now we've all had a few weeks to look at the players what is everyones view on the recruitment / replacements from our squad last year

IMO the biggest shoes to fill were those of George Carmont, and i think Thornley is doing that really well, and improving week on week, still some way to go to fill the shoes, but a very good long term replacement, and striking up a good partnership with Pat

Finch - Green, been pretty impressed what i've seen up to now, as didnt really have an opinion on him before this season. Runs at the line more than Finchy did, and got a decent kicking game as well

Luluai - Smith, again Matty as with Blake Green, runs at the line more than Tommy did, and his kicking game is on a different planet. Obviously TL was the best defensive half back i have ever seen, so a long way to go there

Lima - Taylor, really coming into his own in the last 2-3 weeks, makes some really good metres once he gets going, and i think as with Thornley a really good long term replacement

all in all, even though on paper we are weaker than last season, really happy with how the new look team is looking especially considering how many of 1st choice pack we have been missing

Our halves are rubbish. Never break the line or put a man through a gap. Massive step down on Tommy and Finch and we'll win nothing with Green. He's a waste of money.

Are you hissed again Mr sarky?

Sorry. Do we only post those comments after a defeat?

Considering Hughes was (prematurely IMO) given the no 4 jersey the fact Thornley looks to have claimed it is certainly a big plus point. To "find" a real centre when we had another Joel T like compromise on the cards is great. That is no reflection on Hughes either who I think has a big future in the pack.



I think they are both doing well but are both defensively suspect especially Smith. Their kicking games are better easily and Green can do some very deft passing but if someone asked would I swap them back, then yes I would. As to Smith running at the line more then Tommy did - what planet are you on ? That was the major part of his attacking game and added to his strength its what made him the player he was for us.



I think all the front row forwards who have been playing in the absence of the more senior players who have left or who are injured have done themselves a lot of credit. Burke and Tuscon have also done well in the back row. However it is a long season and today against a weak Saints side with no half backs I think we saw the pressure of a big game get to a few people. Not in a major way but we kind of lost the plot at times with Smith going for glory instead of passing, Hughes dropping a sitter and generally looking a bit ragged in the 2nd half. I think a lot of that was down to lack of experience.

I think we have two cracking prospects in the pack in Crosby and Taylor but there is no substitute for experience which they are certainly getting but it will still be good to welcome back Hansen, Prescott and Mossop (who as young as he still is does represent one of our more experienced players).



Our backs are (and have been for a few games now) at full strength. No one is missing from who we have to chose from. The pack is where the injuries are and the reserve players have certainly stepped up to the plate. To be top of the league with the disruption we have had is a great place to be. Whether we have the experience or quality to win the really big games against the likes of Leeds when it matters is yet to be seen but whatever the outcome of those kinds of games this is already proving to be a very enjoyable season and well worth the season ticket money. There was a lot of genuine delight around me today when Crosby got his try and MoM award and that kind of thing is part of why its been so enjoyable so far.

Thornley always had the promise before going to Ru. I cant make my mind up if going there has made him a better player or staying here in the first place would have.

I thought Finch and Tommy were irreplaceable but i was wrong. Finchy started to go off the boil last season anyway imo. Matty Smith has started making some tasty breaks and his distribution is superb. Don't think he will be going anywhere for about 8 years. Green has a very experienced head on him and his link up with Matty is great. #

The young forwards have been great, I think the likes of Lauaki are in BIG trouble with the emergence of Burke, Taylor, Spencer etc. Its going to be really interesting to see how Wane rotates them around. Our young lads seem to make a habit of taking their chance when regular first teamers get injured. Must be a really strong mentality on the whole in the club. We all thought this season we would be considerably weaker but i think we are considerably stronger. We have lost some big personalities and great individual players but the team looks a lot more settled and more of a unit. All young lads who know their roles in the squad and what is expected.

We have only lost against the top sides (make of that what you will) but those sides have dropped silly points against the weaker sides whereas we have grinded them out where needs be. So watch us get stuffed by Hull KR now haha.

The future is bright, The future is cherry and white.

I had concerns before the season started but thts well gone as smith/green have already proved after less than 10 games they will do well and will get even better

Thornley is getting better game by game and thats a good thing as hughes is not there yet still makes too many wrong decisions in attack but that will come with time

In the forwards i wasnt really that worried as dudson had already made progress lat year and i know Taylor will settle in as he gets more games

Bonus of the year obviously the form of farrell and crosby

I agree with cherrywarrior i cant see Lauaki gettng many games

I like Green and Smith. Finch just never did it for me, he had more poor games than he did good, and neither him or Tommy had much of a kicking game. Lima was good but often inconsistent and I think the young lads this year have really done well in the forwards so it's hard to say there was a direct replacement for Lima as all of the forwards have stepped up and improved. I just hope that when players start coming back from injury and the younger lads potentially get less game time, they don't start to get restless for more first team games and go elsewhere. We've seen it so many times before. Although if the rumours of Hansen to the NRL are true then that opens a gap. When does Prescott's contract run out? Can see him being offloaded due to his poor injury record. Wasn't Mossop rumoured to be off to the NRL too?

Mossops contract is until the end of 2014 not sure about prescott but i think hes got a place in the team

Finch absolutely bossed games when he was on, but yes he certainly lost interest about halfway through 2012. After that he was a shadow of his former self.

I think they've done as well as can be expected.

Lets not forget Finch, Tommy and Lima are all top draw NRL players. Carmont was Mr consistency for us and an absolute top player to boot.

Before the season start, I would have been happy with a top four finish, and quarter finals of cup.

Looking at the way we have gone with so many injuries, the squad depth and Smith and Green joining well, I'm hoping for better.

I'm not saying "Get to Grand Final or its all a big fail", but I am really happy with the team.

Think the club have done well with recruiting and building players rather than just going for some Aussies out of favour in the NRL.