sergeant pepper wrote:
Ok, I'll bite...
What utility value are we talking about? Playing in a few different positions, but not actually doing anything of note? He's got great work rate, but you can say that for almost every other forward at Wigan.
Obviously just an opinion, but I'd say that Powell (if it came to it)
would have more impact at 13 than Shorrocks and we'd also benefit from O'Neill at 9 too.
It also isn't about if he'd be in our 1st choice 17 either. It's about certain players getting repeat opportunities & not performing, whilst others don't get a shot. Nicholson should have played more this year, Halsall & McDonnell too.
Your point was that he replaced O'Neill in the squad? That's because he covers the backrow & hooker and allows cover at centre as well, and yes we can presume that's because he brings a high work rate and a good attitude. Peet appears to want Powell to do the full 80 if possible and play 4 forwards on the bench (3 of them props) and none of the other young backrows offer the utility that Shorrocks does so he usually takes that 4th bench spot.
To be fair I actually agree about him not offering enough quality in those positions and that's why I say he wouldn't be near the 17 if everyone was fit (I couldn't for the life of me understand how he started at Magic over Smithies) but its a pragmatic choice based on who's available and covering eventualities during the game.
Possibly agree that Nicholson & Mcdonnell should have got more playing time but when you consider how the young forwards have been flogged over the last 2 years its fair for the management team to try to balance their involvement, it was clear from Peets comments when he left that there was a pathway there for Nicholson to break into the 1st team, probably next year.
I think Hallsall will get more time next year, he's impressed whenever he's played.
