Re: Tad O/T - Jason Robinson : Fri Aug 28, 2015 2:59 pm
Andy Gilder wrote:
Saw a fair bit of Robinson, didn't see much of Stephens in the flesh until he turned up at Leeds.
He was the more complete half-back of the two for definite. Robinson had all the physical attributes to be a good player, but he was never going to be a scrum-half in the way that scrum halves were expected to be back then - an organiser, a ball-player, a kicker. Stephens had the edge at that age in all those departments.
Had Robinson come along ten years later, when the likes of Rob Burrow had changed the perception to an extent of what a scrum-half could be, then maybe the outcome would have been different. Like I say, credit to whoever at Wigan recognised that Robinson's abilities could be used in other positions.
He was the more complete half-back of the two for definite. Robinson had all the physical attributes to be a good player, but he was never going to be a scrum-half in the way that scrum halves were expected to be back then - an organiser, a ball-player, a kicker. Stephens had the edge at that age in all those departments.
Had Robinson come along ten years later, when the likes of Rob Burrow had changed the perception to an extent of what a scrum-half could be, then maybe the outcome would have been different. Like I say, credit to whoever at Wigan recognised that Robinson's abilities could be used in other positions.
You surprise me, for some reason I assumed you were on the younger end of the scale.
When Robinson was attracting interest from all and sundry the year was approximately 1990/ 1991.
Do the mathematics as they say.
One of the biggest ones that got away stories was Mick Shoebottom. Ken Trail the great Wakefield coach wanted to sign mick, his chairman at Wakefield was dragging his heels,in the end he gave ken the green light to sign mick.
Ken drove over to micks place of work I think it would have been bison concrete,the gateman said to ken if you have come to sign mick he has caught the bus to headingley, he is going to sign for Leeds.
I spoke to mick ,in ken trails pub in hunslet many years after mick had to give up the game.
I asked him on more than one occasion ,if ken would have got to you before you caught the bus up to headingley ,would you have signed for Wakefield. He never gave an answer either way, he just used to laugh.
