Preccy was a much better defender one on one, he was good at bringing the ball back to the opposition, quite often beating the first man. He's scored quite a few 100 metre solo tries as well.

I don't think so. Preccy was actually HANDED OFF by Edwards on that score. At least George Williams is quick.

Stevie could have been one of the greats with a few extra inches. But he was a horrible tackler.

Preccy did make quite a few one on one tackles in his seasons, Quinny has not made any at all so far.

I think I,m going to leave Preccy alone now, just in case we start to go down the wrong road with this one

Yeah, well - seasons vs games is not a fair comparison.



People really need to remember just how dire the situation was when Quinlan got the call. Sure, Tommy would do a good job. But only at the expense of an entire wing.

Besides, it's not as though great fullbacks are everywhere in this league. Take away Hardaker and you are left with a very shaky bunch indeed.

Wigan's starting fullback dropped more clangers earlier this season than anyone.

Not sure why Steve Prescott's got brought up, however, in a Saints shirt I thought he was excellent in the fullback position. That isn't rose tinted specs, I genuinely thought he offered a lot in attack and was very very good on the 1 on 1 tackle.

And Shaun Edwards made everyone at some point look rather silly because he was a legend of the game. One of the greats.

Aye. Precky was light so he wasn't much use when a forward broke through and ran straight at him, but he was brilliant in situations like that Williams break.

You mean, aside from when Shaun Edwards (a considerably slower player) did him in very similar fashion.

Edwards wasn't slow.

Not sure why you've even picked him out as an example. Quinlan is very very ropey in defence and tackling 1 on 1, Prescott wasn't...why are we comparing them and to top it off using a one off moment were he got done by one of greats of rugby league?

Mugs is off on one.

But I've no idea why after a really good win the faults of our fullback are ahead of mose's impact, Turner putting in a more creative shift at 6 than we've seen most of this year, swift following up a hatrick with a great finish, Walsh playing a blinder and showing he can take on the line. Defending God knows how many repeat sets. Etc etc

So much good to pick from but as ever the focus on the one or two negatives

Not forgetting Makinson's match winning tackle mate!

True true or percy getting up in Wigan faces causing errors,
Or quinlan himself stopping a goal line try, percy grounding the ball before was it Williams.

I could go on and on and on and on and on......

Why are we comparing? Oh I don't know. Perhaps it might have something to do with them both being small, sleight in frame and weak tacklers because of it? And no matter how fast Edwards was - others have already pointed out that Prescott was quick enough to go the length of the field. So no excuses. Certainly not for being handed off also.

For someone playing out of position, away from home and likely without any inducement to stay Quinlan is doing OK.

Precisely. I thought last year this board couldn't get much lower in terms of negativity. But this season really has set a new benchmark.

At times I feel like I'm in a minority of about five regular posters who think this is a damned good side.

Forget about comparisons with other seasons. They are gone. We can only beat what's in front of us and given the nightmares we've endured this campaign - not to mention a rookie coach - I think we have a lot to feel proud of.

I mean, where are the usual crowd of Adam Swift bashers? Seem to have gone awful quiet once more. That move he put on in the corner for the try was mesmeric.

I just wished we used Percival as much as we use Jones. Can we swap them around? Seems daft to have our best attacking threat gathering dust on the right.

I agree that Percy is underused. But possession is a two-way street. If a strike player doesn't feel he's getting enough ball it's up to him to go looking for it.

It's the one area of Percy's game he needs to improve. Look at Turner. He's always making himself available and it's no co-incidence he's got 100 tries in SL.

Steve Prescott was a few inches taller than Quinlan and easy had a stone on him and wasn't a weak tackler. So it's a poor comparison.

Prescott's defence (and the early onset of his illness) was the difference between him staying and leaving Knowsley Road.

Aside from Jamie Lyon & Tommy Martyn I haven't seen a more naturally gifted player than Prescott. He was outstanding in all aspects of the game - [iapart from tackling[/i.

He wasn't big enough and he was regularly brushed off. And now you are saying Quinlan is SMALLER than Prescott - playing in a league where the opposition is BIGGER than anything Prescott ever faced.

Yep. That explains it.

Is the opposition bigger now or is that yet another silly sweeping statement???

Prescott's tackling was never an issue from memory.

And Prescott didn't leave the club because of his defence...

Agreed. Prescott defence was never a issue unless he had to defend short to the line but his cover tackling was as good as any fullback.

His kick returns was top class, he often beat the first man and often went on to 60 or 70 meter breaks.

Tbh it's embarrassing to even talk of quinlan in the same breath as prescott as HES not in his league and never Willl be.

Prescott was tough, brave, full of heart and as we know he's a real fighter and Quinlan is non of those.

Quinlan is Leon Felton level of a player.

He left because he was short changed (salary) by Saints.

I can't BELIEVE you are seriously suggesting teams are the same size today as they were when Prescott first emerged.

How many players in the Saints pack were over six-one when Eric Hughes was coach? Even Bomber?

Guys like Ryan Hall, Tom Lineham - even Burgess would have been certain second-row forwards. Hell - some are even big enough to play prop!

EVERYONE was short-changed by Saints in those days. Talk to Les Quirk. He has one or two interesting stories to tell.

Don't know, I use to speak to Les Quirk (The Original Barrow Arrow) when he came back as an electrician at BAE Systems in Barrow in Furness. He never mentioned anything about that. Do you know him.

Muggers, there was plenty of players over 6"1 when Hughes was in charge.

Players were just as big when Prescott was playing. That Bulls side of 97 was huge including their wingers.

Quote ="St pete"Agreed. Prescott defence was never a issue unless he had to defend short to the line but his cover tackling was as good as any fullback. His kick returns was top class, he often beat the first man and often went on to 60 or 70 meter breaks. Tbh it's embarrassing to even talk of quinlan in the same breath as prescott as HES not in his league and never Willl be. Prescott was tough, brave, full of heart and as we know he's a real fighter and Quinlan is non of those. Quinlan is Leon Felton level of a player.'" I think this should put it to bed, on everything said above. Its the 1996 super league game at Wilderspool between Warrinton and Saints 1996. Enjoy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZL3BSl200A

Quote ="St pete"Agreed. Prescott defence was never a issue unless he had to defend short to the line but his cover tackling was as good as any fullback. His kick returns was top class, he often beat the first man and often went on to 60 or 70 meter breaks. Tbh it's embarrassing to even talk of quinlan in the same breath as prescott as HES not in his league and never Willl be. Prescott was tough, brave, full of heart and as we know he's a real fighter and Quinlan is non of those. Quinlan is Leon Felton level of a player.'" I think this should put it to bed, on everything said above. Its the 1996 super league game at Wilderspool between Warrinton and Saints 1996. Enjoy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZL3BSl200A