Quote mark_m="mark_m"Russell no doubt has been fast tracked into the position due to the retirement of Briers and his RLWC performnces.
Looking at the personnel we will have to play a different game next season.'"
I think this is what its about. You can't replace Briers in a 'like for like' way, we will have to play in a different way. When you look at replacing people with freakish talent either in RL or other sports, its not possible to replace those people. Briers, the likes of Jason Robinson, Ronaldo, Suarez etc are not replaceable in that way. Much as it pains me to say it, Wigan are our template here - last season they lost a few experienced top quality players and reaplced them with promising youngsters and what were, on paper, clearly inferior players likes Smith and Green. That didn't stop them winning the double.
What it does for me is spread the responsibilty for playmaking and leadership more widely. It makes preseason certainly more interesting than last year and although I think there are lots of 'if's' and 'maybe's' and some reasonable concerns given the experience we have lost, I for one am looking forward to seeing how the likes of Russell, Glenn Riley, Evans, Currie and G'OB step up to the next level as well as seeing how England works out at SL level - you never know, he could be the next Chris Hill!
It will also be interesting to see how Asotasi settles in - there will certainly be high expectations on his shoulders and the fact he has missed the Word Cup to get himself fit for the new season is positive. Presumably the new 'leadership group' will feature Asotasi, Monaghan & Waterhouse but it could encourage the likes of Myler and Currie to step us as our next generation of leaders.
Yes, it would have been nice to see the name 'Thurston' down at 6 but that was never going to happen. The squad are going to have to work together to make things happen and I'm looking forward to that. Roll on 2014.