Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 26, 2023 1:25 pm  

Martin is a really solid player and great kicker, but my worry is that he just doesn’t have the physical whack - especially when partnered with another workhorse type second rower.

Let’s see how he goes back in his preferred position in 2024, but I could see him moving on so we get hold of the quota spot to invest in a different type of player maybe.

I’d like to see a bigger/badder thing in there to complement McDonnell / Gannon / Bentley or whoever. Probably from NRL.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 26, 2023 2:05 pm  

Martin has been stand out for us. Superb kicking, a fantastic team player and a good brain. He'd be way, way down on my list to replace. We may need a bit of niggle to support him, fair enough. Two other things he offers. Reliability and availability. Key to any team that wants to compete, never mind win. Things we've been sadly lacking right across the park.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 26, 2023 2:28 pm  

I'm looking forward to seeing Martin back in his actual position. He is an asset when at 2nd row.

I would have preferred if we had released Bentley and Donaldson and brought a big 2nd rower in.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 26, 2023 2:41 pm  

Where's sharky with his insider info?

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 26, 2023 2:47 pm  

I would have only resigned one of Bentley / Donaldson.
We have Martin,Mcdonnell, gannon,Ruan and at a push,O'Connor and then one of above.

We need that line bending forward somewhere. Prefer Front Row for obvious reasons.
Imo it's the last piece of the puzzle as far as team balance/ needs go

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 26, 2023 3:12 pm  

donaldson was a weird re-signing. only thing he adds is deapth and we are well loaded with middles

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 26, 2023 3:21 pm  

I honestly don’t know how the pack will perform next year: Walters was one of our standouts and we haven’t replaced him really. Goudemand brings something different. Ackers brings something different. If our back line stops making as many errors and improves kicking game and support play, our pack will look better.

Be really interested to see what RS selects around hooker (JOC or CJ) and second row (Bentley or McDonnell); whether Goudemand gets a bench spot, etc. Anyone heard anything around whether Corey is staying or going after Ackers signing?

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 26, 2023 5:26 pm  

I wouldn't have resigned Donaldson however I suspect its minimal cost and he is seen as a good character and somebody who is seen as a really good trainer and clubman. This is Rohans squad now and hopefully we will have a group who are united in their commitment to the club and how we want to play. Presumably the players who have been given new contracts are seen as buying into that ethos. Hopefully we get another big body in but regardless need to get Lisone and Sangare conditioning right in pre-season. We need more minutes out of them and with better overall fitness hopefully less likely to pick up injuries.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 26, 2023 6:25 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

I honestly don’t know how the pack will perform next year: Walters was one of our standouts and we haven’t replaced him really. Goudemand brings something different. Ackers brings something different. If our back line stops making as many errors and improves kicking game and support play, our pack will look better.

Be really interested to see what RS selects around hooker (JOC or CJ) and second row (Bentley or McDonnell); whether Goudemand gets a bench spot, etc. Anyone heard anything around whether Corey is staying or going after Ackers signing?

Assuming that we have signed the big lad from Cas, one more prop (Oliver Wilson would do nicely) will suffice. That would give us six natural props plus three middles - Goudemand, Smith and Donaldson. Not having to cope with "heads, shoulders, knees and toes" dummy half distribution will be a great help, as will the IQ and line breaking potential of the likes of Miller and Croft. I think we can logically expect progress from all four of last year's props and as long as we can add Hudson and another we'll be competitive in the pack. I rarely thought we had the best pack in the league even when we were winning titles, but I always knew we had the best game breakers. Think we've spent our money wisely in that regard.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 26, 2023 7:16 pm  

Yeh, we need 6 props.
We will inevitably get injuries.
Hudson and another.
Wilson would be OK, but would prefer and impact line breaker such as Burgess.
But I guess we are restricted with quota spots and cap space.

If that happens, it's as good business as we could have expected.
I still worry that our pack will still not be as strong as the top teams, but let's see.