Does Salford need to tinker with a position which is being filled by a young man who is very talented and will certainly improve as he get older? I ask this because of the attempts to buy Rangi Chase.



Doesn't Salford have other positions in the team where it is weaker and less competitive than at scrum half?



I know that Theo Fages is signed on until 2015 or thereabouts. But is Dr Koukash going to keep him as first choice scrum half?

Yes

It's a valid question, and I guess we don't know the answer. There [iare[/i positions that need strengthening much more than the half-backs: the forwards. That's where our problems lie, not the halves. Signing Rangi Chase would be a major coup, and it would be great to see him every week because he's definitely an entertainer, but I'm probably alone in not beating myself off at the prospect of getting him, and I won't be beating myself up if we don't. We need forwards. Lots of them.

We need a playmaking halfback just as much as more forwards

I think Theo is the future for us and could play alongside someone like Chase. This season, although tough, has brought him on in leaps and bounds. I think if you take some of the pressure off him by having another talented ball player (Whoever it may be) along side him you free him up to show his talent rather than heap the pressure on his young shoulders to be the only go-to man.

Maybe, but we may already have one in Marc Sneyd and/or Theo. We've never seen them play behind a pack that isn't getting monstered every week.



If we [ido[/i need a play making half-back, though, is Rangi Chase the right type of half-back? He seems a very off the cuff type player rather than a leader, and perhaps we need a player who is more like Michael Dobson than Rangi Chase.



Still hope we sign him though.

I think I understand your concerns BR, but you should remember just how good, tough and creative this VERY Young man can be.



Not only has he proved that he has the skills and courage that S L requires, but he has already demonstrated that he is willing to continue, week in and week out to really give it his all, when some of his team mates appear to have lost the stomach and pride that every professional player should have.



Let us not forget that Theo was signed during our darkest days and that he was given a home, when he was only seventeen by one of Salford Red's best and trusted families. Having lived abroad (alone) from a very early age, I can tell you this can be very difficult. Theo appears to have taken this all in his young stride in the first instance, and then gone on to "thrive" in an environment that must have tested him.



It may be worth consideration, that if this young man had "gone walkabout" and not had the loyalty to stick with us through those very difficult times, it would have been wholly natural. He didn't! I personally think that it would be nice to see just how good Theo can be when some of the burden of "creating" is taken off his young shoulders.



I say: "discard him at your peril", this young one is going to be a good one, barring injury.



Keep the faith mate.

There are some interesting quotes from Alan Hunte in the RLW magazine currently available concerning Theo and Marc Sneyd.

It is with regard to the apparent drought of English half backs.

I don't think the OP is genuine in his various threads - some of which are quite amusing - but it does seem a whole new spine for the team is being constructed and Theo remaining in the squad is vital for the future.

Theo definately is the future for Salford, not only is he the most talented halve I've seen in a long while he is without doubt Salford through and through (though a adoptive he remained loyal to the club when other didn't).



Theo is a shining example of what our club did right in a period when it appears more and more was done wrong, to not only attract someone as talented as himself but to retain and nurture him as we have has to be the blueprint for the recruitment of the next generation of Salford starlets.



I'd go so far as to ask Shirley Bradshaw and Theo for assistance in the facilities/hostel that the Doc intends building at the ground, they after all know what is involved in getting youngsters to live away from home and how to do it well.



[size=50Shirl that's a tenner you owe me

[/size

Nice to see we agree about some things D! I think the world of you mate, but when it comes to Eric's prediction league 2013 mate: It's Kevin Tamati V Greg Dowling..........or in Michigan "speak"......"the gloves are off". D.

If we're talking about you love it's more like Brian Dowling

I said 'yes', he would keep the scrum half spot !

Not sure how you misinterpreted that.

By the way, the idea of Theo being partnered next season by Sneyd is daft,unless we have injuries or suspensions