With all the talk of props nobody picked up on something else CC said.

He stated that MCB was faster than TJ but then qualified if as under 40 metres.

For starters this is just plain good news, two speedsters on the books. Also bragging rights will keep them motivated.

The really interesting bit was the 40 meters suggesting TJ could do the full distance which is by far the rarer of the two. No offence to MCB but there are a lot of 40 metre pace men but very few like TJ with after burners that allow him to go all the way, we really are lucky here.

Also CC heavily emphasised that MCB could play centre which is what I personally thought would be the case. If so pacy line up if you add in BJB and Gibson who can also motor as can Jowitt.

Happy days hopefully.

In all my day s watching this club, this is the first time we have had a genuinely quick back line. In fact I would put them against any squad in SL - it's just not us.

We have had some good wingers, but we have relied more on strength than pace, with the odd speedster over time.

When we have had them, we have failed miserably to release them. Paul Sampson being a case in point, but you could also pick Andrew Frew and even Jon Wells who scored tries for fun until they came to Wakey. So the challenge this year is to give them those half chances that they can put away. The 2 centres that I think can do that job best are Gibson and Arundel, but I'm hoping that Williams will miss them out on occasion!

Exciting prospect!

I agree though I'd swap Lyne for Arundel.

I've not been working much recently and I've also bought myself an Amozon Firestick. This means I've watched endless YouTube videos from evert game over the lat two years plus any featuring our new recruits. I've probably watched more footage than CC and JK combined!

Lyne is a poor defender though improved but his attacking game is a lot better than folk think. He actually draws the winger and releases the ball a bit of a lost arc. It's probably Lynes last chance season to fulfill his potential or go. But it's there it really is he just needs to recognise it himself. He's quick and strong and quite brave but he just takes to many wrong options yet he offers more imho than Arundel.

That said they will pick Tupou every time because he's powerful and runs the ball out strongly.

Yes, there is definately pace in our backs.

Weve mentioned Caton Brown, Johsntone, and Bishop, but I think all the other players in our back line have pace.

Think with Lynes defence, it is more positionai than anything. According to the Super League stats website I saw a few stats regarding some of our players who played centre in 2017 on tackles made and missed.

Arundel Tackles 331, missed tackles 25
Lyne 255 tackles, missed tackles 14
Bill Tupou 192 tackles, missed tackles 22

I didnt put Hall in, as he is no longer with the club, and didnt put Browns in as he was at Salford, and there could be a different dynamic.

Looking at the above, don't think he is any worse than anyone else. Tupou won't have played as many games so his tackle count was lower, but missed more tackles, than Lyne.

Lyne is a very popular member of the squad, but the one who released Johnstone the most is Arundel and I reckon he's under-rated for that.

I never know what to do with Tupou. I reckon he's the most athletic player on the books - big, strong, fast - but he doesn't have any subtelty. I agree though, he will play centre most games most likely.

Yes, I do think Arundel is under rated.

With Brown coming in, I think it is a big year for our centres to prove themselves, Gibson, Arundel and Lyne all off contract at the end of this year, and I think all with something to prove. None of them I dont think are poor, and I feel that some are better at certain skills than others, and where they are lacking in one skill, make up for in another.

Yes, I'm not too sure yet about Bill Tupou, expected a few more tries if I'm being honest, but his try at Catalans was one of the best of the season by anyone at the club, so I am hoping it may just kick start him on a little.

Maybe if we dont acquire a backrower before start of season Tupou will cover there if need be?

It's easy to forget how impressive Gibson was at centre before that horrible injury; if he comes back and picks up where he left off, we'll have some exciting options at centre for next season.

Arundel. Tackles. 331 missed. 24/7%
Lyne Tackles 255 missed 33/12%
Tupou. Tackles 192 missed. 20/10%

He's classy but fragile which is why most Coaches I'm guessing will go for Arundel and Tupou.

Gibson was causing problems against everyone we played and getting better with each game. Like you have said if he comes back and picks up where he was he will be very exciting this year. Add this to everyone else and I cant help feeling very optimistic (and excited) and cant wait for the season to start.

As an addition to my original reply.

John Wells was a great winger just ended up in poor side.

Frew and Sampson for my money were pure straight line speed merchants with little else to offer. They were never right for us because to unleash players like that you need classy HB's and classy centres neither of which we had.

TJ and to a lesser degree BJB and hopefully MCB are far more than that. I really don't think a lot of people have woken up to what we have with TJ (and it can stay that way for me). Most of his tries had bugger all to do with his speed (which is top draw). He got them because of his positional sense and his power and agility to take the chances on offer. He won a fair few in the air whilst a number were barge overs and a few were down to great footwork even managed an interception.

He is the complete winger, just needs to refine his game both in attack and defence and he'll be one of the best in the world. There are quicker or stronger or for now maybe smarter wingers in SL but none offer such a complete package especially for one so young.

He has it all which is why he's able to scores 20+ a season at a side like Wakefield. If he were outside a Centre like Gleeson when at Saints TJ would score so many he'd break records every year IMHO. People wet themselves regarding Denny Solomona but would he have scored anywhere near as many with us as TJ did - I doubt it.

With this in mind I don't think we will under use Tom because he won't let that happen - also has the confidence of his teammates which really helps.

I really don't want to put the kiss of death on the lad but sometimes you have to back your judgement. Only three things can derail this lads career - injury which applies to any player - poor career choice so hope he has a good agent - Tom himself. I know I'm biased because I backed him from the start but he's surpassed all my original expectations and I have to say I just look forward to watching him play.

Good thing for hime is that BJB and MCB are great foils as both offer a potent threat in there own right which means defences can't afford to just concentrate on TJ and nullify his game which should stop him becoming frustrated.

Onward and upward!

I often try and make comparisons with modern day players and the ones I saw when I started watching in 1960 and most of the time you cannot compare them, because it was a different game then. TJ, however, is one of the few who would slot into any team I have seen, for all the qualities outlined above.

Rare for me to say it but your post Vastman about TJ was almost spot on, well spot on apart from the incorrect use of "there" which should have been "their".

(I'll get my coat.)

The pure speed of players either of the mark, over
40 yards or over the length of the pitch has always been s
Major draw card to the game for me.

My first two favourite players were David Smith and Owen Stephens...
Paul O'Brien, Andy Fletcher, even the raw speed of Dave Topliss

The speedmerchants are the ones that keep fans at the edge of their seats
And the current young crop of players have speed to burn... ... I just love the feeling of excitement
And anticipation of the ball getting close to them and the exhilleration of watch them
In full flight.... there is nothing better! (In sport!!)

Another couple of names from the past with pace.

Andy Mason and David Jones. Remember an interception try by Mason I think at home to Hull where he stretched an arm out and was juggling with ball for ages and still stripped the defence for speed

Andy Masons warm ups

Yes remember them well.

Good player at that time and not over big for a centre what was he about 5'9"

There were two David Joneses.

Peter Fox seemed pretty quick in his prime and scored a few length of the field tries but defensively weak....for pure speed Lindsay Rotherforth in the 1980s was very quick...

Peter Fox, Paul White, Lindsey Rotherforth, Andy Fletcher, Steve Tinker, Andrew Frew, Greg Lennon, Lino Foai, Paul Sampson, David Smith, Fred Smith

We've had a few

The David Jones I was referring to was around at the start of the 90s. Came from Wigam area I think.

Not a great tryscorer but quick. Remember him catching Offiah a couple of times and pulling off trysaving tackles. No mean feat.

The David Jones I was referring to was around at the start of the 90s. Came from Wigam area I think.

Not a great tryscorer but quick. Remember him catching Offiah a couple of times and pulling off trysaving tackles. No mean feat.

If only he worked out how to run around the walls instead of through them. Came from Wigan St Pat's.

Good list. The point being that we've not really had a number of them together, nor have we gotten the best out of them always!

I exclude the 2 Smiths as they are before my time.