I doubt it was Hampshire because he had a two year contract.

Not sure who it was but it wasn’t Hampshire.

I agree

As the roles of rugby league "positions" become more and more interchangeable, the need for RH to have a permanent position seems to be less important. Every club needs a utility player and I think Rocky suits that title more than anyone else.

I 100% agree with you re the value of a utility

However as some one that played the game I assure you no player grows up wanting to be a utility player

I don’t know Rocky but I’ve watched the game over 30 years and he strikes me as the sort of player that needs a regular spot (and deserves one) I also think he would benefit himself and the team for having a regular position (that’s just logical)

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Having a regular position is less important to the team but I'd say more important to Rocky.
His benefit to the team is enhanced by being so flexible but having to change position all the time means he has to reset his brain to new defense structure and new partnerships each time. It just doesn't help development.

If you think about fullback, Max is training everyday with his position in mind and developing a better game.
If Hampshire is covering half back and fullback he can only do 50% or less in one of the positions.

I personally think he's more valuable as a utility. But it depends whether that translates to money in his pocket. If utility translates to second choice, then it won't.

Where do we play Gaskell because all positions are currently filled but I would suspect we have invested quite heavily to secure his signature for a filler in.

Not true at all imo.

Although I agree that Hampshire almost certainly always saw himself as a SH not all players have a fixed idea of their position, unless dictated by certain physical criteria.

When I played there were plenty of good young lads who were happy to play anywhere. Quite a lot just enjoyed the game and had no real idea what their favoured position was. In fact many became dissolutions by unimaginative coaches who pigeon holed them due only to the stage of physical development they were in at the time.

It’s ridiculous, you can’t know your physical or mental limitations until you are about 17, much older in some cases.

So many players start off as utility players and remain so.

Arona is a utility player as is Crowther and a few others and I suspect they are happy to be so.

The Utility tag only really hold a player back at international level and even then some slip through. Most utility players have a much longer career than so called specialist.

Even the ultimate specialist Neil Fox eventually extended his career by adding other positions to his CV. More a progression I accept but the versatility is still there.

I know your now going to get abusive and tell me I know nothing but I’m sorry but I do. Utility is the future and the youngsters who spot that are the smart ones, yes specialist will always exist for clubs who can afford them but the MVP will be like Ellery Hanley, the ultimate utility player who’s career was not remotely blighted by the title.

But he’s not a filler in. Gaskell will almost certainly start at centre and when Bill is fit he will have to dislodge him. That will only happen if Gaskell loses form, is injured or his services are desperately needed elsewhere.

That’s not a filler player that’s a quality player who can hold down almost any position offered. Players like Bill, Jowitt and Lyne will be very nervous of Gaskell and that’s a good thing

B T ,Jowitt and Lyne will not have to wait long before Gaskell is out injured .And to say he should be picked in front of the three mentioned players is a bad statement Gaskell like most of the players Mr Chester signed was a bad call

That would worry me if Gaskell was a shoe in to start at centre.Played only around 10% of his career in centres and only once in last 3 years.IMHO think opposition would have a field day attacking his side.Fullback/Halfback yes - centre,please god no.

He’s not a shoe in, I’m assuming Bill won’t be fit enough to start the season full throttle, hence Gaskell will probably play there and if he does it’s fair to assume it’s Gaskells to lose, is that not how it works.

Got a crystal ball have you? I don’t mind opinions I do mind silly speculation, you have no idea how he will do.

How many times do people make silly statements like that only to come on half way through the season saying something lame like ‘I don’t mind admitting I got that one wrong, happy to eat humble pie blah blah. Don’t eat humble pie just give every player a clean slate at the start of the season, it’s only fair. Wouldn’t you like people to offer you the same courtesy?

Always looked decent to me.

Well you did ask……
However there is no need for abuse, I will leave that to you

You are a true font of rl knowledge

I wish more than anything that you could get a role within the club
As I’m sure the few remaining that post on here will do also

Our top 4 status would be almost guaranteed with you advising MC on how to run a business and Poaching on how to coach, you could even help the physio as well as the strength and conditioning team with your almost infinite knowledge drawn from Wikipedia and google.

If only you could mentor the youngsters coming through with your vast on field rl experience
Can you imagine…….. soon be producing England international on a weekly basis

You are a true RL polymath vastman

I think Gaskell won a Grand Final at centre when he was at Saints.

So you will leave abuse to others but then send a long post like this where no part of it is about anything but Vastman.
Leave it out. You don't have to agree but at least just make your point with trying to belittle the other. That applies to everyone.

No he only played in one and that was when they lost to Leeds and he was Stand Off.

The crux is that he can play there and reasonably well from what I have seen.

Bill would be the first choice in anyone's book but I can't see him being totally match ready to play in all the start of season games. ditto Croft the next in line. So by default that's his best chance to cement his place, I assume he will go for it meaning Bill will have some work on his hands, I see that as a positive.

Vasty you would choose Bill as first choice centre on the basis of what ... his performances several years ago ? , injury 100 % made him our least effective centre over the last three seasons, its like saying Neil Fox is our first choice centre. Any judge looking at our centres over last three seasons would put Bill at last choice centre. We have got to hope that he makes a full recovery from his latest injury and gets some form back. Our best centre was Arundel, lets hope Croft comes back from his injury and that we can sign a new centre. The idea of playing Gaskill in the centre is madness, amongst his skill set you will not find defence or ball carrying. He can cover 6 and 7. He is not a patch on Rocky in any position, Rocky`s skill set is vastly superior in every aspect of the game. Madness that Chester did not get Rocky signed up.

Fair point all be it massively OTT as usual.

Who would you choose as the first choice centre if Bill was 100% fit?

Not any judge by the way Belly, just you and one or two others



I have to wonder, if Joe is that good (and I always liked him) why is he at Halifax and not another SL club?

Joe could have joined stayed in SL, he took the decision to drop down and play part time.

Yes he ibly could play there and you are right he has played there before but so as batch do you want him starting the season at centre.gaskell if and when fit should be 1 6 or 7 and if he doesnt it could prove to be another bad cc signing.i think the whole back division is a problem and concerns me we have 3 centres 1 is quality 1 use to be quality but hasnt been for 3 years and is ciming back from a long time out with a serious injury and the other is a largely unproven younster coming back from a serious injury then the wingers 1 injury prone 1 out till may plus linham and kay who is apparently going to be more of an hooker.within a couple of games we could be struggling yes the injured players could come back fit as ever and return to form or take time to get back into it.(if only we ha a crystal ball)now im all for youngsters been given a chance and im sure murphy could go well but we cant afford to many at once.

Course im not allowed to have any negativity or be in the slightest bit concerned about my club

You make me laugh as all people do with this attitude.

Do you somehow think you're so brilliant that you've spotted issues the rest of us are too dumb to notice, including MC/JM/WP and uncle Tom Cobley and all? Thus anyone who is positive is rose-tinted, whilst you are somehow realistic and in touch with reality.

You don't need to be smart to find problems, especially at a small club like ours. To find the answer is what makes you smart.

So to save Jose from pointing out the obvious, here are some questions. How are you going to fund the team you want, how are you going to pay off all those players you want rid of, including paying all the inevitable legal costs. Did you apply for the head coach job at the club, you really should have, though unluckily for you I'm apparently next in line.

My question to you is why do you continually point out the blooming obvious yet offer absolutely no real answers? We employ a coaching team to sort out the team and have a BOD's to do the rest off-field and they simply can't please everyone. If you can do better go for it but like the rest of us you can't because you don't have the ability or the cash do you?

Opinions are opinions but there comes a point where it's just moaning for the sake of it in my opinion. I'd get it if we were halfway through the season without a win but as yet we have not even finished putting the team together. So why not do what we are supposed to do, it's in our name, supporters, so just support at least until the wheels do actually come off.