Sunday 10 January 2016

Harry Walkington

POSITION: WING
1ST YEARS
AGE: 18
HOMETOWN: HULL
YOUTH CLUB: HULL DOCKERS
TEAM SUPPORTS: HULL KR
FAVOURITE PLAYER: SHAUN BRISCOE
FAVOURITE FILM: 127 HOURS
FAVOURITE FOOD: SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE
PASSIONATE ABOUT RL BECAUSE: STARTED WATCHING HULL KR AND ASPIRED TO PLAY ON THAT PITCH.
PLAYER LIKELINESS: TOM BRISCOE

Walkington is another fresh face on the team this year and has made a real claim for a first team spot. Drafted in to replace a senior member of the squad for a game earlier on in the season, he has since staked his place in the squad. Starting out at Hull Dockers, Walkington is a very comfortable winger, and if form continues is unlikely to be ousted from the starting 13.

As a KR fan i'm sure he will hate being compared to former FC winger Tom Briscoe, but that is the best comparison I could come up with. Similar builds and playing styles, particularly in defence, with both often hitting the right line in defence, and making try saving tackles when required. Also very capable going forward, and creating the metres, as well as scoring tries.

Jamie Supyk (Soups)

POSITION: LOOSE FORWARD/CENTRE
1ST YEAR
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: ROCHDALE
YOUTH CLUB:
TEAM SUPPORTS: ROCHDALE HORNETS
FAVOURITE PLAYER: JED AMOS-GODDARD
FAVOURITE FILM: REMEMBER THE TITANS
FAVOURITE FOOD: ANYTHING WITH MAYO
PASSIONATE ABOUT RL BECAUSE: PLAYED RUGBY UNION SINCE THE AGE OF 7, BUT STARTED WATCHING LEAGUE A FEW YEARS AGO AND DECIDED TO SWITCH
PLAYER LIKELINESS: SIMON MANNERING

pictured in his Union days
Supyk possess all the qualities to be an excellent rugby league player. Making great strides following his switch from playing the 15 man code this season for the Blue Ghosts, he is coming on leaps and bounds and starting to have a good impact on the team. Making the switch from Union to League is not an easy one, but Supyk seems to have come a long way in such a short space of time. A hard worker in training and off the field in the gym, sure to be one to watch over the coming weeks and months.

It is tough to pin point a player at this early stage but one that came to mind was Kiwi Simon Mannering. Both players have a similar athletic build for a forward, but defend and attack in equal measure. Supyk possesses a very strong side stepping ability, and is always willing to get involved in games, the defensive side particularly akin to Mannering.



Saturday 9 January 2016

Kieran Riding

POSITION: CENTRE
1ST YEAR
AGE: 18
HOMETOWN: HALIFAX
YOUTH CLUB: SIDDAL/QUEENSBURY/OVENDEN
TEAM SUPPORTS: HALIFAX RLFC
FAVOURITE PLAYER: GREG INGLIS
FAVOURITE FILM: STEP BROTHERS
FAVOURITE FOOD: PIZZA
PASSIONATE ABOUT RL BECAUSE: FAMILY HAS ALWAYS PLAYED RUGBY LEAGUE, GRANDDAD, DAD, UNCLE, AND BROTHER HAVE ALL PLAYED.
PLAYER LIKELINESS: JACK REED

Riding has recently made an emergence into the team, and has had a big impact on the Blue Ghosts. Putting pressure on the more senior members of the squad, he has recently been selected regularly and often being one of the top tacklers on the team. He's represented a number of sides local to him, and comes from a family rich in rugby league history. He is definitely one of the players to watch for the rest of this season, leading up to Varsity later on in the season.

Jack Reed was instantly the player I compared Riding to when I first saw him play. From playing style down to defensive positioning and tactics, it is very much in the mould of Reed. Both players run good lines, and hit the line without fear, and also put a good shift in in defence.

Friday 8 January 2016

Sean 'Smiley' Murphy

POSITION: SECOND ROW/CENTRE/LOOSE FORWARD
2ND YEAR - 1ST ON TEAM
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: WARRINGTON
YOUTH CLUB: BURTONWOOD BULLDOGS
TEAM SUPPORTS: WARRINGTON WOLVES
FAVOURITE PLAYER: SEAN O'LOUGHLIN
FAVOURITE FILM: SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
FAVOURITE FOOD: POTATO SMILEY FACES
PASSIONATE ABOUT RL BECAUSE: LOCAL SIDE NEEDED AN EXTRA PLAYER, BEEN PLAYING EVER SINCE
PLAYER LIKELINESS: BEN WESTWOOD

Murphy is everything you want out of your modern day second rower. The ability to back up your prop forwards and make good, uncompromising metres forward, and to defend hard, and that is everything that Murphy has to offer. Hailing from rugby town Warrington he started out his career at Burtonwood Bulldogs, he is able to cover loose forward, as well as centre.

The comparisons from Westwood are mostly down to both players loving to get involved in the defensive side of the game, and ruffing the opponents up. Both hit hard in defence, and put in a good shift in attack as well, making the metres to get the team down field.

Jordan 'Vern' Vernon

POSITION: PROP/LOOSE FORWARD
3RD YEAR
AGE: 23
HOMETOWN: HUDDERSFIELD/CLECKHEATON
YOUTH CLUB: DEWSBURY MOOR
TEAM SUPPORTS: HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS
FAVOURITE PLAYER: MAL MENINGA/PAUL GALLEN
FAVOURITE FILM: MILLION DOLLAR BABY
FAVOURITE FOOD: FAIJITAS
PASSIONATE ABOUT RL BECAUSE: COMES FROM A BIG RUGBY FAMILY, WAS TOLD HE WAS TOO BIG FOR FOOTBALL AGE 14, SEEMED SENSIBLE, SO HERE HE IS!
PLAYER LIKELINESS: DAVID SHILLINGTON/WILLIE MASON

Vernon is a very important part of the Blue Ghosts set up, and although isn't always available for games, his presence is felt in the games he plays, and you can tell the difference he has on the team. Starting out at Dewsbury Moor amateur side, he is in his 3rd year with the team and predominantly starts at prop forward.

The link with Shillington comes through his playing style, both forwards are the kind of players you would look at if the team was struggling to get forward. Neither are scared to put their bodies on the line for the team, and this is a big asset for a prop forward. The links to Mason are down to the fact that both like to have a word with the opposition and wind the opponents up. Something which definitely helps your team mates.

Thomas Bowden (Charndog)

POSITION: STAND OFF
2ND YEAR AND CAPTAIN
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: HULL
YOUTH CLUB: CHORLEY PANTHERS
TEAM SUPPORTS: HULL FC
FAVOURITE PLAYER: ISAAC LUKE
FAVOURITE FILM: STAR WARS
FAVOURITE FOOD: LAMB CHOPS
PASSIONATE ABOUT RL BECAUSE: WATCHED BROTHER PLAY RL, AND KNEW HE WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT.
PLAYER LIKELINESS: SEAN O'LOUGHLIN

Bowden is a captain by name and a captain by nature. Setting the standard this season with an incredible defensive record for a half back, and also possesses a dangerous kicking game when in attack, and a good ability to break the line or produce the killer pass. Starting out his career in Coppull for the Chorley Panthers, playing centre and winger, he joined the Blue Ghosts in 2014 and switched to his now more familiar role at half back.

There are far worse players to get compared to than Wigan captain Sean O'Loughlin, and there are some very big similarities between the two players. Both players possess stellar attacking and defensive capabilities, and lead their teams from the front.







David Eatock (Tokki/Wokki)

POSITION: FULL BACK/HALF BACK
FIRST YEAR ON THE TEAM
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: WIGAN
YOUTH CLUB: WIGAN ST JUDES
TEAM SUPPORTS: WIGAN WARRIORS
FAVOURITE PLAYER: SHAUN JOHNSON
FAVOURITE FILM: FIGHT CLUB
FAVOURITE FOOD: MEAT AND POTATO PIE
PASSIONATE ABOUT RL BECAUSE: MUM OFFERED HIM £20 TO STOP PLAYING FOOTBALL AND JOIN ST JUDES, NOT LOOKED BACK SINCE
PLAYER LIKELINESS: BILLY SLATER

Eatock is in his first season with the Blue Ghosts, but has already made a big impact on the team with tries, and his vocal style of play. Eatock started out his career at well known Wigan amateur side St Jude's, he has covered both full back and half back this season, and hasn't missed a game yet. He is one of the sides top try scorers and is looking set to have a good few years with the Blue Ghosts.

Eatock has similarities to Slater, which is a compliment to say the least. Both players are very vocal full backs in both attack and defence. They also both have the ability to break the line when returning the ball from the kick, and also in open play. Other similarities can be drawn from full backs like Zak Hardaker.