was one of radfords best games for us

hope he is a prop for us this year

berro will start at saints.as for cusack,he's an up and down the middle prop,no variety,but he'll do a job for us ,when asked.1 average game doesn't make him a poor player.

Didn't hear his name get read out pre match!

me neither good job i changed it

Dont think Knocker said he was a bad player. Thought he just said he'd had an average game.

We called it Dave ' Team Radford'

finally everyone else is seeing the light!!

FWIW i thought Radders played very well but i'd pick Dowes out for praise too. Ive been saying that Dowes would be 5th choice this season so nice to see he's up for the challenge.

Excellent point well made!

Agree..lots of options, let the fight for the shirts begin this will bring the best out of the boys.

...and on the back of an injury-ridden season - so not bad for a first major workout.

I, for one, was happy to see Dowes play well. His try was very encouraging - I think in other years he would have been stopped quite a way short of the line.

Providing they all stay fit we have some great options. I thought starting Manu and Lauaki in the 2nd row didnt work. I thought both Manu and Lauaki as well as Cusack and Moa were all average. We still had enough to win the game. Looking forward to seeing them get up to speed too.

Radford played well but it will be interesting to see if he can play to that standard on a regular basis. He usually has a good game a couple of times a season so I will be more than happy if he can play to that standard regularly.

I though Moa had improved from last season, he is a handful and draws the defence in well, we can build on that, take them up the middle draw them in then let Long do his stuff and ship it our wide or kick down.

Hope he does. If him and Dowes play to that standard every week we do have some serious choices to make.

There was a rumour that Moa had taken a knock in training so not sure whether he was 100% anyway.

Guess if there was one area of concern it would be at 6. I know it was his testimonial so dont want to get on his back too much but Horney didnt look the part. Did he pick up a knock early?

I dont think the balance of the pack was quite right at times but with us trying to give lots of players gametime it was to be expected, will be interesting to see who are the 4 main props at Saints and how they are used, same goes for the back row.

Discussed on a different thread, yep I agree he needs to improve very quickly, personally see Turner putting some pressure on for the shirt.

Moa caused damage and his speed of play the ball is the best we have in our forwards.

From a balance point of view im not sure if Radford, Dowes and Cusack can all be in the 4. Those 3 and then either Moa or O'Meley doesnt feel balanced to me. I'd expect one of the 3 to drop out to accomodate Moa and O'Meley unless Lauaki plays prop?

Back row for me has to be one of Manu/Lauaki starting alongside Burnett or Tickle. The one that doesnt start from Manu/Lauaki should then come off the bench for a spell. Saying that, i'd still look at playing Fitz in the 2nd row with Washy at 13 but i know Agar wont do that so is irrelevant.

Lauaki and O'Meeley have to be two of the props which only leaves two spots to shar between Moa, Radford, Dowes and Cusack. It will be interesting to see who get the nod.

In the back row I would have Manu and Fitz with Washy at 13 and Tickle from the bench but it seems Washy won't get a starting spot which is disappointing. So I would imagine Manu, Tickle and Fitz for the backrow. Lauaki could play off the bench as a backrower allowing Radford, Cusack and Moa to compete for the last two prop spots but I think Agar sees him more as prop.

Nice to have so many options, I just hope Agar has the balls to make the right choices.

For Saints I would go:-

Cusack
Berrigan
Radford/Dowes
Manu
Fitz
Washy

O'Meeley
Moa
Lauaki
Houghton

But that won't happen cos Agar won't play Washy at 13.

The other option would be to start with O'Meeley, he will be arguable our best prop and you should always start with your best players.

I thought Lauaki played mostly out wide as a second rower yesterday.

Could also say Fitz played more like a prop too, just ran up the ball.

When you have players like Radford, Fitz, Lauaki they can play a dual role. What Agar needs to do is find some structure tohow is best to use them to get the best out of them. Lauaki will do the same thing whereever he is named as will Fitz and Radford.

I understand completely all of those players can play prop (Radford is a prop).

Dont entirely agree about Lauaki playing the same role wherever he is played though. Last year in the few games he played he looked to link up out wide with balls to the centre and winger at times. Yesterday one area for improvement I thought was that we need to get him in motion better in the attacking line as quite often he was standing still on receiving the ball.

And Fitz didn't appear to ber playing a prop role when taking a short ball off Longy just inside the centre channel.

personally didnt see much hard running from radford or cusack where as dowes took over from radford at one point and ran like he had a point to prove.
Moa and O'meley our most potent threat, ran like a couple of wrecking balls.

Laukia showed with his wide running he is a natural second row and should be left in the back row position either as impact or long stint. yes he is big but he is also very mobile and that advantage could be lost with him playing front row.

Saints I would go for Dowes Berro O,meley, Burnett tickle fitz

with Moa, Laukia manu turner interchange

Have to say Radford I thought was very good and looked like a fairly pacey prop

. Agree with you re Lauaki in SR but he can be exposed out wide in defence when the opposition is running the ball inside our 20. Think Radford has earnt a start at Saints.