His ambling back was no worse than Briscoe's. I'm not saying he'll ever make it at the top level (looks a little slight), but I don't think he was anywhere near as bad as some are making out today.

I am more diplomatic than the lads

To be fair, given the U20s relative league positions he's probably earned the right to be a bit cocky.

Arguably not, but a) the thread isn't about Briscoe so I didn't think it relevant to bring him into it, and b) with Briscoe playing on the wing, his number one job isn't to field the last tackle kicks unless they specifically target his side. At fullback, Lyne's number 1 priority is retrieving the ball for the start of the set, and his positional play and speed (or lack of) in carrying it out made an already difficult job even harder for him and cost us a lot of yards and position.



I don't think he was awful overall (though I would not get close to saying he did well, either), but his positional play was. I don't actually blame him that much, I suspect he's made the move to fullback in an effort to improve his first team chances and maybe not without a little encouragement, but I just don't think he's at all cut out for it.

Ah so Reece cops the blame.......

He has now got the benefit of having coach who will bring out the best in him in time, remember Yeaman was simply dire for a long while and lets not even mention Sharp and Turner last terms whipping boys.

Too many injuries, too many inexperienced players, some senior players having shall we say an off day and other players injured during the encounter. This was always going to happen today and it will happen again and again, our squad is not deep enough or right and its not PG team.

We have been punching above our weight and we will again when we get enough fit bodies together, hopefully towards the end of this month things should improve week on week. Until then lets be happy we are where we are in the league and thankfully we went out to a better team in the cup.

Don't think anyone's done that, TBH. We were outplayed by a better side pretty much everywhere on the pitch, so singling out any 1 player for the blame would be pretty stupid. It just stood out that he was out of his depth.

The thread might not be about Briscoe, but as it's about how well (or not) Lynn played, I thought it was quite relevant to compare an aspect of his play for which you had criticised him with that of one of our internationals. It is enbumbent upon Briscoe to return the balls kicked to him with purpose as much as it is the full back.

Yet it was Sherriff giving it the big man strut in the game last week

Enbumbent? WTF?

The problem for me was that everytime they kicked he was always too close to either touch line, leaving a massive gap in between him and which ever winger had dropped back. It just seemed he had no brain for playing FB.

Unless I've missed something, I don't think anyone has actually blamed Reece for today's loss...

As I've said on the Ellis thread, it is far more difficult for backs to get to grips with SL than it is forwards. Backs are often exposed one on one and mistakes invariably cost tries.

Firstly, I criticised the combination of his ambling, lack of confidence with a bouncing ball, and his positional play. It's the 3 together that I thought was the real problem. Personally, if I was playing at fullback continually being turned around and without being confident of picking the ball up (which is a bit of a problem in itself for a professional RL player), I'd be making sure I got to the ball as quickly as I could to give myself as much time as possible, not casually strolling about with a strong kick chase breathing down my neck.

Secondly, I said it was Briscoe's job when his side is targetted. But seeing as a winger tends not to be the one to return the ball as often as the fullback, by it's nature it's less of a problem even though it is still one that should be eradicated.

Thirdly, Briscoe offers us far more in every other aspect of the game than Lyne, not least being the quality of his return once he does gather the ball. I'm not trying to pretend Briscoe doesn't have faults and I never have, but I can see what he offers to make up for them. With Lyne I can't, really.

For me, his contribution to the game was very little in the way of positive. If you were to break his game down, it doesn't make good reading at all. Not wanting to completely put a downer on the kid, but if you look at what he offered he REALLY needs a lot of work.

He looked very nervous catching high balls, and dropped a simple one. His positional play was shocking, which meant he was never really in a position to catch high balls anyway (possibly linked?). His pace to chase down players on the break was ordinary at best (I thought this kid was meant to be rapid?). His kick returns were weak, as a result of the lack of positional sense, pace and bulk to make any sort of impact in the tackle (ultimately resulting in him getting smashed in each tackle, held up, worked to the floor and turned in his back. Never a quick PTB). He never offered any extra options or supported players on the break. He very rarely joined the attacking line until the end.

To me, the only positive for having him in the team was that he was young and not injured. I don't think that's enough of a reason to pick a player in all honesty, but we're getting to a point where we have little choice. I personally would give another youngster a go against Wigan if we have no other options. Lyne just has too much to work on at the moment and have no reason as to why he should keep his shirt. Players need that desire, and he's not shown it just yet.

Pro players are always going to be criticised (quite rightly) The fans pay their money to watch these people. For me Reece lacks composure and positional sense to be a fullback,never mind a good fullback. His lack of confidence in his catching ability is so apparent and I am very surprised Brough let him off lightly today.
I also don't think he's fast enough to be a SL winger.

And Wigan's full back is a 6foot odd and carry 17 stone

" yer right "

and thats just his ego!

No he's isn't but he plays like he is, it's called desire and commitment. I don't believe Reece has any tbh.

If a player is good enough he is bigger enough ,Size count for nothing if you have a rugby brain

Well that would appear to rule Reece out as well.

I'm surprised in this injury crisis that another highly rated young prospect, Jack Briscoe, hasnt been mentioned for a possible call up. He hasnt been sent out on duel contract either which i find strange given the amount of youngsters you have sent out for experience.

I think he was 18th man today.

His kick returns were weak, as a result of the lack of positional sense, pace and bulk to make any sort of impact in the tackle (ultimately resulting in him getting smashed in each tackle, held up, worked to the floor and turned in his back. Never a quick PTB) when did you see this? no better or worse than any of the backs really! in fact his first carry stood up n never got took too ground and won a pen fighting for another quick play of the ball. different players are taught different ways to carry ball into contact in different ways in different scenarios. cos he didn't put ball under one arm and charge in doesn't make it weak. Against rovers 20s last week he ran over top of couple of players this week against set lines of big men it was ball in 2hands late foot work n try push through the tackle. Ever speak to a 1st team player about the technical aspects n its an eye opener to how technical the small things are. Bet his metres in contact were comparable to any of the backs!

use to play the year above him and use to watch his games. yes he use to stroll in for try after try because of his pace at that level but hes never had a challenge or had to develop his game that time is now and its not happening he just doesnt look to have anything apart from athleticism we will see hopefully he will get better but if hes any position it isnt full back lets see if gentle can work his magic and get reece to were we all wanna see him had the potential to be international level lets not keep knocking these youngsters though they need our support more then anyone

When does Lyne's contract run out? I can imagine him leaving at the end of the season. With McKinnon's injury history I would expect that Gentle and McRae might be looking out for a young player to act as his understudy for next season, unless Shaul comes through.