John Bateman from Bradford Bulls

[macnaz]

Do we really need another 2nd rower ?

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co....gun_Bateman_attracting_interest_in_Australia/

Anyway i guess if its a toss up between Sheens and Bennett id put my money on him going to the knights, could be another loss like Sam Burgess when we showed interest towards him.

 

[Tiger05]

I think backrow is our no 1 problem. Everyone is crying out for props however I reckon we are fine with props.

Props:- Galloway, Woods, Cashmere, Groat (Galloway and Woods are quality players that get us going forward - all they require is some back-up)
Backrowers:- Fulton (great out wide and works hard but not an impact player), Heighno (getting past it - not bad but not the answer)
Not sure where they fit in:- Bell, Anasta, BMM, Blair, Pettybourne

From what I've seen I think BMM can play prop easily. I'd like him as a wide running backrower but I'm not sure he is ready for that role. I also think he doesn't have the ability to play a lot of minutes.

Blair looks better at prop although you can only play him for 30-40 minutes per game.

Anasta would probably be better in the halves but if he plays backrow he is more than likely going to be small and lacking impact.

Pettybourne might slot in somewhere but he might be better at prop than backrow.

Bell defensively is quality but I don't see him busting them out wide too often.

In summary a fair amount of quality and back-up at prop but f**k all damaging back rowers.

 

[Shanghai Charlie]

Bodene Thompson as well.

We're seriously lacking some star quality in our backrow.

I'd run Utai as a second rower/prop next year and see how he goes.

 

[Tiger05]

The problem is Blair has been a dud and the odds of him getting better are basically non-existant. He won't win us games unless he changes completely.

If we could off-load him it would be great but who is going to be dumb enough to buy him off us.

I think we have to accept we bought a dud and look to get someone else.

 

[Front-Rower]

We need a hard a**e front row forward who just belts the ball up and belts in defence. Pettybourne maybe able to do this in attack but I don't know if he can be that dominant defender we need.

BMM at this stage is a great bench player who gets a crack in the second row when teams get tired and Bell needs to start. Bell was an instrumental part of the pack when he started however I don't see the same player off the bench.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

We need a f**king halfback before anything else.

 

[Tiger05]

We need a hard a**e front row forward who just belts the ball up and belts in defence. Pettybourne maybe able to do this in attack but I don't know if he can be that dominant defender we need.

I don't get this argument - what about Woods and Galloway ? Bell slots in nicely at prop and so far I think BMM and Blair look better in tight.

I don't see prop as the problem.

BMM at this stage is a great bench player who gets a crack in the second row when teams get tired and Bell needs to start. Bell was an instrumental part of the pack when he started however I don't see the same player off the bench.

I see both of them more as props.

We need some damaging back rowers and a backline with some speed and impact.

I reckon if we fix those areas we will be able to find a half to go along with Benji and we will be fine.

 

[madunit]

Our starting props are f**king light years ahead of Cashmere and Groat, stats and vision confirms it without a shadow of a doubt.

 

[TrigaTheTiger]

The problem as I see it is that we have the cattle, but they arent working well.

If you look through our team on paper, we have pretty much as many origin and international players as any other team. Barring maybe Brisbane and Melbourne. But seriously, the team we have on paper should be able to do the job.

To be honest, we could go out and buy the entire Aussie international team and under this administration they would still miss the 8.

On my wish list is having players play in their proper positions and not moving around the entire team to accommodate one injury.

If we actually did this - we wouldn't need to buy anyone.

On paper, this team is better than 05.......

 

[Tigers Tale]

That is a pretty fair summation Triga. There have been a few problems throughout the year with injuries but these have been compounded by the stupid re-positioning of key players by Sheens. I'd rather buy the Bulls coach than one of their forwards....couldn't do any worse than the gumby we have running the helm!!!!

 

[macnaz]

I think it was 851 that said on another forum we need Batman not Bateman lol

 

[The Charlatan]

As I understand it, Bradford were bailed out, so it may not eventuate now anyway?

 

[Front-Rower]

I don't get this argument - what about Woods and Galloway ? Bell slots in nicely at prop and so far I think BMM and Blair look better in tight.

I don't see prop as the problem.



I see both of them more as props.

We need some damaging back rowers and a backline with some speed and impact.

I reckon if we fix those areas we will be able to find a half to go along with Benji and we will be fine.

When was the last time one of our props made a statement in defence or even charged on to a ball? I'm a big fan of Woods at this early stage but we really need that hard a**e who oppositions fear. Galloway has the potential but whether it's coached or not, when was the last time he ran on to a ball or put the fear of god in to the the opposition in defence? We are the weakest team in the middle of the ruck.

BMM will be the best wide running back rower in the comp in 2 years.

 

[TrigaTheTiger]

FRer - the last time was Gibbs.....

 

[Tiger05]

When was the last time one of our props made a statement in defence or even charged on to a ball? I'm a big fan of Woods at this early stage but we really need that hard a**e who oppositions fear. Galloway has the potential but whether it's coached or not, when was the last time he ran on to a ball or put the fear of god in to the the opposition in defence? We are the weakest team in the middle of the ruck.

I disagree. Woods and Galloway must be one of the best starting props in the game and we have the back-up.

There also aren't many front-rowers in the NRL who scare the opposition.

BMM will be the best wide running back rower in the comp in 2 years.

I can see the potential and I'd love to see it happen. The thing is I think he is a little suspect defensively and out wide I think it can be exposed a little easier. I also think he goes missing a little out wide. I like him a lot as a player but he needs to take that step up like Woods has.

 

[Front-Rower]

FRer - the last time was Gibbs.....

I was thinking Fiffita back in 2010 and before that Skando in his prime, heck even Corey Pearson and Troy Wozniak ran hard on to the ball.

 

[Front-Rower]

I disagree. Woods and Galloway must be one of the best starting props in the game and we have the back-up.

There also aren't many front-rowers in the NRL who scare the opposition.



I can see the potential and I'd love to see it happen. The thing is I think he is a little suspect defensively and out wide I think it can be exposed a little easier. I also think he goes missing a little out wide. I like him a lot as a player but he needs to take that step up like Woods has.

They are both very good players and make plenty of metres but wouldn't a Russel Packer or Hargraves be a great foil for the front row along with Bell? I just think we need a hard hitter who isn't afraid to throw his body in to the defence and make a statement in defence.

 

[BradfordBull]

Lets put it this way. John Bateman IS going to better than Andy Farrell, Jamie Peacock, Sam Burgess, Gareth Ellis. He is hard as nails and is already knocking older players about. He is as tough as they come and very skillfull.

Who ever signs him over here will have to offer big £££ he is the no 1 sought after bloke.

 

[innsaneink]

Meh....another f**kn sheens experiment.

NO!

 

[The Clan]

Lets put it this way. John Bateman IS going to better than Andy Farrell, Jamie Peacock, Sam Burgess, Gareth Ellis. He is hard as nails and is already knocking older players about. He is as tough as they come and very skillfull.

Who ever signs him over here will have to offer big £££ he is the no 1 sought after bloke.

I don't want it to seem like I'm chasing you round these boards but you are seriously overselling young Bateman. He's a very good player and has gained a lot of experience very early in his career, he's certainly good enough to play NRL and could muscle his way into any of the teams but.....

He's not Physicaly the biggest forward and whilst he's got good power and decent footwork he's going to forever struggle to match it with top players who outweigh him and enjoy a level of physicality he doesn't posess.