Shane maybe on a bulking up regime over Christmas! He is around the 16 stone mark already so not a massive step.
Pascal would like to see Dupree and Farnworth at prop. Think we will sign a few props still who are old heads.
Pascal would like to see Dupree and Farnworth at prop. Think we will sign a few props still who are old heads.
The latter would be the ideal tbh. We're just impatient!
Pascal would like to see Dupree and Farnworth at prop. Think we will sign a few props still who are old heads.
The latter would be the ideal tbh. We’re just impatient!
Definitely impatient and in my opinion I feel we are shaping up well. Holroyd on the wing I feel and 2 old head props like Cook and Clough. But I do rate Farnworth and Dupree looks a top player. Pascal is confident for the new season mate. 👌👍
Stepping back a bit and we will probably have a livelier pack anyway. Kenny Baker doesn't play prop like Steve Cross{Bulls) and nor will Farnworth or Dupree I suspect.
Most of our signings are young and energetic so Simon might be looking to play a much more open game, in the old Widnes tradition. But I think that a couple of old heads will be added.
Agreed a few times this year against sides who have beat us there packs have looked awfully slow, with younger players with aggression like levy, farnworth and Dupree as well as a few more and baker I really do think we can surprise a few sides this year with our more mobile pack especially after the disappointment of this year
Agreed a few times this year against sides who have beat us there packs have looked awfully slow, with younger players with aggression like levy, farnworth and Dupree as well as a few more and baker I really do think we can surprise a few sides this year with our more mobile pack especially after the disappointment of this year
Suits our track too! Burn 'em off on the plastic!!!!! A bit like Batley and their hill and Bulls and their postage stamp.
I think all the three props we have confirmed have the potential to be very effective for us. Nzoungou strikes as someone who can be used very effectively as an impact player and Farnworth and Dupree are quality props. Just need a couple of extras to take the workload off them a bit now.
A bit of old head experience is invaluable when you hit a problem!! Just somebody to say - 'I'll tell you what we'll do!!!!'
I can still remember Vinty if the pack looked like wavering ! Two or three full bottle drives by him, or three crash tackles one after the other, had the crowd and the pack back on song! That was the sort of pack leadership that seems rare anywhere these days.
Just wish we had DVD's of it!!!
In (slightly) more recent times we used to see the same from King Kurt!
Big Jim could do it too and if that didn’t work there was always Plan B - physical violence.
More recently even Robert Relf was a solid pack man and filled that pack leader role. Don't know if the NRL produces 'Relfs' any more!
More recently even Robert Relf was a solid pack man and filled that pack leader role. Don’t know if the NRL produces ‘Relfs’ any more!
Ste Carter was a man to rally round - who was it he flattened when we played Saints ? I think .I’m right in saying that was on his debut ?
Keiron Cunningham wasn't it ? Carter is the last player we've had in the mould of the Hulme brothers.A tough niggler, 80 minutes of blood and sweat, in the thick of it.Sadly his body was already battered and bruised before he even arrived here.Could'nt string more than two games together.
The props in the past also had their key role in the scrums and usually played for the full 80 minutes!!
I actually don't think it is a specialist role nowadays, certainly not in the scrums. A prop today is expected to run aggressively at the opposition for probably two spells of 20 minutes in each half, unless you are at Widnes when we had no replacements on the bench!!!
The prop will also be expected to tackle the opposing forwards. This role requires size and aggression. The Chapelhows have size, but lacked in aggression and they rarely broke any tackles. Owen Farnworth at 6' 1" and just under 16 stone is not big compared to Alex Walmsley at 6'5" and over 18 stone, but has plenty of aggression. Paul Clough is a similar size to Farnworth, but has a wealth of experience - see how much ground he makes by turning into the tackle.
Our young forwards were bullied out of some games by the old heads, for example Ferres had Lawton in his pocket in the Featherstone game. That is why we need a couple of experienced old heads in the squad, who can mix it on the pitch. Will Tilleke has aggression, but lacks in size and experience, but is young enough to develop.
I see no problem in using the experience of Grady and Baker as props as necessary. As has been suggested, we may be looking to have a more mobile pack next year, with all forwards running in and tacking hard. It will be interesting to see.