Re King, we are not playing to his strengths, now I’m not advocating 5 drives and a kick to the corner, however taking the high kick when attacking the opponents line was one of his main strengths, how many times did we see him jump and score, or recycle the ball, or did we force a set restart with an accurate kick to the line, it’s definitely not his fault if we either swap him to the opposite centre, and change tactics and stop kicking to him, he can beat a man, however his final pass or lack there of is often found wanting. There are a few things we could do if he was dropped, a few players we could move position, Currie to centre, deputised well there a few seasons back, however his defence this year has been shocking, Ratchford to centre, as let’s face it he’s ineffective in the halves, or put Wrench to his natural position, bring Charley back into the fold, as he was actually scoring a few tries this year compared to last, whilst we are talking position changes and centres, I would leave Widdop at Full back, get Mata’utia in the halves, as the game he played there with Dean vs Hudds, was probably the most exciting rugby we have played all season, Mata’utia needs to be involved in the play as again I think he has been ineffective at centre, his top try scoring since he has been in this county was 4 tries all season, hardly a great strike rate from centre. I personally would like to see 1 to 7 as this is where the most interchangeable players are, FB Widdop, Wings Charnley & Ashton Centre Ratchford & Wrench, Halves Mata’utia & Williams, we also have Thewlis & Minikin when fit to throw in there. Defence wins games, if we sort that out we might start winning a few. Now there’s a thought.

Good Post.

Some interesting ideas, and combinations.

Anyone know what has happened to Tom Whitehead ? He was named in the first team squad for this season but not seen him mentioned in the Reserves. He might be too old for the Academy.

think he was squeezed out

Took me a little while but I got it eventually!

I think there's more to the Charnley situation than simply a few bad games. I would expect Powell to give Thewlis more time on the wing at the expense of Charnley, as Thewlis needs first team rugby even if he can't displace Widdop at the back. Thewlis has a quicker play the ball to put us on the front foot, is better at defending grubber kicks and is faster due to his off-the-mark acceleration.

It's a funny one with Widdop; he was outstanding against Saints but looked like it was his first senior game against Leeds. I can't work out where he plays best because he is so inconsistent this season.

It will be interesting to see where he goes re the team for Friday. Powell has said that he favours Thewlis / Wrench over Charnley as they are the future. Next season I think that we expect to Thewlis to play at Fullback with Ratchford, assuming that he is given a contract extension, becoming more of a squad player. Wrench and Minikin would therefore be challenging for Wing and ultimately Centre spot. If we haven't made a signing as direct replacement for Widdop then is Powell thinking of playing Mata'utia at Halfback?

I’m afraid I disagree with Charnley. He is a classic example of how a reputation can improve by NOT playing. The tries he scored this season were largely gimmes. He poses no attacking threat and he still insists on tangling people at the ptb. Wrench or Thewlis offer far more now.

I just don't see Thewlis as a winger really. You don't usually put a smallish, lovely passer of the ball/who likes a dummy ... on the wing.
Especially as wingers get used so much to take the ball up.
His skills seem to be more suited to half-back, full-back & centre.

and we go full circle, in a powell attack, it doesn't matter who you've got on the wing, get the attack right, all the tries look like gimmes or walk ins

This is my main gripe. I don’t think he’s been able to shake off his antics learned under Price.

There are some good points made about it not mattering who sits on the wing in a Powell side, but Charnley’s distraction with flapping about and staring at the ref may be seen as a negative mindset by Powell. He just wants quick PTBs so the team can get in a decent position for those attacking structures.

Charnley has been a very good winger in the past, but he’s not the future of the club. I’ll take an out-of-position Thewlis there instead. Welsby spent a lot of time on the wing at Saints, looking distinctly average, but now he’s bedded in at full back he looks a different player.

he's been out injured mate, hopefully back in the next few weeks

Mata'utia in the halves i wouldn't mind seeing again, he had by far the best game for us in that position

Glad I'm not the only one who picked up on Mata'utia being a decent looking halfback. Tried to stay quiet on that for the purpose of not looking insane.

Now to go against that... does anyone else think Williams would be a decent looking hooker? I feel like it would suit the way he likes to play. I'd still take Clark ahead of him there. And I'd prefer Walker to get the chance ahead of him as well but honestly I'd like to see it sometime. It's in my head now and I'm really intrigued by this idea. I just feel like it would work for him.

I don't think Ratchford is up to it anymore in the halves, and neither is Widdop. I'd go straight in with Thewlis at fullback and Dean at stand off and Mata'utia at halfback. The way Dean and Thewlis linked up in that first home game vs Wakefield was exciting. King will come good eventually, but he has still opened up defences, as well as opened ours too. I was optimistic about the Minikin signing and I still am. I think he'll be very effective. And for me, Wrench has secured that right wing spot.

Throw in a brand new forward pack that might see Currie and Holmes getting some competition and we're cooking. And if it goes wrong, we just pipe up and complain again

I still haven’t warmed to “Peanut” and given how well Powell know’s him it speaks volumes that he only put him there as a last resort. He also made it clear that while he always intended to play Riley Dean in the halves for that match Mata’utia was a last minute enforced change.

I know that it is very low bar, but for me Matautia has been of of our best players.

We definitely missed him in the recent loss at Wakefield.

Yep I think he's a good 'un. Tough, strong lad with good hands. What's not to like?

Got to say I'm really excited about next year with the incoming players. I know we've experienced many a false dawn, but on paper, if the players play to form, they're going to take some stopping down the middle.

4 massive units in Mikaele, Kasiano, Vaughan and Dudson. I wonder if anyone knows of a heavier set of 4 props that's ever played in SL in the same side?

I really don't see how anyone could have a problem with Mata'utias performances this season. I'd put him alongside wrench and Ashton as our 3 best players so far this season. Admittedly, there's not much competition!!

This year...

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Well never really worked for Hull as it, just saying there as been many a comment on Sky about the size of their pack, not saying that will happen to us but.

Its a good point, I think you do need a balance between size and mobility, but at the moment we are screwed because we can't get into an attacking position near the opposition line. We can't make yards down the middle and the opposition forwards find it easy to roll over us near our line. Whatever happens next year all of this should be resolved but Powell will need to find the right balance in the pack that he has available to him.

Meanwhile I still want to know who was responsible for allowing us to move into 2022 with such a powder puff set of props. Everyone on the planet was saying this was a mistake and so it has turned out.

Morley
Carvell
Wood
Cooper

they weren't exactly a massive set of props (in terms of man meat) compared to bradfords awesome foursome, vagana, anderson and the others i dont remember.

Brian McDermott
Stuart Fielden