Droopy wrote:
[youtube][/youtube]My point exactly, other than McMeeken, our other starting props are either unproven at SL or have a point to prove. It does worry me. I was disappointed when Bowden signed elsewhere because whilst he isn’t a world beater, he is robust and experienced enough to be a key part of the team.
You then look at if one of our first 4 props is injured who steps up? Bain and Vangana are both inexperienced and probably a little lightweight. Storton, probably would be my preference to step up but isn’t a natural prop.
So I go back to my previous post, even though it wouldn’t be a exciting or inspiring signing, a experienced and robust SL prop is needed in my opinion.
Although I sort of agree, in hindsight another year from Bowden would have sorted us out but we don't know how his body was fairing even at Champ level let alone SL. but it looks like we enquiring after another body, after we asked Wigan about Makin.
I'd say a few of our Props have a point to prove in SL, especially the young Aussies coming up for the first time, but I'm certainly not worried that they're going to let us down in any way. I haven't since we played Wigan in that friendly last year. Yeah, I know when it was and what it was, but all our guys handled themselves superbly against Wigan and showed they could go toe to toe against a champion SL team, and that was when most of them had just fallen off a plane. Since then their confidence levels have improved, they've got used to playing in England, as a team and have developed a good bond.
I don't worry about McMeeken, Atoni, Uele or Rodwell. Atoni last half of 2023 was decent, once BIg Dave arrived to give the pack some go-forward and he seemed to feed off him and build confidence from there. Both Uele and Rodwell bossed the Championship so much that the step-up doesn't worry me at all. Both are complete professionals and Rodwell already came to us as a player ready to play at a higher level IMO.
I also wouldn't put Bain and Vagana in the same bracket personally, Vagana has a higher ceiling IMO. I certainly wouldn't describe him as a little lightweight. He's already a huge guy for his age, with huge legs, 6ft4/5 and he has the frame to really add some size and muscle to it. Bain's smaller, weighs just 95kgs and is definitely more of a back row/13 than a prop, he's a similar size to Cozza and his frame wouldn't lend itself to piling on size, especially at 24 IMO.
I know the coaches are looking at Vagana being a wide-running destructive back rower which I can understand, he's already caused issues out wide and another off-season under him it will potentially make him that much more dangerous. Saying that over the next year or 2 he could easily add 10kg and turn into a beast down the middle, whether that be prop or 13.
Stourton could play prop at a push but we'd have to have an injury crisis, just as we would if Cozza played there or Bain. Storton's one of our best back rowers and along with Seth, Pitts, Griffin, that's where they should mostly stay. There's also Cam Scott who's a good back-rower, but it looks like we're fancying him at Centre this season and tbf he looked the part on boxing g day.
