Re: Josh Drinkwater : Wed Apr 24, 2024 9:09 am  

Trojan Horse wrote:

After a full season full time and perhaps working with Gale hopefully Lawford will be more ready to step into the position.

Plenty of time to see how things turn out.

After watching him at Batley I think that might be a bit optimistic, certainly for next year. I'd look at sending him out to Hunslet for some regular game time. I'd send Harvey Smith as well now Kay is back.

Re: Josh Drinkwater : Wed Apr 24, 2024 12:30 pm  

imwakefieldtillidie wrote:

After watching him at Batley I think that might be a bit optimistic, certainly for next year. I'd look at sending him out to Hunslet for some regular game time. I'd send Harvey Smith as well now Kay is back.

Would be harsh for a player who hasn’t played in the first team for about 6-8 weeks to judge him on a single performance. Playing a few games in pre season he was showing very promising signs.

Watching the Batley game back he made some good contributions in attack and defence along with being primarily responsible for Crofts try which helped turn the screw.

He isn’t the finished article but I certainly think if he works hard he won’t be too far away next season. Look at Lewis for KR, he was a little hit and miss when he was first in the KR team as a young lad not far from Lawford age. Through the couple of seasons of experience he’s turned into a pretty good halfback.

I do think though that a Lawford will play a bit for Hunslet on dual reg when he’s not playing for us. I can see him getting 5-10 games for us this season though.

Re: Josh Drinkwater : Wed Apr 24, 2024 3:56 pm  

Trojan Horse wrote:

Would be harsh for a player who hasn’t played in the first team for about 6-8 weeks to judge him on a single performance. Playing a few games in pre season he was showing very promising signs.

Watching the Batley game back he made some good contributions in attack and defence along with being primarily responsible for Crofts try which helped turn the screw.

He isn’t the finished article but I certainly think if he works hard he won’t be too far away next season. Look at Lewis for KR, he was a little hit and miss when he was first in the KR team as a young lad not far from Lawford age. Through the couple of seasons of experience he’s turned into a pretty good halfback.

I do think though that a Lawford will play a bit for Hunslet on dual reg when he’s not playing for us. I can see him getting 5-10 games for us this season though.

Ok

That’s fairly typical of that poster, ridiculously quick to judge.

He’s not totally wrong as he would benefit from DR, but I think we all knew that anyway. It’s the need to put him down that I don’t get as he’s very young and inexperienced.

I’m less convinced regarding Smith as imho he’s looked ever inch as good as Doyle and not fat off Hood, so why DR him. Especially as it’s been made clear that Kay is moving to 13.

Re: Josh Drinkwater : Wed Apr 24, 2024 4:24 pm  

vastman wrote:

Ok

That’s fairly typical of that poster, ridiculously quick to judge.

He’s not totally wrong as he would benefit from DR, but I think we all knew that anyway. It’s the need to put him down that I don’t get as he’s very young and inexperienced.

I’m less convinced regarding Smith as imho he’s looked ever inch as good as Doyle and not fat off Hood, so why DR him. Especially as it’s been made clear that Kay is moving to 13.

Smith certainly has huge potential imo. He’s also been playing well. Much like Lawford I can see him getting 5-10 games this year which is fine. He may as the season goes on and with injuries get his chance. I certainly think on a hard pitch in summer the lad will cause all novice with quick plays and running himself.

Hood is playing the best I’ve seen him this season and he looks a lot fitter too and it’s showing. I would go as far if he keeps it up giving him another year next year in SL. That is something I didn’t think I’d say before this season started but he looks more focused too in his performances.

As for Kay. Watching live and the game back he needs to be used better if it’s at 13. He stifled a lot of the forward play at Batley. If he’s to be a 13 it needs to be off the bench and linking up the forwards and backs taking it closer to the line. Something that worked well vs Doncaster late on. I like Kay but when Pitts is back it has to be Pitts and Cozza. He’s a good utility club man though.

Re: Josh Drinkwater : Wed Apr 24, 2024 4:42 pm  

https://hunsletrlfc.com/team/hunslet-to ... d-returns/

https://hunsletrlfc.com/team/hunslet-to ... d-returns/

Re: Josh Drinkwater : Wed Apr 24, 2024 9:03 pm  

vastman wrote:

Ok

That’s fairly typical of that poster, ridiculously quick to judge.

He’s not totally wrong as he would benefit from DR, but I think we all knew that anyway. It’s the need to put him down that I don’t get as he’s very young and inexperienced.

I’m less convinced regarding Smith as imho he’s looked ever inch as good as Doyle and not fat off Hood, so why DR him. Especially as it’s been made clear that Kay is moving to 13.

So you agree I'm right about Lawford? And I've just seen he's out on dual reg this weekend so Daryl obviously took on board what I told this morning.

Regards Smith, we're only going to name two hookers in the 17 and it's clear Hood and Doyle are first picks at the moment. Surely he'd be better at Hunslet than not playing at all? Or do you think he'll improve more sitting in the stands?

My opinion he's not at Doyle's level yet but has a higher ceiling for the future. I think playing regular at Hunslet will do him more good, and drip feed him games with us when we feel the need. Then there's the added bonus of two young pivots learning to play together as well.

[PopTart]

Re: Josh Drinkwater : Thu Apr 25, 2024 10:12 pm  

imwakefieldtillidie wrote:

So you agree I'm right about Lawford? And I've just seen he's out on dual reg this weekend so Daryl obviously took on board what I told this morning.

Regards Smith, we're only going to name two hookers in the 17 and it's clear Hood and Doyle are first picks at the moment. Surely he'd be better at Hunslet than not playing at all? Or do you think he'll improve more sitting in the stands?

My opinion he's not at Doyle's level yet but has a higher ceiling for the future. I think playing regular at Hunslet will do him more good, and drip feed him games with us when we feel the need. Then there's the added bonus of two young pivots learning to play together as well.

I don't mind Smith going to Huslet if that's what is decided, but we have a reserve team. He wouldn't just be sitting on the sidelines.

Re: Josh Drinkwater : Thu Apr 25, 2024 11:43 pm  

PopTart wrote:

I don't mind Smith going to Huslet if that's what is decided, but we have a reserve team. He wouldn't just be sitting on the sidelines.

I haven't looked into the reserve side of our game, or seen anything about games on our social media, I've seen scholarship and Acaadmy games on YouTube I think they were but no reserve games. Is the reserve league better run with more regular games than past years?

Re: Josh Drinkwater : Fri Apr 26, 2024 6:43 am  

Shifty Cat wrote:

PopTart wrote:

I don't mind Smith going to Huslet if that's what is decided, but we have a reserve team. He wouldn't just be sitting on the sidelines.

I haven't looked into the reserve side of our game, or seen anything about games on our social media, I've seen scholarship and Acaadmy games on YouTube I think they were but no reserve games. Is the reserve league better run with more regular games than past years?

Yes there has been two reserves game I believe and announced on social media the teams. I do think the comp only has a game every 2 weeks and is only 12 or so rounds for regular season. This would allow room for some players to go out on DR those weeks.

Re: Josh Drinkwater : Fri Apr 26, 2024 8:31 am  

Personally think that maybe sending Smith out to play long minutes a Hunslet is a big risk. He's very young and needs some physical development. Getting smashed and targeted week in week out might do more damage than good. He's still doing 3 days at 6th form too.