And now are you glad we have signed Ben Hunt ?

[saintsarealive1]

We will be paying Widdop a fair chunk of cash too from next year so it wont only be Hunt that the pressure will be on. Lets hope Widdop delivers also and doesn't revert back to his 2016 form

Yep....he had better bloody perform!

 

[saintsarealive1]

Fair dinkum some of the excuses here... For what we are paying Hunt he had better learn to kick and do everything else week in week out, regardless of how many games out or how the forward pack performs.

We are paying him Jonathon Thurston type money and he will need to deliver.

He will, first of all because he is a QUEENSLANDER and secondly because his a classy tough footballer

 

[saintsarealive1]

Can Widdop kick?

Straight Shooter

Nope, just into the feet of an opposition player 5 mts away or straight to their FB.

 

[SEAT 1A]

I'm happy for Widdop to concentrate kicking goals.

 

[Gareth67]

When the news came that we had signed him , most of us were as happy as kids who had just tasted their first bit of toffee . The bloke now , as already been said , returns from injury and some here haven't a kind word to say about him - fook me , no one ever comes back in their first match and plays at their best , give the bloke a chance .

I can only repeat what our new found friend , saints-are-alive , has said and that is that he is indeed a class player, whom also has that ability to sniff out any weaknesses in the defence , that only the good halves possess . He will do me just fine , as there are only a few other real halves that I rate that are ahead him .

 

[Old Timer]

Nope, just into the feet of an opposition player 5 mts away or straight to their FB.

Any mention of Widdop and you are back to your old self.
Just like castor oil to kids does you the world of good.

 

[ALSGI]

Just watched the Hunt highlights from 2016.
He's quiet an upgrade on McCrone isn't he. I'm excited again.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Hunt will be a great signing. Seriously he has a lot more good games than bad. And having a quiet game in his first game back from injury with so many players out of the squad, come on. Bit harsh.

 

[BrissyRedV]

Just watched the Hunt highlights from 2016.
He's quiet an upgrade on McCrone isn't he. I'm excited again.

And according to the experts he had an 'off season' last year.

 

[ALSGI]

And according to the experts he had an 'off season' last year.

Yeah, and the hate on the Donkeys forum too, quiet remarkable. I think a lot stems from the droped ball in the '15 GF. It's a lot like the grief Mundine copped after the '99 GF. I can understand why a change in club would be appealing to him.
Anyway, if 2016 was an off season I'd be pretty happy with an 'off season' next year.

 

[TomRedVRiver]

A Hunt/Widdop halves combination could prove to be one of the deadliest in the comp. For a few reasons..

Firstly because they are both specialists at taking the line on. Both of them have an excellent running game and are dangerous close to the line. We can create that uncertainty in the opposition's mind with not one but two halves who can break the line on BOTH sides of the field. If I was the defence, I wouldn't know whether they were going to pass, kick or run the ball.

AHHHH I can't wait!!!!

 

[ALSGI]

A Hunt/Widdop halves combination could prove to be one of the deadliest in the comp. For a few reasons..

Firstly because they are both specialists at taking the line on. Both of them have an excellent running game and are dangerous close to the line. We can create that uncertainty in the opposition's mind with not one but two halves who can break the line on BOTH sides of the field. If I was the defence, I wouldn't know whether they were going to pass, kick or run the ball.

AHHHH I can't wait!!!!

........and that's if they have an off season, imagine if they click......Try Time !!!

 

[CarrrnDragons]

Think we go into 2018 with the best halves pairing in the comp

 

[possm]

Think we go into 2018 with the best halves pairing in the comp

Until we lost Dugan and Packer, I'd say for 2018 we had a spine to match it with any team and the best first grade squad in the competition. Unfortunately we will have a lot of work to do if we want to replace Dugan and Packer like for like or better.

 

[Old Timer]

Love how we talk a great story in here.
One thing to be pro your club another to be totally realistic.
Any halves combo with JT will be the best in the comp IMO.
JT has more skill in him than any 2 halves combined just about.
No doubt if Widdop's form stays up we will be very very good in the halves but I suspect we need to maintain our forward dominance to do so
The replacement for Packer will be critical in the outcome

 

[CarrrnDragons]

I am always slightly pro slanted I agree, but not sure everyone reads before they jump to their usual negative posturings.
I said in 2018 IMO we will have the best halves pairing. OT If you think a 35 year old JT with a dodgy shoulder still has it then so be your belief. I think he has been brilliant throughout his career, but next year feel he will be past it and likely miss quite a few games again. time will tell
Packer no doubt a massive loss, and I wish we signed him early on and not wasted so much time and effort on Dugan, who was always going to leave once we paid $1M for Hunt and $800 for Widdop.

 

[ALSGI]

OT,
Disagree about the halves, Widdop and Hunt together trump JT. We will have the most dangerous halves pairing in the comp for a year or two.
Agree about forwards being the key to our halves. We will lose Packer, but already have Sele, Host, Kerr, Leilua, Lawrie as the most promising and others.
Surely some of these guys along with our established pack can step up in 9 months time to plug the hole Packer's creating?

 

[saintsarealive1]

Until we lost Dugan and Packer, I'd say for 2018 we had a spine to match it with any team and the best first grade squad in the competition. Unfortunately we will have a lot of work to do if we want to replace Dugan and Packer like for like or better.

I think duges replacement is already in the club.

With more attacking points in us once duges moves on.

Packer is a little more challenging to replace but pretty sure one of our potential 3 or 4 will step up.

Still i wouldnt be against signing one hard nut forward.

But duges is covered for sure.

 

[BringTheNoise]

Best halves pairing in the comp that will deadset do me....

A good halves pairing, yes. The best one in the comp? I doubt it.

Like OT said, JT on his own would run circles around them.

 

[Old Timer]

OT,
Disagree about the halves, Widdop and Hunt together trump JT. We will have the most dangerous halves pairing in the comp for a year or two.
Agree about forwards being the key to our halves. We will lose Packer, but already have Sele, Host, Kerr, Leilua, Lawrie as the most promising and others.
Surely some of these guys along with our established pack can step up in 9 months time to plug the hole Packer's creating?

Odds on we will buy a pie eater and the kids will languish even longer.
Any interruption to what we have in go forward now will mean less output from our halves.
JT + any reasonable player runs rings around any other pairing and is what has kept the Cowboys up there for so long and IMHO if not for some dodgy calls they could have 2 more premierships.