Betts praises retained players particularly Allen and Coyle

[Wirralviking]

It will be interesting to see how Allen and Coyle go this season after most of us thought they were very lucky to be kept on. Denis Betts clearly thinks they have responded well to a full-time environment and to be fair reports from the Warrington and Saints games suggest they both acquitted themselves well in their respective outings.

http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_6993-betts-praise-for-retained-players.html?

It will certainly be great for the squad if they continue to show that they can hack it in Superleague. You always hope players will come good, the more from our retained group that do the better, so far Flynn has shown he can compete at the top level, as did Allen against Saints and Coyle showed up well enough against Warrington. I think we all thought Kavanagh would make the grade and it will be interesting to see how he goes tonight.

No doubt they will all get the chance to shine at some stage over the course of the season.

[VikingByrne]

Not sure if the praise directed at Allen and Coyle is quite warranted just yet, I don't think they've been outstanding in pre-season personally. Then again, I am in the group of fans who perhaps wouldn't have kept Coyle and Allen for Super League, but thats besides the point.

It'll be Betts' way of boosting squad morale after all the hype and excitement over the newly formed squad. It is important to make sure that each member of the team feels valued, and is not there just to make up the numbers. Flynn played excellently in pre-season, and if he isn't playing tonight, he may be missed due to our lack of fit, regular wingers in the squad (Phelps arriving soon obviously). As for second-rowers, hookers and utilities such as Allen and Coyle I don't think we're too short in that department and there are plenty of players that can step in to any of those positions. I wouldn't count on regular first-team appearances from either this season, but if their performances warrant a place due to the full-time training and Super League experience, they could break through.

[BEANO]

I've always been a Allen fan and defended him many times when others were shouting the qualities of Haggerty, Leuluai and even Grady.

Don't be surprised if he's one of our better players this season.

Hard as nails.

[J20]

Allen was excellent against Saints, his running lines behind the ruck bizarrely seem a lot more effective in SL than the Champ and also Moore working off them helps.
Thought Coyle went really well at Wire considering he was probably meant to be impact 9 and spent the whole game at 7 after Watts went off.

Big chance for these lads and especially Pickersgill tonight should they got a run out (I think Allen would have anyway).

[Peter]

I've always been a Allen fan and defended him many times when others were shouting the qualities of Haggerty, Leuluai and even Grady.
Don't be surprised if he's one of our better players this season.
Hard as nails.

While Allen  had some poor games last season, he also showed flashes of brilliance.  Perhaps with a better team around him last year he would have had more.
 He has got some good passers of the ball around him which is what a second row forward needs and I would not be surprised if he does well this season.

[Wirralviking]

I take the point about Betts talking players up and giving them a boost. Obviously the better they do the better his judgement is proved to be. It was always likely that there would be a few (positive) surprises from the retained squad and that has got to be good for the squad as a whole.

As the Saints game showed injuries can happen in any game, so the more players we have that can step up to the mark and hold their own, they dont have to be stand out performers, just put in a solid shift then the better we will cope (naturally if they are stand out performers all the better).

The proof of the pudding will be in the eating and I can't wait for tonight to see how they go "for real". Lets hope Pickersgill can keep a better grip of the football, as I dont think the rest of his game has been that bad, his play is just highlighted when that ball comes loose, which more often than not is judged to be a loose carry in his case (that assumes he will play of course, but I am assuming with Davies out he will be in the 17).

[Chris B]

Allen looked a potential SL player in his first stint with us and when he returned prior to being made club captain. I'm not sure whether this period coincided with an injury but I understand the head scratching at this contract if purely looking at last year but I would say he was a calculated risk.

He's looked quality before and has obviously done enough in training to win the coaches favour. As a local lad he also gets the benefit of any remaining doubt that I might have had.

Coyle was quality at times last year and for a fairly consistent period. He won players player of the year and I think he merited his contract off the back of that. He didn't look like he particularly struggled against Warrington in a game in which he played for the full 80 and they set a fairly decent tempo.

Most importantly though, they both have squad numbers an deserve support and encouragement.

[Dawn]

I've always been a Allen fan and defended him many times when others were shouting the qualities of Haggerty, Leuluai and even Grady.Don't be surprised if he's one of our better players this season.

Hard as nails.

You leave Mr Grady out of this Beanio!!     

[portsmouth_viking]

Sponsored Dave as a Player and he is a great lad, my old man went to the open training event and he was really looking forward to giving up his job to go full time...hopefully he will keep improving through the season.

[Ratboy]

While Allen  had some poor games last season, he also showed flashes of brilliance.  Perhaps with a better team around him last year he would have had more.
 He has got some good passers of the ball around him which is what a second row forward needs and I would not be surprised if he does well this season.

Allen had a good game against Saints and maybe a better player with more class around him.In the Championship some players did not read his line running and offloading.Not sure about Coyle, but if has a good game I will put my hand up.