ESL Superthread

[Johnny_L_O]

Hopefully he will stick around in top grade for a while, particularly with the CC coming up. Don't want to burn him out though, will be interesting how Leeds handle it because I think most would agree he deserves more than to just be a fill in for injuries.

Yeah, the last thing we want is to burn him out but if he's in the backs there's less chance of that. I wouldn't play him week in, week out but I'd like to see him integrated into the team over the course of the season. A Ward 6, McGuire 7 excites me massively. Danny is the engine that makes us run these days and without him in the team as the last 12 months have shown, we look lost. To have someone like Ward outside him who can expose the gaps that McGuire creates will make us a much more dangerous prospect.

 

[BrisbaneRhino]

I just look across SL and can finally see some hope for the long-term future of England on the field. We probably have 8 or 9 real prospects in the threequarters - almost all of them would have been first choice picks when Tony Smith was coach. What I like is that they seem to be big as well as quick and simply look better coached than a lot of our outside backs have in the past.

Good to see Eden at Hudds a fullback with promise as well - we don't want to be stuffed if Tomkins is injured/goes to RU.

Now if Widdop kicks on (and at times he looks real class for the Storm and will only get better hopefully as he gets given more responsibility) and we could just find a decent halfback or two, we might be getting somewhere.

One real question the current batch of kids coming through begs is, have there always been decent athletes around and they just didn't get a chance due to too many imports, or has scouting and coaching improved vastly as junior level. I think there has been some change in the latter - I watch Leeds U20 highlights and there's some real skill on show there (lots of mistakes etc but that's to be expected).

 

[WireMan]

I just look across SL and can finally see some hope for the long-term future of England on the field. We probably have 8 or 9 real prospects in the threequarters - almost all of them would have been first choice picks when Tony Smith was coach. What I like is that they seem to be big as well as quick and simply look better coached than a lot of our outside backs have in the past.

Good to see Eden at Hudds a fullback with promise as well - we don't want to be stuffed if Tomkins is injured/goes to RU.

Now if Widdop kicks on (and at times he looks real class for the Storm and will only get better hopefully as he gets given more responsibility) and we could just find a decent halfback or two, we might be getting somewhere.

One real question the current batch of kids coming through begs is, have there always been decent athletes around and they just didn't get a chance due to too many imports, or has scouting and coaching improved vastly as junior level. I think there has been some change in the latter - I watch Leeds U20 highlights and there's some real skill on show there (lots of mistakes etc but that's to be expected).

Not having releagtion makes it easier to introduce players into the team.

Also teams are being told to look at the development side of the game so are investing more money into it. This leads to better coaching so better players.

 

[JasonE]

Warrington team named for tomorrow includes 17 yo back rower Ben Currie.


Wolves 19-man Squad
4 Ryan Atkins
18 Matty Blythe
3 Chris Bridge
6 Lee Briers
10 Garreth Carvell
17 Mike Cooper
32 Ben Currie
33 Brad Dwyer
14 Micky Higham
20 Chris Hill
1 Brett Hodgson
21 Tyrone McCarthy
5 Joel Monaghan
7 Richie Myler
24 Gareth O'Brien
2 Chris Riley
12 Ben Westwood
22 Rhys Williams
16 Paul Wood

 

[Didgi]

What's the go with Rhys Evans? I heard he was injured a while back, still out? Atkins and Bridge should be first choice, then Evans, Blythe in the back row if he must be.

 

[JasonE]

Yes mate Rhys Evans is still out injured, foot injury- he is due back in a fortnight apparently

 

[langpark]

:shock: did I just see a Warrington player kick a Widnes player in the head!?!?!?!?! And not even a penalty given!?

 

[WireMan]

:shock: did I just see a Warrington player kick a Widnes player in the head!?!?!?!?! And not even a penalty given!?

Against widnes its legal.

Especially if its Moore. Horrible player.

Nice win tonight vs the six fingered smelly ones.

 

[Johnny_L_O]

Once Wire woke up it was only ever going to be one way traffic. Good win for Catalan too against a London team thats been showing some good signs recently. ATM of all the teams ive seen this season, Catalan have been the best. If Leeds don't win it I deffinately hope they do.

 

[Johnny_L_O]

Oh, did anyone see Jason La Canfora's tweet yesterday too? For anyone who doesn't know, he's the main reporter for the NFL Network in the USA. Aparently there's some serious talks going on with Kevin Sinfield's agent about bringing him in to be a kicker! The base pay for a rookie kicker in the NFL is US$350k and that would rise year on year. I know there's a couple of ex AFL guys punting in the league ATM and IMO he'd be stupid to turn down an offer if the opportunity arose.

 

[Teddyboy]

Oh, did anyone see Jason La Canfora's tweet yesterday too? For anyone who doesn't know, he's the main reporter for the NFL Network in the USA. Aparently there's some serious talks going on with Kevin Sinfield's agent about bringing him in to be a kicker! The base pay for a rookie kicker in the NFL is US$350k and that would rise year on year. I know there's a couple of ex AFL guys punting in the league ATM and IMO he'd be stupid to turn down an offer if the opportunity arose.

That Jason La Canfora is a Leeds Utd Soccer fan but doesn't know anything about Rugby ?.
I always find NFL people seem to know and support English Soccer but know nothing about Rugby (both codes).

 

[Didgi]

Overall the Hull derby was an entertaining game, a few errors, some flowing footy and good tries.

On a side note thought different commentators were needlessly harsh on both sides at times.

 

[Didgi]

A great defensive effort from Sia Soliola and now a strong run for a try.

 

[Patorick]

This French ground looks a bit like the one in Wollongong.

 

[JasonE]

Great to see a good crowd and a win for the home team on a bright sunny day. Warrington's older players are looking terrible, They desperately need Ratchford and Rhys Evans to give them some spark cos Brad Dwyer is the only one providing any at the moment.

 

[WireMan]

Great to see a good crowd and a win for the home team on a bright sunny day. Warrington's older players are looking terrible, They desperately need Ratchford and Rhys Evans to give them some spark cos Brad Dwyer is the only one providing any at the moment.

Yup. Give them a rest for when we need them at the end of the year.

Ratchford being out is meaning Hodgson is playing to much, but Harrison is due back soon so he can replace Morley, Carvell or Wood for a bit.

Dwyer is looking good. Evans is the best of the lot and Currie will replace Waterhouse (who looks a bit of the pace at the mo.) in the second row in the future. O'Brien looks like a a bit of a player also, so with him on the right and Myler on the left our attack is sorted for the next 10 years.
So its not all doom and gloom.

We had a difficuly start to the league playing all the good teams except Saints away from home. Despite having no form we are up there, so when it all clicks into gear we should have a good chance.

 

[JasonE]

So who are everyone's tips far ? I think Wigan look strong and the Giants have the most depth which is important over the long season so they are my grand finalists at this stage. Warrington are still capable of a high finish but they are too mistake riddled at the moment. Hard to see Catalan losing any games at home so they must be a real chance of finishing in the top 4.

 

[Didgi]

Not sure Huddersfield have the 'big game experience' many like to tout. It's a young team and a long season, much as I'd love for them to win whether they've got it in them remains to be seen.

 

[Didgi]

Further though, where was the argument over the competitiveness of the NRL vs ESL? 7 clubs are looking capable in the ESL, whilst little more than 2 are in the NRL (granted at a slightly earlier stage in the comp). I'd always rate the NRL as more competitive in that teams generally aren't stuck at the top or bottom for periods, but it goes to show that what you can see on paper at the start of the year rarely produces what you expect it to.

 

[WireMan]

So who are everyone's tips far ? I think Wigan look strong and the Giants have the most depth which is important over the long season so they are my grand finalists at this stage. Warrington are still capable of a high finish but they are too mistake riddled at the moment. Hard to see Catalan losing any games at home so they must be a real chance of finishing in the top 4.

Warrington easy.

In all seriousness, it could be anybodies. Every team is capable of beating any other at the top. If your not on it 100%, you will lose.
Thats the NRL intensity we have wanted for a while, and finally we have it.

Further though, where was the argument over the competitiveness of the NRL vs ESL? 7 clubs are looking capable in the ESL, whilst little more than 2 are in the NRL (granted at a slightly earlier stage in the comp). I'd always rate the NRL as more competitive in that teams generally aren't stuck at the top or bottom for periods, but it goes to show that what you can see on paper at the start of the year rarely produces what you expect it to.

But 13 teams can win the NRL!! ;-)

The NRL has more depth, and because of this its easier for teams to yo-yo from the top to the bottom due to less catching up or one injury seems to put teams in free fall.

But its the usual suspects at the top. Again.