That's why I said starting half's as in starting the first game.

You clearly have difficulty in understanding what's written in front of you so here's my post again for you to digest, it is my first post on this thread so I don't understand why you say that I keep bleating on about it, your post is a bit of a contradiction in term's really I would have used the term oxy moron but with your sensitivity you'd probably think I was lowering myself to your standard with the insults.
You say in your post "are fans' not allowed to discuss team selection" in criticising me, have a look at my first sentence and keep on reading it till you understand what it means, it says that because we have an abundance of forward available at this moment in time the fans will be able to indulge themselves with their own selections, if you still have a problem with it take it to school in the morning and ask the teacher to explain it
to you because either I'm not up to it or your not bright enough to comprehend it

My apologies if I did misread your post. But the rant in which you criticise my intelligence suggests that your the one who is a bit sensitive. I also see you managed to get some lessons in how to use the apostrophe correctly.

Here we go…

So none of those other players will get a first team game this season? not one!

IMHO some of those players will and at some point (especially if injuries hit) your team may be made-up with half it's players having played in sundays game - hence I stand by the half strength as this is how squads work.

Remember despite us being full strength we are apparently the worst team in SL with no players anyone else would touch with a barge poll - so such a big loss half strength or less was still a shock.

There's an old saying "Doctor heal thyself" springs to mind here, as for the alleged rant I was not criticising your intelligence, but the mere lack of it, Lets face it who but yourself would actually think that Sir Kevin Sinfield had really been knighted as per your enquiry on the VT.
As for being sensitive about you, quite the opposite really I find you amusing some of the time, and quite irritating most of the time.

OK. You've both had your say. Leave the thread to talking about Annakin now.

.........................................


No more. I'll just take them off.
If you really feel the need, either PM each other or use the blocking function so you can't see each other's posts. Poptart

I haven't been to any of the friendlies but with all this talk of Annakin looking good but due to being well off in the forwards, he may not get a regular spot.
Could he be used as the backup centre option?
Has a fair turn of pace and comes onto the ball well.
Hopefully Gilmour has taken him under his wing.

I think he s played well in the friendlies and I love his determination but ..... is he really going to feature in front of scruton, Anderson, simon, peae, smith and kirke. Barring injuries think he will be playing most of his rugby on loan. In the long term if he s going to make it as a SL forward he needs to develop other aspects of his game. Jamie jones b has proved that a smaller player can make it in sl as a prop but has a much more all round game. Wish him well as it would be nice to see a home grown player cementing a spot

Why not? I would argue Annakin has shown a lot more promise than Kirke and Simon in pre season friendly's & Im not too sure we will be using Dan Smith at Prop this season. Every time Annakin has had the chance to play in our first team, he's been impressive.

I cant ever remember JJB playing prop although I maybe wrong.

IMHO Annakin would make an ideal 80 minute loose forward as he is more of an attacking threat than Washbrook, is bigger, decent pair of hands and appears to have some pace. He can also tackle as Gareth Carvell found out last season.

If we ended up having some injuries it'd be good to see him have a run of games there.

I agree, but I also thought that last year and he unfortunately missed his opportunity at the beginning of the year.
I like Washbrook so it's not like I'm wanting to push him out but Annakin has lots of potential and I like what he does when he comes on the field.

It's only an observation from the terrace but Washbrook appears to be a senior player with some maturity in his game and I think that is a lot of the reason why Agar and Webster both like to play him.
For Annakin to really kick on, he needs to develop a position in the team, not only in the sence of prop, SR or loose, but also as a character and a leader in the team. He's young so he isn't going to take over, but he needs a more dominant personal character to stand up with the likes of Scruton, Ali, Kirmond and be regarded as a regular first team player.

Kirke only played in the Leeds game and got injured.

Simon looks OK and is actually a prop.

I know people want to see Anakin succeed and I get it - but I think people are seeing things that really are not there IMHO

People have been speculating on Anakins position for years, and that's his biggest problem.

He has all the things you say but that doesn't mean he's a better LF than Washbrook or even a LF at all. Washbrook is proven in that position and despite a blip in his career under Agar he has recovered well and ended last season on a high and has looked good at 13 in the last 2 games. Anakin has not played 13 at this level and even at academy level was mainly SR.

He's a possibility for the future maybe but nowhere near Wasbrook at the moment IMHO. Leave him as a SR squad player for now.

Nowhere near Washbrook? Give over, for two seasons now Washbrook has offered nothing apart from been a workhorse in defence. For me Dan Smith should take that role now.

I have a feeling Webster will be rotating the forwards throughout the season, we definitely have enough depth in that area.

Where is your evidence, neither Smith or Anakin have played at LF so how can you make such a bold statement. As for your opinion on Washbrook, well it's an opinion but clearly not one shared by our coach who I suspect is far more qualified to make the call.

I remain baffled.

Where did I mention in that Anakin should play LF? With regards to Dan Smith he's played a lot of his junior career at 13 and front row, including at Souths 20s - Not at SL level I know, but he never will if he's never given the chance to.

I'm just going on what I watch week in week out, and that is that Washbrook offers very little in attack (In my opinion) and that's just my opinion, I'm not demanding that Webster takes him out the team, but to say Dan Smith is nowhere near him is a bit of an exaggeration for me.

Fair point Anakin.

Smith for me is a prop, he's very buig for a LF and I'm yet to see the ball handling skills - hence I'll stick with Wasbrook - don't disagree that he's good shout should Washbroook lose form or get injured.

In addition I really don't think you need experience as such to play at loose forward. I think in the modern game its a bit of a free role. I.e. whatever the coach wants to make that, or whatever fits into the game plan whether that be an extra prop forward, Grix at Warrington? An extra playmaker on the pitch, Sinfield at Leeds? or even a wide running threat? Gaz Hock at Salford?

The comparison between Washbrook and Anakin is a valid one.
But I think the comparison should be that both are OOC at the end of the season and who would you give the extension to?
A 'steady eddy', or one of our own?
If we don't use Anakin we will lose another one come the end of the season.

I think whatever happens Annakin will get a real good chance this year to at least nail down a position and show how good he is. Due to the squad size, other players form, injuries and no doubt a bit of rotation he's bound to get a fair number of games under his belt. I personally see him achieving more at 2nd row or as some suggest at Loose than at Prop and as the poster above says he's OOC at the end of the season so we need to know one way or the other.

If you cast your minds back two seasons ago Annakin came into a struggling team, was played out of position at prop and was a raw academy talent. Over the course of that season he was outstanding, earning praise from all quarters. How can we possibly know what the lad is capable of until he's given a good run in his preferred position at Loose Forward. He carries hard, he can offload and he tackles hard!! He needs to be getting far more game time this year, this is not to say drop Washbrook, merely rotate the players around a bit and manage them better. Dont ship the lad out on dual reg to Batley and lose his services at the end of the year.

When was LF his favoured position, everything I find says SR - however I get the rest of your point.

I'd like to see more of him this season - he's always showed promise when he's had a chance, but doesn't seem to have had enough of them to really show what he's made of.

Personally, I like his style - he's got a Paul Gallen-esque physique (as wide as is he is tall) and loads of bottle, and that makes for a particularly hurtful tackle technique - in low and driving upwards, into the ribs/ball carrying area.

Yep and just hope that if someone is not pulling their weight or off form, it opens the door for another player to come in and then it's up to them to keep it.