Is hall really doing anything that special? He's top of the try scoring charts, but as has been shown on numerous occassions, that does not necessarily mean he's on form, or even a good player.

I wasn't being definitive. That's why i said arguably. Hicks has had a good year but why are you so confident its' Hick "by plenty"?

For Hicks.

He's got 1 more try than Hall.

For Hall

Hall has a try assist, Hicks doesn't. Hall has made significantly more metres and has a much higher work-rate, as demonstrated by more carries. Hall has made more tackles and more than double the offloads than Hicks. Hall has run from dummy half 53 times to Hicks 10. Hall has ten more tackle busts, more clean breaks and more marker tackles.

But despite all that you say its' Hicks "by plenty".


Why?

He works hard for the forwards by taking plenty of drives/runs from Dummy Half and making lots of meters he's in the Top 5 Meters makers in Super League this season IIRC, He also makes quite a few Tackle Burst aswell...

Peter Fox for me.

A product of our set-up as well.

Fox SL's premier flanker for me.

His work rate is phenomenal.

See my post above.

He's the 5th leading metre maker in the league, not far behind Peacock for 2nd on our team.

He's carried the ball more than anyone on our team bar Peacock, showing a phenomenal work rate.

he's made the 2nd most clean breaks in the league.

He's made the 2nd most runs from dummy half on our team.

Its' not just his try scoring, the kid is developing into one of the best all round wingers in the league in front of the eyes of a very appreciating and or ill informed fan base. If he were called Vainikolo and played on another team our fans would be creaming themselves that we signed him. As he came through the ranks he's barely noticed.

Good winger, but inferior to Hall in every statistical dept other than runs from dummy half, though not by much.

Not that I put too much stock into those but they are an OK indicator of work-rate, especially for wingers.

Ironic thing about Fox, had he come through our ranks been on our wing our fans would've been baying for him to be sold and replaced by someone else. yet because he's doing no more than Hall is presently he's coveted.

Can't argue with much you've put there, but to compare him to Vainikolo is a bit far. On form, he was practically unplayable, and he ran through players for fun, although he had his downsides, like a turning circle like the Titanic

Well it depends how far back you go to define in form?, If we are talking the last three games then his record of 8 Tries in 3 Games including two hat-tricks arguably makes him the form winger compared with Ryan Halls 3 Tries in 3 Games ...
Ryan Hall yes might be the harder worker but i wouldn't call a hard working Winger a Winger that's in form compared to one who seems to be scoring for fun recently also Ryan Hall has made 4 more errors than Chris Hicks and missed two more tackles...
The view of by plenty over the course of the season may have been the incorrect call but over the last few games then yes Chris Hicks by plenty...

Fair enough. I was basing it on this season.

2 good 'uns in my eyes.

Fox to me fits the bill as an ideal winger. But what about Hall? He's having a great season but is he a natural winger? He's picked up some pace, that has deffo assisted him this year. And it was nice to see him score from 80 m against frogs, those kind of scores have been a rare sight from him (bar the odd intercept).

But his workrate is impressive, he just keeps driving. The strength he has, leads me to believe he will have a great rugby career, not only on the wing.

Good call and actually Vaikona might've been a better comparison, only for the dummy half work rate. I am NOT saying he's as good as Vaikona is yet.

But the point remains, if Hall was doing what he's doing for us in the jersey of another team the majority of posters on here would have a semi on at the thought of us signing him. Yet they're happy to discard him on a whim to get another player in a different position from another team.

Did you notice the strapping had gone from Hall's thigh in Murrayfield?

He looked very, very fast on his length of fielder and greenshields (no slouch) couldn't get within cooee.

Yeah we did comment on it. He didn't even look for support (pun not intended, honest!!), had the confidence to gallop the distance himself. For me wingers are confidence players (over any other position). Just look at Hall and Donald that tells it's own story. You can tell from the mentioned score that confidence is oozing from Hall, and he's professional enough to reign it in and keep going. As for Donald, I was relieved for him when he nicked that score at the end, boy he's been due a score after having 2 long rangers disallowed. And his general form and willingness to seek the ball has been dramatically improved in recent weeks.

Yup, spot on as usual my darling alias.

The chalet's booked.

See thee there.

Fekwittedry in seeing the grass greener on the other side of the fence

Sheriffes quite obviously the best winger in the league.













I couldn't even pull that one off

He was until you signed him and coached all the ability out of him

Well at least Tadulala's playing well

.

Very well put - he is developing into an NRL type athlete - his ability to catch the ball over his head consistently requires some serious hand to eye coordination add that to the confidence that comes from an extended run in the side and you have one hell of a player under the high ball

Agree entirely G but if/when he makes a mistake(s) he will be villified by many again!!!
As he's learning his improvement is there for all to see and long may it continue!!

I dont know who G1 is but I agree with all he has posted here. The others who want to discard everyone who is not an instant superman have got no idea.

I was building a three-quarter line for next season with Smith and Shenton on the right and Senior/Watkins with Donald on the left.

Others are free to build a three-quarter line without losing anyone from the present set up but the reality maybe that someone will have to go in the other direction to ease a player in. I gave a view of how I would be prepared to do that using Hall for the greater good of the squad while acknowledging his contribution so far this season.



People weren't it was just me for the reason I have given above. Or are Castleford desperate for a few quid which will be the likely Leeds cash offer?

I thought Smith's preferred position was Centre? Surely Smith/Shenton would be better in Centres than Gibson or Watkins?

Smith's preferred position (you'd have to ask him) but from a viewing perspective he's always looked most comfortable at full back.



Leeds' lack of finding a replacement for Toopi in the off season caused McClennan to trial Smith at right centre for 2009, not a position he'd ever started in for Leeds prior to being given the number 3 shirt.