to full back and if he gets his form back is the best full back at the club, he was outstanding last year there before his injury. Whether he can return to the form that he showed last year is the question for me, if he cant then I cant really see him having much of a future at the club.

But he isn't safe under the high ball, which is the primary job of a FB.

So why does the current best coach in SL pick him at FB then??

Nor is Roberts. Clearly this is an aspect that has to be worked on.

Nobody is infallible (except the Pope of course).

He also picked Goulding over Charnley!

Which was understandable, Charnley was poor against Wire, IMO Charnley is the better of the 2 and when Richards is back, he'd play on the other side for me.

Why is it understandable when as you say



Surely if that were true he would have picked Charnley this week?

Is everyone forgeting about Deacon, for me he is the who makes the team tic and the one to guide us round the park.It has shown this season how much we seem to strugle when he is off the field or not playing.I for one would sooner have finch at 6 and sam at 1 both working off deacon with tommy and micky mc rotating at 9,this is our best attacking option and would give the opposition defense a real headache.

I think that's what we'll see whenever Deacs is fit. Unfortunately Deacs being fit seems to be becoming a rarity these days

I agree with calls for Sam to return to 6.

A full back's primary job is to be the last line of defence. Against poorer teams, it is a license to slot into the attacking line and expose gaps in the opposition but against better teams more emphasis has to go on defending. Using Sam at full back negates his attacking qualities for too much of the game against the better teams.

I would have liked to see us sign a proper full back for this season (probably from the NRL, were any available) but given we didn't, I don't think we should be playing our star player out of position (and yes, I do realise we won the GF with Sam playing at 1).

If we are to return to our best, it is essential the players get used to playing with each other in their long term positions. For me that means going with Roberts at full back, Sam at 6, Finch at 7 and Tommy at 9, with McIlorum coming on from the bench, possibly for Finch with Leuluaoi switching to scrum half. Richards to return soon out on the wing and the centre spot inside of Goulding is up for grabs between Joel, Marsh and Charnley.

That's just me personal opinion but whatever Maguire decides, we have to stick with it for 6 or 7 games (injuries permitting), and if we do get any injuries we need to be moving the minimum number of players around as possible.

Give our creative players (Sam, Tommy, Finch & O'Loughlin) a run of games together and I have no doubt once the pitches start hardening up for the summer we'll be putting big points on some of the weaker teams in this league, and a few of the better ones too!

Not often i disagree with you Brian, but for me at the end of the game ie the last 20 or so Tomkins had moved up to play at 6 and not as a 1, he got himself around the ruck at first receiver and worked the link at second receiver, at this stage Roberts had dropped to 1.

Moving him into the traditional ball handling position changed the game, after to be fair a pretty average display at 1, and one that was easy for his opponents to nullify.

No you misunderstand dear boy. I merely cite you as someone who has posted in favour of Roberts on numerous occasions. I think you have proven time and time again that your opinion is not in the least bit valuable.


Back to the topic, Pat is the better number 1. Safer and has better defence.

I do find the latter part of your first paragraph amusing given the hissy fits you have had over the years on here when I have made you look silly!

FYI you do not win championships with safe.

As usual Brett your ignorance of the game and attitude continues to let you down.

You start a thread about players playing out of position....then put a wing at full back?!

Genius.

I am genuinely embarrassed for you, Locky is crap, Noble is the way forward etc etc etc............

Richards at fullback is a non-starter.

You can't possibly play him there when you consider the way we structure our attack, indeed the way most teams structure their attack now. For our attack to be at its most effective you have to play a good ball handler at fullback. For all his qualities, Richards is not a good passer of the ball.

At fullback, its a straight choice between Tomkins and Roberts and its a hugely difficult choice. Roberts is off form but its hard to envisage him regaining his best form doing anything other than playing in a prominent position.

There's also another issue to consider in that if you move Tomkins to a halfback role, there's then no place for Paul Deacon who most would agree was important to us at key stages last year.

FWIW my personal opinion is that we should give Roberts a run of games at fullback in upcoming fixtures against 'lesser' teams and then reassess. Tomkins and Finch at halfback and Leuluai to 9.

I would give Roberts the next 2-3 games and if that doesnt work out...IMO its time for Matty Russell to get his chance.

What a pompous statement.

I will let you off if you have changed your mind