I agree with you Bren but, Jones was a clear fans favourite.
Probably because it was clear for all to see that he was giving 100% for the team every time he went onto the pitch.
Perhaps this is where Owen could help himself.
Just by outwardly showing some more enthusiasm.
His scoring record shows that he is good enough and a hat trick against his old club (if he is selected) would instantly get most of the fans on board, no doubt there will still be some in need of someone to blame ??

Course your correct to criticise on a fans' forum that's what they are there for, unfortunately your criticism extends beyond that to personal abuse sometimes which reaches an unacceptable level, just maybe if you and his other detractors on here and the morons' in the north stand got behind him and gave him some encouragement instead of just booing him before he even gets a touch, then perhaps we might just see something that the management clearly sees in him, and yes I know it's a forum but you don't have to keep reminding us at every opportunity to make your point that you think he was the dumbest signing the club has made in years'.
Ignore that monstrosity outside of your house and don't go to the Hull game feeling grumpy, instead be positive and instead of taking it out on him just simply get behind him and the rest of the team.

A bit hypocritical this post squire, by your own admission you've not been today but still find time to have a good go at it, you have had your say/opinion but apparently anybody what has a different opinion to yours are dismissed as giving you flack and viewed through red white and blue glasses.

I must have seen Owen play about half of his 121 games for Cas. For me it's simply down to his attitude.

How can a player be so quick and decisive in attack (he is one of the best finishers I have seen at Cas), yet in defence he is so slow and lazy. Far too often you would see him beat a few players on the outside then dive into the corner for a well taken try. Then a few sets later, the ball is kicked through by the opposition and he would stroll after it, let it bounce a few times, then decide to try and sheppard it out allowing his opposite number to score. Or he wouldn't jump for a kick, just let it come down into his arms.

A classic example was the Good Friday game last season when he was still playing for Cas, 2 well taken trys, then 2/3 woeful attempts at positioning/catching a kick resulting in a few trys for you. His body language is also awful when it's not going right, shoulders slumped/back turned/head down. That's what annoyed me the most.

I have nothing against the guy, I want him to do well. When he first broke into the Cas side his defence was far far better, his positioning was good and he put his body on the line. Now he only seems to put his body on the line when he is heading to the try line. That to me says it's his attitdue and not his technique which is the problem.

I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being your top try scorer this year. However, most points against you will be scored down his side.

Riley and Johnstone starting wingers
Owen 3 year deal on a decent whack for a reserve position =
Dumb move by the club =
NGB4C correct once again

For christ sake man give it a rest - I suppose you will be right one day but as yet it's all endless fails (apart from in your head).

Think Vasty is speaking for quite a lot of us on here, only most people have lost interest in your ramblings.
Don't know what's worse, your man crush for Frankie 'The Machine' Mariano or your witch finder General, burn him, hatred of Owen.
Either way I'm getting sick of it too

As someone whos watched his development would you say his broken leg was the changing point in his career or have other teams just worked out his weaknesses? A lot of young outside backs come on to the scene grab the headlines and expectations raise. Eventually weakness are found in there game and they fail to adapt. Maybe this the case with Owen.

iv seen alot of owen since he was a youngster he always played full back then and i feel its his best position saying that the lad had a bad injury, before that he was doing well at cas mainly on the wing. webster can get onto owen wind him up get him aggressive and he could find some form but for me owen has to take a long hard look at himself give his head a shake and realise what a career he could have if he wants it enough. hes 24 he looks a shadow of his former self as a youngster all he has to is to want to be playing and show attitude and committment and hel come back hes got to work harder get fitter get stronger and take pride in his own performance.

johnstone is a young lad hes doing ok at the moment but he needs to be managed correctly, by that i mean dont over play him. young lads play well and their form usually then dips, then they come back again, drip feed them in. can anyone remember mark applegarth started off 40 odd tackles a game went down to 30 then into the 20s got overplayed and ended up moving on. its a lot easier for a young lad to come through in a top team as they are mostly on the front foot. dont start moaning when he starts looking tired and makes a few mistakes. we need owen playing to his potential then drip feed the likes of johnstone, jowitt and crowther in and out.

Mopsey,we spoke after the game about fitness,do you think that Wakey upped it when required,or that Fev tired and made it look like they did

i suppose you can only go on what you see, at headingley v leeds we looked miles behind with the fitness. yesterday it was hard to say but we let 20 points in now i know there only friendlies but its 70 odd in two games which to me says theyve either poor technique or poor fitness. we have got to get the team super fit to have any chance, we might not be the most talented but we can be the fittest. if we concede 25 to 30 points in super league 9 times out of 10 were probably going to lose, i think we can score a few points but its whether we can keep enough out. at the moment does any part of the field look secure to me no and thats worrying.

I think the injury definitely played a huge part. This might sound strange but when he came back from injury, he had bulked up too much in my opinion. Gone was this wiry, enthusiastic player. He came back all muscled up and seemed to develop a bit of a niggly side with an attitude problem. He also seemed to have lost a yard of pace, still pretty quick mind.

I'm not saying rugby players should never build up muscle but I think you have to look at a player like Sam Tonkins (love him or hate him he is doing well for himself) to realise strength and size is only part of the game.

I feel for the guy, the injury has obviously had a big effect on him but it's not like it has destroyed his career. He has had chance after chance, some players suffer injuries and then don't get the opportunities he has had.

I feel if he doesn't take this chance Webster might loan him out to a Championship team - he was loaned out to Keighley in either 2013 or 2014, and they weren't impressed with his workrate/attitude but that's another story.

Ever since the days of Lesley Vainikolo, there has been an obsession for musclebound wingers and it's something that has been a detriment to the game in my opinion. The days when a winger was basically a sprinter are long gone. Now it's more a case of beefing up and bashing through. You don't see as many 'classic' full lengthers from wingers these days.

When we first had Peter Fox he was a wiry winger with an athletic physique and plenty of pace. In his second spell with us he had the upper body of a second rower and had lost a lot of his athleticism, he could however run the ball in like a forward.

We look to have a nice mix of both in Tom Johnstone, let's hope that doesn't get spoiled. He looks to have a good physique (upper body strength) combined with natural pace. I'd settle for him retaining that sort of physique and just work on developing his game sense (not that I'm saying he doesn't already have that as well) and experience.

Mariano v trout or molloy this was another crazy decision but it was that numpty Agar that made the call. How are Trout and Molly even still at our club they are stealing a wage!

I know I shouldn't but....

what the hell has Molloy done wrong?

Small wage but a versatile player, did a good tackling stint on sunday. Ditto Trout but the clock is ticking for him a bit more than Molloy.

Man what is wrong with you!

If everyone stopped replying to him he mite sod off.
Back on topic, with the majority of wingers its score one let one in, better ones eg Charnley, score 2 or 3 let 1 in, Owens not too different in that sense, lets see what he's been like by mid March (if indeed he gets a start)

You bring it on yourselfs you mention Mariano im saying what we have in return. Trout and Molloy. What has Molloy done right??? Waste of time compared to Frankie.

Seem to remember Molloy having a couple of good games last season. I don't think anybody expects him to be first choice but if he's prepared to stick around and give his all for the club, why not have him on the books. I wouldn't imagine he's on top dollar and he adds strength in depth.

Oh no what have you done Vasty. You poked him with a stick.

Let's stick to Owen on this one.
I find the Mariano conversations quite funny but it's not what we agree to talk about on the thread so we shouldn't really derail it.

Lets stick to Owen I agree. The biggest thing that annoys me about Owen is that his attitude stinks. 2 occassions last year Tim Smith told him off for not chasing his kicks this was infront of me Owens response was to shrug his shoulders. I swear on my mums life this happened. This is a Guy that would have been in Championship if Cas let his contract expire. We gave him a chance apart from 2 games his attitude stunk last year the Huddersfield and Hull KR game stick out most the guy couldn't even be bothad to catch the ball in the warm up. You tell me why he deserves a 3 year deal. Riley by all means top winger and a 100% tryer. Crazy by the club; Owen is a very very lucky boy, he needs to give his head a shake does he want to play rugby or not.

I think we all agree that his outward attitude and body language are horizontal at times but leave it to Tim Smith and the rest of his 'teammates' to give him the roastings.
Think he may take more notice of these.
Then he has two options, he either gets his finger out or slinks away and sulks.
3 years is a big contract but probably worth one of Vince Mellors?
It's a gamble but one that I'm prepared to see how it goes through the season.

Perhaps at the time he did not know who you were

maybe you should have a word with him