Half Backs - what should we do ??? : Wed May 31, 2017 11:49 am  

I haven't heard any news from GH or BMcD regarding next years half back pairings. I'm just hoping we have some succession planning plans in place for when Danny & Rob retire which increasingly looks like this year to me. Danny just isn't the player he was and can't be expected to lead the club with his constant injuries which is increasingly slowing him down. His kicking game is poor also but probably as good as what we've got.
Rob has been an outstanding player for us and as an impact player still has value but not an 80 minute player no more.
Jordan Lilley is too slow and doesn't command the position and he's better staying for a couple of seasons to see what improvement there is.
Liam Sutcliffe is a different matter - he was heralded as the new Kev Sinfield, tried at stand off, then looked like he'd found his plae at full bacl only to be moved for Ash Golding. I hear his agent has been gathering offers so we need a decision urgently. This brings me to Joel Moon - has done very well for us in an emergency, its obvious moving him to stand off is the only thing GH/BMcD could do as Danny couldnt perform week in week out. But I reckon Joel is a fantastic centre and we should be thinking of playing him in his proper position next year.
Im hoping we have been planning for this senario for at least 18 months. Its obvious to everyone we need a leader at stand off who has a sound kicking game as well as a running game too, his defense isn't as important. Tell us GH/BMcD ?? what have you got planned ??

[Bullseye]

Re: Half Backs - what should we do ??? : Wed May 31, 2017 12:10 pm  

Jordan Lilley is only 20. McGuire was 21 before he was a regular and 22 before he was scoring heaps of tries.
Burrow too didn't become a regular until 2004 when he was 22/23.

They also had Dunemann to help them from 2003 and Sinfield.

Would suggest you be patient with Lilley who's had fewer opportunities at Leeds.

Think Leeds need another Dunemann type player to bridge the gap between the old guard and the new.

Re: Half Backs - what should we do ??? : Wed May 31, 2017 12:21 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

Jordan Lilley is only 20. McGuire was 21 before he was a regular and 22 before he was scoring heaps of tries.
Burrow too didn't become a regular until 2004 when he was 22/23.

They also had Dunemann to help them from 2003 and Sinfield.

Would suggest you be patient with Lilley who's had fewer opportunities at Leeds.

Think Leeds need another Dunemann type player to bridge the gap between the old guard and the new.

At least you got your last three sentences correct there Bullseye, pity about the inaccuracies of the first paragraph.

Re: Half Backs - what should we do ??? : Wed May 31, 2017 12:22 pm  

Think we need to sign two HBs not one.

Re: Half Backs - what should we do ??? : Wed May 31, 2017 12:33 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

Think Leeds need another Dunemann type player to bridge the gap between the old guard and the new.

Spot on. We need to get a half in for the next two or three years (Wonder if we can supply Cronk with the same atlas we supplied Moon?) and let them work alongside Lilley, Sutcliffe and Walker with the best pair becoming our first choice halves.

[Bullseye]

Re: Half Backs - what should we do ??? : Wed May 31, 2017 12:57 pm  

Not sure how easy it is to get a half decent NRL halfback at the moment given the disparity in salary caps.

I suspect Cronk is unlikely. Someone further down the hierarchy might be more achievable.

Re: Half Backs - what should we do ??? : Wed May 31, 2017 1:04 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

Not sure how easy it is to get a half decent NRL halfback at the moment given the disparity in salary caps.

I suspect Cronk is unlikely. Someone further down the hierarchy might be more achievable.

That one was more wishful thinking on my part. I'd imagine someone like Hodkinson would be more likely with Newcastle paying some of his wages.

[Bullseye]

Re: Half Backs - what should we do ??? : Wed May 31, 2017 1:40 pm  

He's the name that occurred to me too. If Salford can get Robert Lui over here Leeds can do as well or better.

Re: Half Backs - what should we do ??? : Wed May 31, 2017 4:34 pm  

I've said before, unless we can get someone 'good' go with what we have,

Re: Half Backs - what should we do ??? : Wed May 31, 2017 4:36 pm  

one thing for sure. burrow or moon aren't the answer