Whoever came up with the details of this deal (probably a combination of both Barrow and Saints) deserve a huge pat on the back. It's just... sensible. And fair.
I so want him to be a huge success.
He's not the Messiah, he's a naughty boy.
Calvin Wellington is the cautionary tale that sometimes, talent alone isnt enough. In all my time watching the academy I dont think I ever saw someone as good as him. He was absolutely unplayable and had all the traits you would think would make him an international. He had better footwork than Grace. I honestly dont know where it all went wrong for him
Let’s be fair, is Ritson any less green than Grace was when he first broke into the first team? Clearly not. Yes he’s a few years older, but he has genuine pace, knows his way to the line and has ambition to be a SL player. When Grace came in you will remember that his kick returns were bang average, he used to stop at the line. His ability to take a high ball was hit and miss at best. You may remember he then spent some time in the off season with Tommy Makinson who helped him adjust his returns, particularly using footwork and acceleration at the line and the rest is history. I’m sure Tommy will have equally as much impact on Tee.
Fair comment. Quite where all the perceptions of poor defence comes from is baffling? watching Ritson for over 3 years at Barrow I can only remember one dropped high ball and his D positioning is good. Any winger can be beaten in a 2 v 1, his returning of the ball was very good having spent most of his early career as a very good full back. 70 tries in 73 games tells you he knows his way around a field and to the try line. A pre season with top SL players coaching will improve him. Barrow will sorely miss him.
Signings like the ones made this week have been suggested for a while
and constantly shot down by the nobody is worthy , club knows best, Royston Vasey brigade.
The club have come down on the side of pace , breaking convention and thinking outside of the box.
Some luke warm and sneery takes is not unexpected.
Yes, he would better suited to play on the right alongside Hurrell, Ritson's centre partner at Barrow was Miloudi whose style of centre play is very much like Hurrell. But the problem will be our right edge defence if Makinson moves over to join Percival. Lot to work on during the off season to find the correct balance in the backline.
Didn't Cunningham also have a thinly-disguised pop at him in the post-match interview as well?
At that time fans were turning on Cunningham and calling for exciting players like Wellington and Grace be picked instead of plodders like Owens and Dawson. Obviously Cunningham knew best, and his throwing Wellington under the bus smacked at the time of giving a big 'screw you' to the fans, as well as giving him a sense of justification for still not picking certain players and sticking with his favoured dross.
In a sense, it could well have saved Grace's career that Cunningham steadfastly refused to bring him into the first team.
He's not the Messiah, he's a naughty boy.
https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post...-can-hope-for/
A good insight into the deal. It is good that Barrow and the player are getting a good deal.
I could agree with you but then we would both be wrong.
Now, which does he play for Barrow or Swinton?
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/...efits-parties/
The point is he is on loan, and the loan state if he's not playing for Saints he can go back to Barrow for match time, but I wondered if he would be in or out of the Swinton deal.