Re: Kallum Watkins goes missing in yet ANOTHER big game : Mon Nov 14, 2016 2:01 pm  

Biff Tannen wrote:

Williams could be a very fine half back...if he is going to move though, he needs to go soon as he will soon be (if not already) the best half in SL and will be able to rest on his laurels which is only natural, where he really needs to be in the best league improving to their highest level which is clearly several rungs above where we are.

The rate he seems to be putting on weight though suggests he could be our next ball handling prop in a couple of years.

Re: Kallum Watkins goes missing in yet ANOTHER big game : Mon Nov 14, 2016 2:41 pm  

Aboveusonlypie wrote:

Not a strong point, though when he played centre he put Manfredi in for quite a few tries. Mind you he was quite successful at giving Hall a few opportunities against NZ last year when he was played at centre for England - something that Watkins seems to be immune from.

I first noticed this in the 2013 World Cup mainly because as a Wigan fan I wanted Josh Charnley to get lots of opportunity to show off. Watkins is an incredibly frustrating player, in part because you know he should be capable of doing much better. I'm betting McGilvary is glad Jonny Lomax is in the team.

I take your point but i'm still really struggling to think of too many opportunities Watkins had to create anything for his winger over the entire three games. I too think he is frustrating and has not fulfilled his potential but i also think people have been overly critical of him this series, he just hasn't really been given the space and opportunities to shine and has had to feed off scraps for the most part.

Re: Kallum Watkins goes missing in yet ANOTHER big game : Mon Nov 14, 2016 3:01 pm  

Watkins was facing arguably the best centre in RL so no surprise he didn't create much.
How many passes did Sarginson give Hall?
Percival couldn't pass to Hall because he wasn't able to collect the ball in the first place.
Watkins needs space & time, something the Aussies don't allow.

Re: Kallum Watkins goes missing in yet ANOTHER big game : Mon Nov 14, 2016 3:03 pm  

Biff Tannen wrote:

I take your point but i'm still really struggling to think of too many opportunities Watkins had to create anything for his winger over the entire three games. I too think he is frustrating and has not fulfilled his potential but i also think people have been overly critical of him this series, he just hasn't really been given the space and opportunities to shine and has had to feed off scraps for the most part.

And I suppose to be fair I don't think anyone would have coped particularly well with Greg Inglis who is quite possibly one of the greatest to ever play the game.

Re: Kallum Watkins goes missing in yet ANOTHER big game : Mon Nov 14, 2016 3:11 pm  

Aboveusonlypie wrote:

And I suppose to be fair I don't think anyone would have coped particularly well with Greg Inglis who is quite possibly one of the greatest to ever play the game.

We didn't cope well with Inglis as a team imo. When the ball was going in his direction the whole of our right flank was back peddling instead of getting in his face. We gave him far too much respect and it bit us hard early in the second half.

Re: Kallum Watkins goes missing in yet ANOTHER big game : Mon Nov 14, 2016 7:09 pm  

Aboveusonlypie wrote:

I think that Watkins and Percival are our two best centres and as such they need to play. The Aussie centres are several classes above though (O'Neill was superb against NZ). I don't think anyone in the game currently or in the past would have dealt with Inglis yesterday. Sometimes you just have to hold your hand up and say - 'they were better'.

Watkins does need to work much harder at this game though, because Inglis showed him what he should be aiming for. Watkins has the athleticism and physique to be a much better player than he is. He could start by learning to pass the ball

And Percival should learn how to tackle and not fumble tha ball quite as much.

Re: Kallum Watkins goes missing in yet ANOTHER big game : Mon Nov 14, 2016 7:17 pm  

Biff Tannen wrote:

I take your point but i'm still really struggling to think of too many opportunities Watkins had to create anything for his winger over the entire three games. I too think he is frustrating and has not fulfilled his potential but i also think people have been overly critical of him this series, he just hasn't really been given the space and opportunities to shine and has had to feed off scraps for the most part.

I do nt think that Watkins runs good enough lines. Whenever he does he is so much more effective. He stands too flat and doesn't take the ball at pace often enough. He has to find some space and run at the gap on the inside shoulder.

Re: Kallum Watkins goes missing in yet ANOTHER big game : Mon Nov 14, 2016 7:27 pm  

Biff Tannen wrote:

We didn't cope well with Inglis as a team imo. When the ball was going in his direction the whole of our right flank was back peddling instead of getting in his face. We gave him far too much respect and it bit us hard early in the second half.

I would question the tactic of putting Watkins, who had been defending well at centre, into the second row of the scrum which then left Widdop in his place who then failed to defend what became a crucial try.

Re: Kallum Watkins goes missing in yet ANOTHER big game : Mon Nov 14, 2016 7:38 pm  

Juan Cornetto wrote:

I would question the tactic of putting Watkins, who had been defending well at centre, into the second row of the scrum which then left Widdop in his place who then failed to defend what became a crucial try.

That wasn't the only poor use of Watkins in a scrum in the tournament. Vs New Zealand we had a scrum about 30m away from our own line and Watkins is in the scrum whilst Tom Burgess was stood as first receiver just running the ball in run of the mill style instead of using a scrum move to try and use Watkins.

Perfectly highlights the non existent use of him in this tournament.

Re: Kallum Watkins goes missing in yet ANOTHER big game : Mon Nov 14, 2016 8:53 pm  

ThePrinter wrote:

That wasn't the only poor use of Watkins in a scrum in the tournament. Vs New Zealand we had a scrum about 30m away from our own line and Watkins is in the scrum whilst Tom Burgess was stood as first receiver just running the ball in run of the mill style instead of using a scrum move to try and use Watkins.

Perfectly highlights the non existent use of him in this tournament.

And might I suggest the myth that Wayne Bennett is some sort of tactical genius. If Shaun Wane or Brian Mac had come up with that one they'd have got hammered.