[PopTart]

Re: Hampshire v Williams : Mon Nov 12, 2018 9:28 pm  

Adam_Harrison9 wrote:

This. How Brough wasn't a dead cert selection at half back over the last 10 years has been a bit of a small tragedy. 3 time Albert Goldthorpe medal winner and the best kicking game possibly ever seen (up there with the best). We should have had a 7 to build a team around and he didn't even get picked most games. Baffling.

So should Gareth Hock. Both players let their attitude and personality hide their true skill.

Re: Hampshire v Williams : Mon Nov 12, 2018 9:35 pm  

PopTart wrote:

So should Gareth Hock. Both players let their attitude and personality hide their true skill.

Disagree. Gareth Hock was never on Brough's level. And I'm not even convinced about this whole attitude thing with Brough. It's not like he's gouging eyes like Hock and going around headbutting folk and sniffing lines. He can lose his rag can Brough but not even comparable for mine. I think a lot of Wakefield fans don't like Brough 'cos he moans a lot and the way he left the club and it is held against him. But he' hardly in the league of Hock and Hardaker for misdemeanors is he?!

Re: Hampshire v Williams : Mon Nov 12, 2018 9:49 pm  

Adam_Harrison9 wrote:

This. How Brough wasn't a dead cert selection at half back over the last 10 years has been a bit of a small tragedy. 3 time Albert Goldthorpe medal winner and the best kicking game possibly ever seen (up there with the best). We should have had a 7 to build a team around and he didn't even get picked most games. Baffling.

Wasn't it because Brough elected to play for Scotland rather than England?

Re: Hampshire v Williams : Tue Nov 13, 2018 8:39 am  

newgroundb4wakey wrote:

Wasn't it because Brough elected to play for Scotland rather than England?

Hadn't he been overlooked for the England spot more than once? I seem to remember that's why he elected to play for Scotland.

Re: Hampshire v Williams : Tue Nov 13, 2018 8:58 am  

Adam_Harrison9 wrote:

This. How Brough wasn't a dead cert selection at half back over the last 10 years has been a bit of a small tragedy. 3 time Albert Goldthorpe medal winner and the best kicking game possibly ever seen (up there with the best). We should have had a 7 to build a team around and he didn't even get picked most games. Baffling.

It can seem baffling from the outside looking in but, it wasn't just 1 coach that had problems with him, which tells you that, like it or not, there were issues (just as there have been at Huddersfield).
IF Brough had kept his head and been properly "mentored" then, yes, he could have made the England / GB jersey his own.
It's no secret that he has some "baggage" but, IF Chester and co can keep him on the straight and narrow, then Brough can do a great job for Trinity.
As for playing for England/GB, it's a terrible waste of talent but the blame probably doesnt rest with those who select the side, the player too, has to take a huge share of the responsibility.
Many sporting superstars have "flaws" in their character and the best coaches are the ones that can manage these issues as well as the player concerned.

Re: Hampshire v Williams : Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:41 am  

Adam_Harrison9 wrote:

Disagree. Gareth Hock was never on Brough's level. And I'm not even convinced about this whole attitude thing with Brough. It's not like he's gouging eyes like Hock and going around headbutting folk and sniffing lines. He can lose his rag can Brough but not even comparable for mine. I think a lot of Wakefield fans don't like Brough 'cos he moans a lot and the way he left the club and it is held against him. But he' hardly in the league of Hock and Hardaker for misdemeanors is he?!

Disagree re Gaz Hock. He probably should have been up there with the best forwards in the world, he had all the physical ability and everything just come so natural to him, just a shame he did not have the noggin to go with it all! If he could have applied himself I have no doubt that he would have gone on to be talked about in the same vein as Ellis. That said, the brain is all part of the package and unfortunately he is just another sad causality of a player that could not control himself both on or off the field.

Re: Hampshire v Williams : Tue Nov 13, 2018 11:19 am  

fair play to Wigan who have stood by Williams from junior while all other clubs seem to allow players to move from pillar to post in the look for the ultimate play maker so they can win the titles

as much as you all dislike Williams his CV is starting to fill up

Re: Hampshire v Williams : Tue Nov 13, 2018 11:28 am  

I think there's some overly harsh criticism of Wiliams here - he's a really talented SH, but this weekend, he was hampered by a poor team performance; pivots only get to do the fancy stuff when their forwards lay a platform and protect them - and no one did that on Sunday.

He plays in a cauldron at Wigan and has come through from junior and made that position his own - which takes some doing at a club that could, more easily than most, import a replacement from pretty much anywhere.

Myler I do agree with however - he's got some skills and had a couple of good years at Warrington - but he's miles away from many of his peers.

Re: Hampshire v Williams : Tue Nov 13, 2018 11:29 am  

Brough should definitely have played for England more than once.
Best British half back for over 10 years.
If players with suspect temperament had always been ignored the great Alex Murphy would not have had GB caps.

Re: Hampshire v Williams : Tue Nov 13, 2018 12:07 pm  

bren2k wrote:

I think there's some overly harsh criticism of Wiliams here - he's a really talented SH, but this weekend, he was hampered by a poor team performance; pivots only get to do the fancy stuff when their forwards lay a platform and protect them - and no one did that on Sunday.

He plays in a cauldron at Wigan and has come through from junior and made that position his own - which takes some doing at a club that could, more easily than most, import a replacement from pretty much anywhere.

Myler I do agree with however - he's got some skills and had a couple of good years at Warrington - but he's miles away from many of his peers.

I think the only aspect of Williams game that you could properly criticise on the weekend was his kicking game, on more than a few occasions he seemed to have very little pressure on him from the defence yet delivered very poor kicks, failing to find the green. Myler was equally as bad with the kicks he put in, Myler was just invisible throughout the whole game TBF and to say he has played halfback at the top level for the past 10 years that`s just not good enough, If Bennett picks him in the squad again I would be very surprised.