How did people like Staveley, Martin and Wacokecoke go?

i agree with you about Ben but i expect we will see Shaul go to full back rather than Litten and if McNamara doesnt cut it then i can see Shaul at full back for our opening fixture

Litten was excellent when he came on, Sunday. I read somewhere he’s off to Oz, next season. I think McNamara has to be given time to bed in the new spine, you certainly can’t make a judgement call on one pre season outing. I certainly don’t think Hoy should be moved from fullback, that’s his position and you called the last 2 coaches for playing round pegs in square holes. This isn’t a dig btw.

Problem is our youngsters aren't top class anymore coming through

Fash got our player of the year yet didn't get close to a world cup call up

That sums us up at the moment

Likes of brown fash Lane are OK but they're no where near Richard Horne Cooke or yeaman class

Wigan saints and Leeds youngsters come straight off the belt

The city of our size the recent development has been poor in general last 10 years

Playing Hoy at six isnt a square peg in a round hole


Tex Hoy is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback and five-eighth . He previously played for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League. Wikipedia

I agree and have said previously i hope we keep Hoy at full back.
I just dont see very much at all in McNamara as a six.Nothing to do with coming back from injury or the friendly game.
What ever the coach does we have to back his judgement but i am certain for our opening game we will see Jamie Shaul involved rather than Litten and probably off the bench

Reply to:

Playing Hoy at six isnt a square peg in a round hole


Tex Hoy is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback and five-eighth . He previously played for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League. Wikipedia

I agree and have said previously i hope we keep Hoy at full back.
I just dont see very much at all in McNamara as a six.Nothing to do with coming back from injury or the friendly game.
What ever the coach does we have to back his judgement but i am certain for our opening game we will see Jamie Shaul involved rather than Litten and probably off the bench

I agree Mcnamara is a concern, seems too ponderous when he gets the ball, he has never once impressed me when playing first grade, but better coaches than us see something in him, so trust the judgement of Smith, Hoy has played 6 before, at NRL level, so he is an option. I like Jamie Shaul and if Smith can improve his link up play and distribution, then we do have some options, but Davey Litten looks like a Rolls Royce, effortlessly picks up the plays and has a great future, I just hope we can retain him.

Staverly looked the part, very physical, expect him to debut this season.

It's great that Shaul has impressed with his attitude in training, buy like others if he doesn't improve his game on the last few years then he shouldn't make the 17.

If Hoy isn't to be moved and can see the reasons why, it could be Lovodua at 6.

I'd avoid that temptation, Lovodua, is not a half for me, anyway. Clifford is more six than seven, whenever I have watched NRL, which was every weekend at one time before SKY got too expensive. play Ben McNamara at scrum half, despite my misgivings , everyone speaks highly of his ability. Despite the fact that Lovodua was signed as hooker, his distribution wasnt that great whenever I saw him at off half and Ben Mc can pass efficiently , do he'd get the nod for me until Truman id ready. Worrying that we are still sweating over this issue, though but when everyone is fit, we do have what looks like a tremendous spine, with viable options. My worry is Hoy, good player and rapid, but it takes time to settle in any new environment and the British winter will only compound that, I think he could quite easily get very homesick, particularly if he doesn't start well.

McNamaras passing looked poor against Sheffield, just don't see what he offers currently, slow and doesn't create much with passing and kicking. For all Lovoduas faults he can create things as we saw a fee times last year.

My twopenneth on who should partner Clifford in place of Trueman until he's fit, I'd leave Hoy at FB as primarily that's his position and being new to the team, competition and country it would be better for him to focus/concentrate on the fullback role. McNamara whilst he is maybe not the most dynamic of players I think he would be the best fit and in fairness to him before his injury last season he was the better than either Gale or Reynolds and linked up play well with Jake. He is pretty strong defensively which would allow Clifford to roam and both can link up play with Hoy. I think under Smith's coaching also he may be able to be a little more adventurous. Lovodua is an odd one for me, I like him but just not sure where he really fits in, I didn't think he offered anything more than McNamara when he deputised in the role last season himself. Would prefer to see Lovodua played at 9 and given a run in that position. Yes we have Shaul to FB as an option but I don't feel that is an option that is currently needed.

Don't agree Chris, Wigan away, Lovodua was a constant threat and made two trys, also the magic game, I don't think I've ever seen that type of performance (or even a hint of it) from McNamara.

Dave, don't get me wrong I wouldn't be adverse to either Lovodua or McNamara starting in the halves alongside Clifford but for me Hoy needs to focus on FB.
Like I say I like Lovodua, I'd just prefer him at 9 with Dwyer but he needs to be given a run rather than moved all over like he was last season. Last season was a horror show under BH and the 6 & 7 was never a settled combo with Reynolds being cut, Gale missing due to suspensions then McNamara getting injured but I didn't think McNamara did too bad when he did play, he's not as dynamic as Lovodua granted but do think that lends itself to enable Clifford to roam about.
ATEOTD Smith knows what he is doing so in him we trust and the decisions.

I agree we have to support what our new coach sees as our best starting line up.
Still think Jamie Shaul will be in our 17 against Cas,probably on the bench.
That would give him the opportunity of moving Hoy to 6 if necessary if things are not working with McNamara/Lovodua

I think you misconstrued what I said about “round pegs in square holes”. My point was and still is, Hoy is our fullback, that’s where he should play. Lovodua is our hooker along with Dwyer, they should stay there. McNamara should be at halfback. Too many times under the last 2 coaches, especially under Hodgson, we’d make 4 positional changes to accommodate one player, no wonder there was no cohesion and ed off players. I trust Smith to stick to his team selection unless we get another catastrophic injury crisis.

Didn't Hoy want to leave Newcastle because he wasn't getting games at fullback? Probably best not to move him away from fullback if that's the case

See we've signed Josh Hodgsons cousin, Jeylan Hodgson.

All I know is he plays hooker, pretty strong in that department in the youth with him and Balmforth, has to be Houghtons last year.

Lovodua needs a big season to justify his quota spot too.

I agree that Shaul could potentially be on the bench but would hope there is no need to and that's nothing to do with Shaul as a player just I'd like to think that the plan is to play Hoy and allow him to focus on the FB role. The same with whoever comes in to play alongside Clifford whether it's Lovodua or McNamara.
We do at least have some options for Smith to ponder over heading in to the season and this is where having a Head Coach with proven track record and experience helps.

In agreement with you Armavinit, as you say we have seen for far too long players moved around to accommodate rather than going with players in their favored and preferred positions. In the short term it wouldn't really be too much of an issue but for quite a few rounds I think it will hamper us not only through those games but also when Trueman comes in as players will have settled in and then have to then readjust all over again.
In a team game (no matter what sport) when you have players available in those positions and a coach then moves players around and out of their respective positions always strikes me of a Coach/Manager not having much confidence in a few things be it the available players, the game plans etc. With Smith he's an experienced and proven Coach who knows what he's doing and his record speaks for itself so whoever is in the 17 will likely be there on merit and do the job in hand.

If I'm honest I can't remember the last time I actually felt confident in a coach, I think I'd have to go back to Peter Sharp. So far Smith seems to be ticking all the right boxes and I'm confident that the changes he is making will reap the rewards whilst remembering Rome wasn't built in a day.

If Lovodua and Sutcliffe are both in the team, we've got enough options to juggle things around in a match without having to carry an outside back on the bench.

Saying that... Wigan did switch the spine around during matches in 2018. They had Escare on the bench and would bring him on and move Tomkins to 6 and Powell to 9.

I don't see a place for Shaul in the 17, as it stands. Not good to play fullback a d if McNamara isn't working out we have other options, I don't see us carrying a fullback on the bench as it stands

Shauls has been a great player for the club and hopefully he back to his best, a running threat. However, I agree, he just isn’t rounded enough to be a technical fullback so falls behind Hoy.

Davy Litten looks a Gem, I just hope he can fill out a bit. With litten and McIntosh able to be back ups I think the cap is sadly wasted on Shaul. Probably the highest paid back up full back in the league.

Has anyone seen the youngest Hodgson play and how old is he. If he’s as good as the rest of the family we could have Balmforth & Hodgson as a hooker partnership for the next 10 years.

academy is really looking good now. Some decent prospects who should fill in gaps around first team now. I just think we’re missing a natural Halfback to be excited about.

I hope we look at poaching from teams around us. Id rather we let teams like Warrington have the old Aussies and we poach their young talent like Stavely & Balmforth.

Anyone know what happened to Joel speed & Jude Ferreira. They seemed to be highly rated and then just disappeared

Could have Houghton on 100k a year been 3rd choice hooker

He should be cause dwyer especially and lovodua both better than Houghton

Clubs media day today. Expect plenty of interviews