Quote DaveO="DaveO"Not of we continue to make "progress" as we have done since 2006 we won't.'"
Results wise we have gone backwards no if's or but's about it but still regardless of that imo we are putting together the basis for a good team. A new HB to direct and a respected prop would put to another level competitiveness wise.
Our young players are 2nd to none Ainscough, Tomkins x2 & Prescott would be taken by any other club in the league. We’ve got another level of youngsters like Goulding, Mcilorum & O’Carroll who are still better than a lot other clubs best prospects. The future is bright if they are maximised via the loan system/ accelerator schemes which IL has showed he’s clued into.
We've also got the likes of Hock, Lockers, Gleeson, Carmont, Feka, Richards & Tommy who are more than good enough senior players to play big roles in championship winning setups.
Quote DaveONot sure how you conclude a player of Riddell's age has a great future here but regardless of that the problem is we are not making any progress at all. '"
If I’m correct is the guy not 27? Since when did a 27 year old not have a good future? That’s five years min at the club if he stays till he’s 32 which isn't unreasonable to think he may. He's already an improvement on Higham so again a step forward which is what was eluded to in the OP.
Quote DaveOWhat the orignal post alludes to in the past of gradual or even revolutionary progress has is not happening at the moment. The best two examples I can think of are our current coach and scrum half positions.
Under the old regime out went McInnes and Clarke who won us a challenge cup and in came Lowe.'"
As I said a new good HB would transform this team and bring out the best in what is imo a talented and exciting backline waiting to be unleashed with a little bit more clever play by our HB’s. Think back to Trent and the effect his passing game had on the likes of Joel and Hansen’s attacking game. Losing Trent was big but again he was still gonna leave at the end of this season as he was a short term fix. Add Tommy to nine scooting and we’ve got a very good balance at that position to.
Quote DaveOAlso under the old regime out went Mick Ford and in came Andy Gregory.
Now if it is suggested Noble isn't good enough or TL isn't a good enough 7 to take us forward, this is considered sacrilege by some. However look at what the club did back then! It got rid of successful coaches and a good young scrum half because they were not good enough to take us to the next step.
It remains to be seen if IL is as ruthless as that. Depending where TL ends up playing (9 or 7) he has not gone out looking for the next level up of scrum half. Will he keep Noble? We shall see but I think these two examples show the parallels between then and now are not so clear cut at all. '"
Again you’re assuming TL will play 7 next season and that Noble will also be the coach 2. IMO it’s very, very unlikely Noble will be here next season (so to knock IL on it is laughable) but when he does leave he should be congratulated for settling the club down in a time of crisis, keeping hold of some good young talent and imo taking us massively forward from the Betts then Milward era. We needed stability and he gave it now it’s time for ‘Lowe’ to come in and take us up again. You honestly can’t say Noble wasn’t a step forward from Milward nor has he put in some good foundations at the club.
Tommy also will be moving to 9 imo. It makes sense for the club and player as both know Tommy playing 7 isn’t the best option and Tommy obviously must be able to see that if he moves to 9 his international place will be a lot more secure than it is a seven.
Do you honestly not think we are moving forward bit by bit and just a few changes will revolutionise us? IMO you can where we are heading and how we need to get there which is a lot better than other clubs like Wire, Hull FC, Castleford, Wakey who are either doing good but can only take it so far or just don’t have that potential for greatness in them.
