Isn't the reason he went out to Wakey last year because he came back from pre-season unfit or have I made that up?

How xan you know that? Halley improved no end last season and if he continues to do so, I think he could be.

Just my opinion I dont know for sure but I think Halley will only ever be a decent fullback, he has pace and lots of it but that is about it. I would prefer seeing someone at FB that is a bit more of a ball player like Reardon or Kearney. However i do think halley deserves to start the season at FB and I am sure he will, and until we see how people go in terms of form and fitness, i think halley will be FB.

For mine i would put kearney at fb even though we signed him for stand off. That would allow sykes to stand off halley to the wing and possibly reardon to centre.
Before everyone says hang on, how well did halley play at fb last season, i agree, but kearney at his best is better than halley at his best so for the good of the TEAM which IMO would have a better balance, kearney to fb.

But is Sykes a better stand off than Kearney. Given it's a important position surely you put the best option there before picking fullback. Kearney's running and support play would suggest he's going to be well suited to either but if he's the better option than Sykes you pick him there first.
Halley has to get a starting place given he put in the some of the brighter performances and his best position looks to be fb.

I think a lot of people are living in the past regarding their views on Reardon as a full back.

Since he left Bradford I've seen no evidence he's improved one iota as a player. If he was any good at full-back surely he would have been able to displace Wellens for England/GB given the dearth of serious competition.

I also seem to recall many on here citing Reardon's lack of form for Wire as a 'good bit of business' for the Bulls, but now he's back he's suddenly seen as being better than Halley, a player who a few months ago was being touted as England standard by a few regular posters on this messageboard. Fans are certainly fickle.

I wonder what message it would send to the rest of the team if a hard working, on form, home grown player loses his spot for someone who originally left the club for the money, has been disgraced by recent off-field incidents and been cast aside by a club finishing lower in the table than Bradford...

But a GF Harry Sunderland trophy winner doesn't actually need that much improvement do they?


Did he pick the team?


It's not "his spot", though. If it's anyone's spot, it's Platt's spot. And if Reardon played F/B he would only do so for as long as he was playing well enough to keep the spot, same as anyone else. The others would get their chance through either injury or lack of form. I would be sure all the players understand that, and aren't little girls who would cry and throw their toys out of the pram at some spurious "message".





You think the players would blame him for going for a big contract? I think that's daft. And you know the reason he was "cast aside". But what "incidents"? AFAIR there was just the one? Do you know of more?

tbh I think exeter rhinos got a bit of a point. A lot of people are looking at reardon through rose tinted glasses. yes he had a great season in 2003, surrounded by a strong team, culminating in winning the harry sunderland. he was less effective in 2004, albeit unsettled after ellis fiasco. He's never really performed at a consistent level for wire and has only played 7 games in the last two years for them through injury. imo we need to ease him in and see how he goes. throwing him in to a key position in a team with a lot of new faces is probably a bad idea. Theres no reason for the poition that someone starts the season in to be their set in stone position for ever more. I suspect we'll see a few different combinations tried, both in friendlies and early season games, before we settle on one in particular and its a bit silly at this stage to say X player must play X position given that we've several players who can play multiple positions.
eg everyones assuming sykes is guaranteed a spot but I wouldnt be too surprised to see platt given a shot their in friendlies given his strong finish to the season and his better defence.

For the first time in a few years we have genuine options in our backline and we need to try out the variations ans see what works and what doesnt imo.

I really don't think they are, though. they are simply looking at past form, and if he isn't up to that standard any more, then we'll soon find out. of course, nobody can "know" whether he , or isn't, for the reasons you set out.


Don't think anyone would argue with that.

if all are fit, reardon!

It's been obvious for 24 months that David Halley was the best full back at the club, he should be full back next season but I fear he wont be for the majority. I can't understand why some people are still adamant that Michael Platt is a 'quality attacking player' either, despite 2 1/2 years of performances you would expect to see in national league one.

Egbert sounds like someone we know?

I have a feeling Reardon will surprise a lot of people, whatever position he plays.

On balance, I would probably prefer to see Halley on the wing - I reckon he could do more damage there - but I am quite content to see how the initial roles pan out since at least we have a few options now. Also very interested to see how Crookes fares in the centres - the forgotten man but I suspect with much to prove and much incentive.

I feel really sorry for Crookes to be honest.

Last year, with the complete lack of options in our backs, was the perfect opportunity for him. He just got into the side and would have had a decent amount of time to prove himself (or of course fail, but let's be positive here) and potentially cement his place in the 17. Instead a really bad injury hits at the worst possible time, and by the time he gets back, we actually have more options in the backs again, making it harder for him to get in the side.

He must feel like the rugby gods are really not happy with him for something.

David Halley is a rubbish winger, his talents would be totally and utterly wasted there.

Don't punish yourself trying to remember.

You might suppose that; I could not [ipossibly[/i comment...

Platt

If he bulks up could do a job in the back row as a Gilmouresque player