Re: Good result for Fev : Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:19 am  

Pretty much spot on there, Horseman...that's been our main issue with Lino.
His best game by far was away at Warrington last year (think it was the cup game ??), when he won us the game almost single-handedly, but unfortunately that appears to have been a one-off as he doesn't do that often enough. Hopefully him and Smith can bring out the best in each other but it depends when and where Smith gets to play as Gaskell looks like being our first choice 6 so far

Re: Good result for Fev : Tue Jan 31, 2023 11:55 am  

FIL wrote:

Pretty much spot on there, Horseman...that's been our main issue with Lino.
His best game by far was away at Warrington last year (think it was the cup game ??), when he won us the game almost single-handedly, but unfortunately that appears to have been a one-off as he doesn't do that often enough. Hopefully him and Smith can bring out the best in each other but it depends when and where Smith gets to play as Gaskell looks like being our first choice 6 so far

For me the main issue with Lino happened the day we signed him.

The coaches at the time lauded him as finally the missing piece of the jigsaw in our halves that we had failed to fill since Liam Finn joined us.

Miller needed an organiser so he could play his game. Brough didn’t really work out and Lino is then hailed as the play making organising play in a dinner suit half back we had in Finn, who would sit in the pocket, move us round the field and let Milky play the off the cuff exciting attacking rugby off those foundations.

If you saw Lino in his time in the NRL he was a strike half too, not an organiser/playmaker. That is still what he is and why he is maybe inconsistent as he has been playing with another half who does the same job and the partnership didn’t bring the best out of each other.

Gaskill is a very intelligent player and more of a playmaker these days and I’m hoping with him taking on the responsibility of moving the team around the field Lino can consistently play as the strike half which is his natural game and we will see him at his best more often.

I think similarly Miller will go well at Cas playing along side Widdop who will shoulder the midfield general responsibilities leaving him to focus on the strike role.

Re: Good result for Fev : Tue Jan 31, 2023 1:28 pm  

Hard to disagree with any of that, Jonh

Re: Good result for Fev : Tue Jan 31, 2023 6:13 pm  

Well FIL and Jonh, I'll have a go at disagreeing, because I think you're both wrong. Not so much about Lino, I tend to agree there, but certainly regarding Cas.

Widdop is where Broughy was when we signed him, only difference is Broughy always had more heart than Widdop.

Miller hs never regained his pace but he's still a decent player, but combined with Widdop that is one slow HB partnership by anyones standards. True Fin was slow but we are not Cas, Classy Cas as they love to call themselves play a fast game, and that team is no longer fast. Lino and Smith are far quicker, even Gaskell is faster than Widdop, and imho that will count. Added to that McShane is also now older and slower, though pace was not the cornerstone of his game.

The current Cas team is IMHO slower than the Powell model in certain key areas, if we can't exploit that then shame on us.

So yes Miller will do ok, but only if Widdop does, with Richardson out, Trueman gone, they are thin on the ground for alternative.

[PopTart]

Re: Good result for Fev : Tue Jan 31, 2023 7:05 pm  

Widdop isn't fast but im sure he isn't as slow as you think. I guess we'll see.

Re: Good result for Fev : Tue Jan 31, 2023 7:17 pm  

vastman wrote:

Well FIL and Jonh, I'll have a go at disagreeing, because I think you're both wrong. Not so much about Lino, I tend to agree there, but certainly regarding Cas.

Widdop is where Broughy was when we signed him, only difference is Broughy always had more heart than Widdop.

Miller hs never regained his pace but he's still a decent player, but combined with Widdop that is one slow HB partnership by anyones standards. True Fin was slow but we are not Cas, Classy Cas as they love to call themselves play a fast game, and that team is no longer fast. Lino and Smith are far quicker, even Gaskell is faster than Widdop, and imho that will count. Added to that McShane is also now older and slower, though pace was not the cornerstone of his game.

The current Cas team is IMHO slower than the Powell model in certain key areas, if we can't exploit that then shame on us.

So yes Miller will do ok, but only if Widdop does, with Richardson out, Trueman gone, they are thin on the ground for alternative.

They really are fragile at HB should either of these get injured. I honestly think they will struggle

Re: Good result for Fev : Tue Jan 31, 2023 8:19 pm  

vastman wrote:

Well FIL and Jonh, I'll have a go at disagreeing, because I think you're both wrong. Not so much about Lino, I tend to agree there, but certainly regarding Cas.

Widdop is where Broughy was when we signed him, only difference is Broughy always had more heart than Widdop.

Miller hs never regained his pace but he's still a decent player, but combined with Widdop that is one slow HB partnership by anyones standards. True Fin was slow but we are not Cas, Classy Cas as they love to call themselves play a fast game, and that team is no longer fast. Lino and Smith are far quicker, even Gaskell is faster than Widdop, and imho that will count. Added to that McShane is also now older and slower, though pace was not the cornerstone of his game.

The current Cas team is IMHO slower than the Powell model in certain key areas, if we can't exploit that then shame on us.

So yes Miller will do ok, but only if Widdop does, with Richardson out, Trueman gone, they are thin on the ground for alternative.

I was more agreeing regarding Lino TBH (although TBF I didn't actually state that).
Widdop is definitely not the player he was 5 years ago and obviously I hope that our half-backs out perform both him and Miller, but time will tell I guess

Re: Good result for Fev : Wed Feb 01, 2023 12:36 am  

I don’t recall Lino being touted as a Finn type player… but the memory might have failed me..

If you watch NRL regularly it is clear that the 70s/80s type of organiser doesn’t really exist.. teams are coached structure and certain players are tasked with holding pivotal roles in that structure - Dummy half and other halves with full back providing width options… there’s very little ‘off the cuff or ball handling’ except in broken play.

What I have seen of Applegarths coaching is it seems to follow that technical structure, which I believe, will work very well in SL

Lino was brought up in that structure and he seems to be responding well to the new coaching set up! Personally I like the skill set in the pivot group .. Kay is beginning to revel with the new role…

And I think the pack looks really mean!

Re: Good result for Fev : Wed Feb 01, 2023 12:45 am  

vastman wrote:

But why? We have one HB and Gaskell and nobody not even Gaskell knows what his position is. There are many more 9's out there than 7's. In our Academy we have an excellent potential future 9 in Jake Camplin, I don't see the equivalent HB.

So my question stands, why would you convert Smith, make zero sense to me?

1) I don’t care where Smith plays but I do think he plays somewhere..
2) love what I’ve seen of Camplin (with a nod to his dad on here) but he strikes be as a Nige Bell type utility… plays to potential whatever role he’s given
3) with due regard to Harry B … who I really like … I think the best young dummy half prospect I’ve seen in decades has just progressed through to the academy this year .. and that’s Harvey Smith… watched him on video in many games this year and he really impressed me!

Re: Good result for Fev : Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:32 am  

Spookisback wrote:

1) I don’t care where Smith plays but I do think he plays somewhere..
2) love what I’ve seen of Camplin (with a nod to his dad on here) but he strikes be as a Nige Bell type utility… plays to potential whatever role he’s given
3) with due regard to Harry B … who I really like … I think the best young dummy half prospect I’ve seen in decades has just progressed through to the academy this year .. and that’s Harvey Smith… watched him on video in many games this year and he really impressed me!

Think you could have a point with regards jake the plan at moment is to start games at 9 moving to 13 in the games,but as his body size develops i do believe he is going to be more a 13, who can cover 9 when needed. wholllas for smith yes from what i see and hear in training he is very quick out of DH and and it will be a threat v tired defences