I can honestly admit that I am not nor have I ever been a big Agar fan, however fair play to him for the way we finished the season last year. Yet one thing is really beginning to grate with me and that is his efforts to play players such as Trout and Aiton at prop forward. Anybody can see that neither player has the physical presence to play prop and if we don't have enough back up in that position then I suggest Agar gets himself to Sharlston or Eastmoor and finds one. Last year at St Helens away Aiton was picked to start at prop, he got steamrollered and we lacked physicality going on to lose by fifty points. After the match JD did an interview where he said playing Aiton at prop was a mistake as he clearly couldn't do the role for prolonged periods. Agar stated that JD was entitled to his opinion but he disagreed. Sorry Rich the facts support JD. Even today at times we lacked physicality especially when Poore went off. Unless he gets away from such daft selection I fear we will be subject to more heavy defeats! Aiton is not a prop and neither is Trout!

On a side note heard today from a lad who played at Doncaster last season that Cowling and Walshaw weren't too happy to be neither, this is with no disrespect to donny but apparently they felt they had done enough to merit a run in our first team. I am inclined to agree I did not think that either deserved to lose their place based on the performances they gave, will hopefully see more of them this year!

4foxsake ! !

Last year at Saints the team selection was puzzling as we had 3 hookers in the 17, although we played Mariano at prop with Mellars and Aiton in the second row. However we did not lose by fifty points as you put it, think the scoreline was 38-12? When Poore went off yesterday we didn't lack physicality as I thought Singleton and Wilkes did a good job going forward. Also thought Trout looked comfortable playing at prop and also did good going forward.

What are the chances of Aiton and Trout playing at prop in the same match during in the regular season, next to none I'd have thought

Amor and Ralieigh were out but if he wanted a proper prop just so he could play one, he could of used young Healy but imo it was more about giving game time to those regulars for this up coming season and it seems he wasn't too concerned with the make up of the side.

Obviously Agar wanted to bring in another Prop at least for the start of the season but things haven't gone our way so far signing one up.

Not sure what you're moaning at tbh, with all respect to Featherstone the side put out was easily good enough to deal with them and we'll only ever be using the likes of Aiton at prop in an emergency. Personally thought he did well again Trouty at Prop and I don't think we lacked any physicality at all even when Poore went off, we seemed to take our foot off the gas a bit in the second half and we were also trying a few different combo's out while we can.

Tbf, by half time the game was over and there were plenty of changes to the line up.
I pressume that Poore had stitches in a cut eye/face and perhaps they didn't want to risk him 2nd half and this effectively meant that we were playing with 1 out of 4 of our "first choice" props (Amor and Raleigh still missing, plus Mariano still out) but, surely this is why we have trial games, to give the coach and players the chance to try a few things.
As far as Mr Agar is concerned, most Wakey fans are still working their way through last seasons humble pie (including myself) as most of us were guilty of not rating our new coach, who hsa without doubt improved the team and the performance.
Singleton and Trout both played well yesterday and although it was 10 apiece in the second half, the job was done by half time.

And your coaching credentials and knowledge of the teams dynamics comes from where exactly?

At the very least you must be an International standard Coach who takes at least 3 Trinity training session a week.

Agar do one, we have a real expert right here...no really

In all fairness to Fev I thought their pack did start to get the upper hand in the second half and we did look a little lightweight up front, but as already mentioned we had 3 props missing and lets hope we never get to that in the comming season.

I also thought that FEV forward No17 (Bostock ?)looked big and strong and our pack seemed to have a bit of difficulty
handling him at times.

To be honest, if we want a good trial we should let our backs play behind a front row that is being beaten. I'm sure he didn't plan it that way but it will certainly happen during the season so what's the harm.

Well you would look lightweight if you only have Wilkes as a main prop on the park. That said I don't actually agree with you, I thought most of our backs looked bigger than their pack - I thought it was our size across the park that made the difference.

Put Amor, Raleigh, Marriano in with Ali, Poore, Wilkes and Kirmond and that is one big pack. I don't see many other teams in SL who are much bigger or have any more than us. So long as we don't have a long term injury crisis we should go OK.

Don't think Singleton is the answer though I'm sure he will become a fine player (for Leeds).

If our front rowers (Poore, Amor, Raleigh & Wilkes) stay fit then I believe we have a very decent sized pack. I agree it does need still a little more depth. Singleton if he stays will also be a good prop, he seemed good yesterday. Nice footwork and strong runs.

Depth issue applies to most teams with finite resources. You have to balance between quality you can afford and the need to cover for attrition. Another Prop/SR would be nice but he needs to be of decent quality at a decent price, not easy.

This is where you look to your youth set up and as we know that is in disarray at most clubs at the moment.

Yes I agree, I have faith in the few youngsters who remain at the club. They can cover positions on a short term basis and who knows maybe they can make a breakthrough

Another prop, preferably who can also cover second row, would be ideal as the jury is still very much out on Singleton as a week in week out superleagfue player at this time and he could be back at Leeds by march. Sadly its unlikely that funds will allow so we may have to make do with a few square pegs in round holes at times.

Think our depth is fine, especially as Trout is our 5th or 6th choice prop but has looked good in pre season thus far. Aiton is a hooker and will stay there all season so again i don't seem the issue. Infact he's the only experienced hooker fit at the moment.

In terms of size, lets also remember the forgotten man 'Vince Mellars', he may well play a few games in the second row seeing as we're more than covered in the backs. Not sure how well he'll go, but if he can use his weight and size he could be a real handful in conjunction with Ali, Kirmond and Mariano

The problem with Mellars is he hasn't shown anything since joining the club worthy of any position, there's many more options I'd prefer before shoehorning Mellars into the squad. The likes of Kirmond and Mariano have upped their game, where Mellars looks to have gone backwards. If he does get a chance he's got to make the most of it, otherwise I'd be trying to offload ASAP if I was Agar.

Got to agree wlth grezzler about mellars ,i thought when we signed him it would be a good signing what a dissapointment,his performances particulary the one against bradford at bell vue when jeffries kicks frightened him to death were terrible. He may have the size to fill in at second row as someone suggested but his powder puff running and weak tackling i doubt would cause problems to many super league sides

I stand corrected you are right it was 38 -12 however you can understand my mistake as St Helens did run in 8 tries....

Playing for crusaders looked a decent player and scored plenty of tries - but played mainly on the wing. Spent most of last season in centres and obviously injured latter half of season. As a non quota player think he is a decent squad player particulary if we get any injuries in the back line. He does look to have bulked up in off season so lets hope hes fighting for a place

I'm willing to give him another chance, but unless we get plenty of injuries I'm not sure he will get another chance, unless used as a utility player. I'm not clued up on what position he played for Crusaders, if as you say he had most success on the wing he's gonna have to bide his time on that one. Fox and Cockayne don't seem to be injury prone and score plenty of tries, so his desired position my not be achievable.

Sorry to pee on your bonfire but Vince Mellars has played 64 games in Super league, 59 as a centre so the played on the wing gag is an urban myth!

Correct and its something i've pointed out before but the myth lives on!

Yeah, think you pulled me about it!

What like the one about Trout not being a Prop despite having played in that position since he was about 12

Its a bit different to opposing 12 year olds! With Trout i think its a case of he's not ready just yet for playing prop week in week out at first team level, he needs to continue to develop. Now and again as cover yes, but not as a regular yet, that will come in time.

Lad looks to have put on a bit of size, could possibly move into the back row, that said we have plenty of lads playing there, perhaps a bench spot as he can cover wing centre and the back row!