Re: Adam O'Brien : Sat Jan 07, 2017 6:09 pm  

He is well versed in fighting a relegation battle.

Re: Adam O'Brien : Sat Jan 07, 2017 6:23 pm  

Very appropriate name!

Re: Adam O'Brien : Sun Jan 08, 2017 10:45 am  

8ULL5HITT4 wrote:

He is well versed in fighting a relegation battle.

think we could surprise a few people this season

we have always gone under the radar anyway so it suits us

top 8 has to be the aim and build again from that, been used to top 4 battles recently!!

Re: Adam O'Brien : Sun Jan 08, 2017 2:09 pm  

brearley84 wrote:

think we could surprise a few people this season

we have always gone under the radar anyway so it suits us

top 8 has to be the aim and build again from that, been used to top 4 battles recently!!

This.

Re: Adam O'Brien : Sun Jan 08, 2017 7:21 pm  

jools wrote:

We have allowed "average" SL players to move on. We have replaced them with players from an "average" championship team. Now they could step up, they could thrive, stone might be able to get the best from them-Mellor and o Brien I get- they are young, hungry and could still have some development to do- taking the step up in the competition could really improve them- but kavanagh? Nope.

The thing is we have signed up these players and they won't have cost us much
and the key thing is the RFL have given us dispensation on the cap to sign them- so I suppose we've lost little by taking a punt. If they turn out to be good propsoects then we've got them off our cap (unclear to what degree) for the duration of their contract!

But I'd say kavanagh is a dud

Which AVERAGE players have you allowed to move on julie love?
Oh and fwiw if those average players' you have signed from the Bulls fail, you will still have to pay their wages for the length of their contracts before allowing them to move on as you put it.

Re: Adam O'Brien : Sun Jan 08, 2017 7:49 pm  

dickie mint wrote:

Which AVERAGE players have you allowed to move on julie love?
Oh and fwiw if those average players' you have signed from the Bulls fail, you will still have to pay their wages for the length of their contracts before allowing them to move on as you put it.

You will notice that the term average I put in quotes- that means it's a quote from someone else-
And I do realise we will have to pay their wages...

Re: Adam O'Brien : Sun Jan 08, 2017 7:54 pm  

dickie mint wrote:

Which AVERAGE players have you allowed to move on julie love?
Oh and fwiw if those average players' you have signed from the Bulls fail, you will still have to pay their wages for the length of their contracts before allowing them to move on as you put it.

Scott Grix, Kyle Wood, Craig Huby all average players who will probably not improve as in late 30s or over 30 years of age.
Huby was better than average at Cas but has been average for us.
Eorl Crabtree - Right time to retire, was once great but now average but plays the odd good game.
Josh Johnson - average, young yes but very small for a prop. (Heard he was to sign for Bradford but obviously now wont be)
Jake Connor - Great prospect and skill levels but very very slow - would have liked him to stay.
Joe Wardle - Wasnt great last season but big loss.
Jamie Ellis - For me not a loss (some would disagree) will go well in Championship but not top 6 super league standard.


Replacements:

Alex Mellor - 2nd row/centre raving reviews in championship only 22, could turn out to be excellent, could turn out to be average - already one of better championship players.
Adam O Brien - Hooker only 23, again could turn out to be excellent, could turn out to be average - one of better championship players.
Jake Mamo - Full Back blistering pace, skill and coming from NRL.
Lee Gaskell - If fit could turn out to be good signing, if not fit wont be.
Paul Clough - Average.
Dale Ferguson - Average half of time but can be good games and gives 100% effort.
Shannon Wakeman - Young hungry prop with plenty to prove, rated highly.

Clough and Gaskell could turn out to be wasted signings but Gaskell if fit could be an excellent centre for us. Clough has been signed to be a squad man.
Ferguson you know you will give 100%.
Mamo and Wakeman - priority signings, expecting big things.
O Brien and Mellor - Prospects that are worth a punt.

I think our recruitment is much better than what we have lost with probably still another prop squad man to come in to complete the squad.

For me we are better taking risks on young players that could be good rather than sticking with players like Grix, Wood etc that you know will not improve much or even start declining.

Re: Adam O'Brien : Sun Jan 08, 2017 9:33 pm  

Yeah good signing, well done Huddersfield? Glad to see your youth policy has come up trumps again!

Re: Adam O'Brien : Sun Jan 08, 2017 9:33 pm  

GiantJake1988 wrote:

Scott Grix, Kyle Wood, Craig Huby all average players who will probably not improve as in late 30s or over 30 years of age.
Huby was better than average at Cas but has been average for us.
Eorl Crabtree - Right time to retire, was once great but now average but plays the odd good game.
Josh Johnson - average, young yes but very small for a prop. (Heard he was to sign for Bradford but obviously now wont be)
Jake Connor - Great prospect and skill levels but very very slow - would have liked him to stay.
Joe Wardle - Wasnt great last season but big loss.
Jamie Ellis - For me not a loss (some would disagree) will go well in Championship but not top 6 super league standard.


Replacements:

Alex Mellor - 2nd row/centre raving reviews in championship only 22, could turn out to be excellent, could turn out to be average - already one of better championship players.
Adam O Brien - Hooker only 23, again could turn out to be excellent, could turn out to be average - one of better championship players.
Jake Mamo - Full Back blistering pace, skill and coming from NRL.
Lee Gaskell - If fit could turn out to be good signing, if not fit wont be.
Paul Clough - Average.
Dale Ferguson - Average half of time but can be good games and gives 100% effort.
Shannon Wakeman - Young hungry prop with plenty to prove, rated highly.

Clough and Gaskell could turn out to be wasted signings but Gaskell if fit could be an excellent centre for us. Clough has been signed to be a squad man.
Ferguson you know you will give 100%.
Mamo and Wakeman - priority signings, expecting big things.
O Brien and Mellor - Prospects that are worth a punt.

I think our recruitment is much better than what we have lost with probably still another prop squad man to come in to complete the squad.

For me we are better taking risks on young players that could be good rather than sticking with players like Grix, Wood etc that you know will not improve much or even start declining.

I like the way Clough is dismissed as average. He might not be a world beater but he has played in four grand finals and two challenge cup finals. That is a massive amount of experience and he is not too old either.

Re: Adam O'Brien : Sun Jan 08, 2017 9:47 pm  

I think it's a case of playing down our recruitment and not over expecting of them which is good really

But I think the recruitment is equal to what we lost short term and much better long term