Latest rumours were Berrigan going home, Burnett finding a new club and could Briscoe play centre.....

Shoot!

All true .

Are you speaking in cryptics, Paul?

Are we in the market for a player named Gus

Excellent, thread closed, cheers!

As true as you saying sammut to sign last monday ?

Briscoe is a darn good winger, let's just leave him there.
Berrigan i think will end up staying.
Burnett isn't good enough at our club with Tickle, Manu, Lauaki etc.

Here here!

regarding briscoe at centre... I was under the impression he was (is) a 'natural' centre before he played on the wing. he's got my vote and i believe he could do it to a good standard

He posted what he had genuinely heard and shared it with the rest of us, just because it has not happened poeple want to keep reminding every time he posts something. Is this not a rumour thread?

I agree. Some of the tries he has created for himself stuck out on the wing suggest he could cause plenty of damage further in field at centre.

We could have the best centre prospect in this country IMO.

Berro as good as gone

Another Rule cock up from what I hear.

to55er

You missed out Calders resigning on a 1-year deal.

Why would we need him?

Berro out
Briscoe to centre
Calders to wing.

Cock-up or deliberate strategy?

the next few weeks will tell us

Can't wait. Go on, Standee.

Thought everyone on here loved Rule. For me he's no doubt got good business acumen and is spot on with the marketing etc but he should have stuck to that, his running of the sporting side of things is e

my thoughts too.

could be still a bit of tranfer movement to come

Exactly, we don't. We need to be playing Reece Lynne in the first team, at the very least for 50% of next season's games. He is a great prospect, and unlike most players of his age, he appears both physically and mentally ready for it. Of course he will make some mistakes, but he appears to have the temperament to learn from them. Playing him in the reserves all season would stifle his development.

This allows us to play Briscoe in the centre, giving us a bit of pace and extra punch in that part of the field, unlike any of the other alternatives. Personally I see no problem with him playing in the centre. He is basically a pretty outstanding player, he will adapt to it, just as he has adapted to wing when used to playing as a junior in the centres. His hands are fine, it's not as if all top class centres handle the ball like Mat Gidley anyway.

Genuine question, do you have some examples please of when he has created his own tries through skilful play, or traditional centre play?

For me, Briscoe is a damn good finisher, but it has mainly been coming off the back of others putting him in gaps, or his acceleration when picking up a loose ball. The only examples I can think of him making his own tries is down to his raw strength getting him through a tackler. This is not certain to remain a key part of his game if he was moved infield, as he'd find himself coming up against bigger players more often.

There seems to be a train of thought that he'd be more effective at centre simply because he'd see the ball more often, but that doesn't necessarily follow. It's about the quality of possession, not just the amount.

why whats he done now

Dont mistake creates chances from nothing to mean as a centre, he hasnt played centre yet.

The first game of the season away at saints he scored a try from nothing from 90 metres. Strength, speed and a side step. Warrington away near end of season he got the ball stood still opposite Riley and put on a Newlove esque sidestep and strong finish - a finsh few others would have made.

For England his break from the Graham pass to calmly draw the full back (OK it was only PNG) and put Clubb away suggest he is more then just a finisher who is not aware of players around him.

The fact he has played wing so much in his short career I think is giving people a pre judged idea that may not be totally accurate of what Tom has to offer.

Think with that last sentence you've unintentionally supported trying him in the centres. On the wing the vast, vast majority of his possession is taking the ball up from dummy half. Which in fact he is very good at, but in a team lacking attacking prowess, we would surely be well advised to be trying to do much much more with him.