I'm not agreeing or disagreeing, but you said no coach had ever picked him there and 6/13 is really where he was signed to play.

One of the must naturally talented players in the team for me, wherever he plays

It always makes me laugh how we FC fans overexaggerate;Whiting is a classic example! Had an excellent game last night and today he is the greatest centre in Super League! Lovely lad; decent Super League performer, good footballer and can always be depended on to give a 100%; but I hardly think any super league defence has sleepless nights thinking about him! So lets just be happy to say he does a good job for us without making him out to be some kind of world beater which he is not.

He has a rugby brain second to none, which makes up for his few faults, he suffers in that he's just not as good as others in certain positions. I certainly wouldn't have him in front of Fitz at 13 or even Washy, nor would i have him in front of an on form Horne at 6 and i would be tempted to play Turner and Washy in front of him at 6. We also have better and more established 2nd rowers and Tansey is Englands next FB IMO.
He's a very good centre and he should stay there.
Yeaman, Hall and Whiting, all centres, all OOC. With Agar talking about Briscoe at centre next year i don't see us keeping 4 centres. I would imagine Yeaman getting a new deal but i see 1 of Hall or Whiting leaving. I think it would probably be Hall, but that would be a mistake IMO.

Well said, although i don't think anyone was saying that he's the best in SL.

Calderwood's OOC as well, so could see a few changes in the back line next season. My personal view at the moment is that I would have Tansey, Calderwood, Yeaman and Briscoe, bring in a class winger and have Whiting, Turner and Lyne as cover.

But were does that leave Hall? TBH I don't see Calderwood getting a new deal, just a few rumblings I've heard, don't know how true, so we could be after 2 wingers for next year.

At Rovers? Walker and Webster OOC, Welham struggling, plus 2 years of rumours to this effect?

Frozen out.

It seems that lots of FC fans prefer defence-oriented centres rather than players who will score points.

I don't usually go on for all this 'if he leaves it will bite us on the backside' malarkey as over the years I've seen these predictions fail time and again. But Hall is one of those rare occasions where I think it would be a real mistake to let him go in order to hang onto steadier but less talented alternatives.

Agreed, as Hall has something you cannot train. However, he does need to buck up in defense. 3 tries though scored against us in 2 games against genuine title contenders probably say they ain't doing too badly at the moment!

Amen

I agree.

I think most rugby league pundits would also agree that Hall has the potential to be an international and I think we would be making a mistake if we allow him to leave.

Unfortunately I can see it happening.

That said, I also like Whiting and would like him to stay too.

IF and it's a big IF, it is a straight choice between Hall and Whiting who would you keep?
I personally would keep Hall, afterall you can teach Hall how to tackle, i don't think you could teach his attacking talents to Whiting.

By "lots of FC fans", I think you just mean me.



Realistically, Yeaman will more than likely get a new deal. Briscoe already has one and Agar has said he'll be a centre next year, so they will probably be our first choice centres. We already have Turner contracted as cover. Do we need Hall as well in that context? My point being that we also have emerging three quarter cover in Lyne, maybe Tuffour (haven't seen enough to comment). Whiting can also cover 2nd row (where we've also got some OOC players).

Having been in a "discussion" with Zod about the relative physical size of our squads, it is quite interesting to see how much bigger their backs (as an example) are than ours and this is one area that I think needs addressing. I wouldn't be disappointed if we keep Hall, but surely you'd need to know who was coming and what the shape of the new backline was to properly judge whether it's the right thing or not?

Whiting will be in and around the team (fitness permitting) due to his ability to cover so many positions. It's virtually improbable that any team will go through the whole season without any injuries.
I think Craig Hall (as previously stated) is [ithe[/i most talented centre at the club, that said he still needs to nail his position. When you look at the 'friendly's' he didn't impress and therefore Whiting's in on merit and for me he should stay there.

I happen to think Hall is quite over rated by some on here. He's going to be a good SL player, but I don't think he'll be the international centre some are tipping. He's had some good games for Hull, some ok, and some not so good. He'll be a first team regular (for someone) at some stage, but it won't be for England.

Totally agree with you there. Would also goes as far as saying that if and when Fitzgibbon leaves us we already have his successor on the books, I reckon Rich could nail the loose forward position for himself given half a chance, he just needs a good run without injuries to prove to some doubters that he has the body capable of matching his talents.

If you're referring to Whiting, then I think you're wrong. And unfair to Whiting. He may not have the same talents as Hall, but he's no [iless[/i talented. He defends better than Hall, he reads the game better than Hall and his handling is as good. He's a good bit slower than Hall, and that does make a difference; but it doesn't make Hall a better centre, just a different kind of centre.

Why do we need bigger backs?.....lets bulk them up and let them lose the pace they have got...there is only Webster who is a big un and Yeaman can handle him.

As for Hall........looks as though Agar prefers defensive centres and i can see Hall going unkless we we let him take over from Calderwood...we have 2 potentiol England centres here....why not let Yeaman go...he's done sod all for at least 3 seasons.

mmmm... let me see.... Craig Hall yes, I like Craig Hall but then again, I also like Richard Whiting....but who's the best ??? There's only one way to find out......................................


FIIIIIIIGGGGGGGHHHHHHHTTTTTTT !!!!!!!!!

See you after the break

I like Whiting and he has been playing well but Hall is still the biggest attacking thread whereas Whiting offers a far better defence. Guess it depends on who we are playing and how Agar wants us to approach the game as to which one will be picked.

Spot on. Opponents and pitch conditions both figure. Hally will set SL alight in the summer on warmer ground. In the arm wrestles like the Hudds game Whiting is the better option.

whiting has to play somewhere. he's the brains of the team, the one who when a ball goes loose or a chip kick is put in is always there to tidy it up. there's been no one doing that other than him since cooke left.

Someone made a pertinent point in another thread. Crusaders scored the majority of their tries from kicks this week. Hall is dodgy under the high ball as we all know so if Calders is fit i think Hall definately has to miss out.