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       #Post#: 109212--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Smith to Racing?
   DIR By: MaidstoneQuin
       Date: May 23, 2023, 1:59 pm
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       --- Quote from: FatQuin link ---
       >
       > Don’t forget SGB.  He’s got loads left in the tank.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       He could bring a lot behind the scenes we don’t know about.
       Perhaps he’s so strong he carries all the tackle bags in
       training whilst making a mean cup of tea for afters.
       #Post#: 109213--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Smith to Racing?
   DIR By: Quinky
       Date: May 23, 2023, 2:00 pm
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       I'd add in Lamb, Matas, Anwanyu, Cleaves. And Wev for a few
       years.
       #Post#: 109226--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Smith to Racing?
   DIR By: JammyGit
       Date: May 23, 2023, 5:20 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: poorfour link ---
       >
       > Without doing the stats, I think we've tended to have the
       highest loyalty from players we've plucked from outside the
       traditional channels - a lot of whom have finished their careers
       here or only left if it is essential for their international
       ambitions. I'm counting in that those we've pulled from lower
       leagues (Care [plucked from relegation], Matt Hopper, Karl
       Dickson, Dave Ward - the exception being Strettle but we were
       always going to lose one of the 5 big renewals that year) or uni
       (Dommers, Northmore), players we've rehabilitated like Olly K or
       Mike Ross, and (I hope) ones we've spotted early
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       I'm a little confused by this. Dave Ward has been at loads of
       clubs and stayed with us largely because it was the highest
       level he could play at. Matt Hopper was a similar story then
       left to play in France. Mike Ross left as soon as Leinster came
       calling.
       Aside from Ross the notable thing about that list is that it was
       largely players who wouldn't be starting for a top six team - so
       they were happy with their place and so were we. I don't think
       it was a loyalty thing.
       #Post#: 109230--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Smith to Racing?
   DIR By: poorfour
       Date: May 24, 2023, 1:01 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       It’s not about who they played for before - these were players
       whose careers were on the decline but became useful and fairly
       long lived squad players for us. Hopper had one final season at
       Oyonnax, Ward I believe one at Ampthill before going full time
       into coaching (and has been very successful with Bristol Bears
       women); it’s not exactly leaving for big money elsewhere, more
       trying to get one last payday before retirement, I’d say.
       Ross’s career here was shorter than I remembered, but my point
       was that he left because he needed to be in Ireland to have a
       chance internationally.
       We can argue the toss about who was settling for whom and what
       standard of player they were. There was certainly a lot of
       enthusiasm for Hopper and Ward while they were playing here,
       even if neither of them was going to become an international
       superstar. But Hopper played in the 2012 Final, and Ward joined
       us the following season, so it’s not as if Quins were out of the
       top 6 at that point.
       #Post#: 109237--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Smith to Racing?
   DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
       Date: May 24, 2023, 3:06 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: Banstead Quin link ---
       >
       > There's actually no wrong answers Quinky, we all see them as
       we see them, but they are players I wouldn't want to lose, just
       look how much we lose when Tyrone is not around (not popping at
       Nick David but he doesn't make us a better side than when we
       have Tyrone there).
       >
       > My crown jewels assessment came from a view of who would be
       difficult to replace internally and with who we could bring in.
       Jarrod may prove that wrong but Marcus is something special.
       There is a reality that we may have to lose one but if we had
       the ability to sacrifice from the next rung down, would we not
       want the club to do that?
       >
       > Teams that evolve tend to win more than those who remain
       loyal, the post 2012 period is a great example of that. Injuries
       aside, had we hung onto Robshaw, Care, nEV & Brownie and bought
       in replacements for Kohn, Robson & Joe Gray we may have pushed
       on. I'm not saying they were the reasons we didn't, just using
       those as examples where better were available had we looked.
       >
       > It's never as black and white as that but, as the formula one
       analogy goes, if you've got a high performing car, there is no
       problem with giving it a new set of tyres (not sure that quite
       worked but you know what I mean).
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       I think I picked up the Tread of what you were saying there..
       (Alright, I'll get me coat and take a Yellow Card for being in
       front of the Minimum Period)...
       #Post#: 109239--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Smith to Racing?
   DIR By: Quinky
       Date: May 24, 2023, 3:09 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: deadlyfrom5yardsout link ---
       >
       > I think I picked up the Tread of what you were saying there..
       >
       > (Alright, I'll get me coat and take a Yellow Card for being in
       front of the Minimum Period)...
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Still bringing out the tyred old lines, Dangly?
       #Post#: 109249--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Smith to Racing?
   DIR By: JammyGit
       Date: May 24, 2023, 5:02 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: poorfour link ---
       >
       > It’s not about who they played for before - these were players
       whose careers were on the decline but became useful and fairly
       long lived squad players for us. Hopper had one final season at
       Oyonnax, Ward I believe one at Ampthill before going full time
       into coaching (and has been very successful with Bristol Bears
       women); it’s not exactly leaving for big money elsewhere, more
       trying to get one last payday before retirement, I’d say.
       >
       > Ross’s career here was shorter than I remembered, but my point
       was that he left because he needed to be in Ireland to have a
       chance internationally.
       >
       > We can argue the toss about who was settling for whom and what
       standard of player they were. There was certainly a lot of
       enthusiasm for Hopper and Ward while they were playing here,
       even if neither of them was going to become an international
       superstar. But Hopper played in the 2012 Final, and Ward joined
       us the following season, so it’s not as if Quins were out of the
       top 6 at that point.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Hopper and Ward were excellent club players who had some big
       weaknesses. Fun to watch though. I guess my point is there's
       nothing remarkable about players who join a club and realise
       they've found the highest level they can achieve, and settling
       for that until they're moved on or have to face significantly
       reduced wages. I think in a conversation about loyalty it's less
       about those players and more about the ones who choose to stay
       with a club despite very tempting offers from elsewhere - so the
       more top end guys or the ones who haven't yet sealed their place
       in the club's history books but are clearly going to be huge
       talents like a young Joe Marler.
       It's easy to be loyal if all the alternatives are worse, is what
       I'm saying!
       #Post#: 109258--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Smith to Racing?
   DIR By: Linkinquin
       Date: May 24, 2023, 7:23 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: FatQuin link ---
       >
       > Don’t forget SGB.  He’s got loads left in the tank.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Only problem is every time he starts his engine the rust and old
       4-star block the jets in his carburetor
       #Post#: 109389--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Smith to Racing?
   DIR By: Bolly-Quin
       Date: May 28, 2023, 4:51 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Hopper and (S) Smith were undervalued by some fans but they
       always gave everything.
       #Post#: 109391--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Smith to Racing?
   DIR By: Audi Quintro
       Date: May 28, 2023, 6:28 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Racing are going to buy him out his contract after the RWC
       allegedly.
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