Quote Ant80="Ant80"This is from an Aussie's perspective
Brett Kearney to fullback
Steve Menzies to the forwards
Another thing is Matt Orford I know Bradford would be playing better if he was in the line up for more then half a season'"
Steve has played in the forwards in almost all games this season and Brett has played about 80/20 in the halves and full back. Thing is we have several half decent second row/loose forwards (injury periods excepted) but have lacked the sort of Skill, in particular the ability to give a decent pass to his winger, that Menzies brings in the centre. In short, the squad was thin from the start, with little strength in the threequarters and particularly at halfback.
The halves have been the main part of the problem all season. Mainly due to not having enough of them; Kearney was signed to play stand off, though as you rightly say he is better at full back. When Orford got injured it left us without a single, experienced (open age) half back, so Kearney or L'Estrange have played scrum half and we've had several players, including forwards, filling in at stand off, L'Estrange, Addy, Sykes and even Menzies in one game. We have been asking young forwards, just coming into the team, to play at stand off, and you aren't going to win much in that situation.
It's hard to believe, but there are actually several good players at the club, and a number of top class young players either on the fringe, or actually breaking through into the side. The trouble is that confidence is shot, nobody trusts anyone else, and much as they try, and they really do try, I won't accuse anyone of lack of effort, but when things go wrong they just fold and miss tackles alarmingly. This is interspersed with periods where they keep a really good line and actually look like they know each other.
All in all, I think we're all ready for this season to end,to see who is really arriving, instead of all the rumours, and look forward to next year.