For mine, Oates is no FB. I am yet to see any play making ability from him at this level, unlike Hodges who has a very good pass on him, as well as that step. I think he is an ideal FB in attack if Maranta is to defend there. I hope Maranta doesn't blow it again this week. That knock on on our line was dreadful.
Oates IMO is a big centre who can play well in the back row. As I keep saying (yawn), all things being equal, he can be our next Gene Miles. 2-3 years in the centres with Copley, then move to the back row when our current ones retire or move on.
I would have loved to have seen Copley and Oates named in the centres, with Reed to the wing. Oates really deserves more game time. He is like Copley, a real strike weapon - big, very fast, very dangerous.
This team really needs strike weapons. We have them. We don't use them. They're either left to create their own chances too often, or they are on the bench, like Oates, with minimal game time.
Gillett and Thaiday are good examples. Gillett is too often given the ball in the hope he pulls a rabbit out of the hat (and is crucified when he doesn't), or too rarely, Barba or Hunt set him up with a hole and he scores or makes tries.
Thaiday should be running on the edge at the opposition's backs and ball playing close to their line in regular set plays - something he does well. Instead, he is all too often a battering ram who makes too few metres in the middle
Hope Bennett fixes what's definitely broke (including Gillett's defensive technique) despite the fact we will flog his Kniggots this week end