[Bullseye]

Re: 2024 Squad and Recruitment : Mon Nov 13, 2023 9:30 am  

Wakefield must see something in Lawford that Nobby, Greenwood and O'Carroll don't. I did also wonder if he should've been given a shot last season before Patton left (as well as after). He did play a couple of cup games versus amateurs IIRC but didn't really stand out (not that many did).

He would provide useful cover at halfback if he'd stayed since Gaskell is unlikely to be ever present at his age. He can also kick goals.

Will he get more 1st team rugby at Wakefield than if he stayed? Just trying to understand why he wanted to go.

I guess we have to trust the coaching staff, they see a lot more of him than we did.

Re: 2024 Squad and Recruitment : Mon Nov 13, 2023 10:08 am  

I would imagine Wakey will have him as full time player, especially if they're paying compensation fee (isn't it around £40k)

I like Lawford and think he has a lot of potential, but no way can we risk offering him a FT contract. Still only made two championship appearances, and playing Fev, York, Halifax every week is very different to L1.

Powells never been one to really give youngsters a go so will be interesting to see how he goes at Wakey.

Disappointing to lose him though.

Re: 2024 Squad and Recruitment : Mon Nov 13, 2023 10:12 am  

Peter Goddard wrote:

Gledhill stating Lawford going to Wakefield with us receiving some compo. Don't know if that's true but if it is I would be very disappointed. Showed lots of promise but never given a real chance. Should have been in when Patton was dropped.

Bad luck and timing. Towards the end of the season when we had a shortage of halves & Jowitt was covering hooker, Lawford was called back from Hunslet to play for us. Picked up a bad injury in training which cost him a chance to show what he could do (and I still think he could’ve been persuaded to stay at that point). Also cost Hunslet a chance for promotion

Re: 2024 Squad and Recruitment : Mon Nov 13, 2023 10:18 am  

Highlander wrote:

Bad luck and timing. Towards the end of the season when we had a shortage of halves & Jowitt was covering hooker, Lawford was called back from Hunslet to play for us. Picked up a bad injury in training which cost him a chance to show what he could do (and I still think he could’ve been persuaded to stay at that point). Also cost Hunslet a chance for promotion

Also according to Gledhill he offered him a greatly improved 3 year deal which he didn’t want no point breaking the bank for him

Re: 2024 Squad and Recruitment : Mon Nov 13, 2023 10:22 am  

Bull Mania wrote:

I would imagine Wakey will have him as full time player, especially if they're paying compensation fee (isn't it around £40k)

I like Lawford and think he has a lot of potential, but no way can we risk offering him a FT contract. Still only made two championship appearances, and playing Fev, York, Halifax every week is very different to L1.

Powells never been one to really give youngsters a go so will be interesting to see how he goes at Wakey.

Disappointing to lose him though.

Not sure that's true. Plenty of young players got a chance at Cas. However the team he took over there was already maturing nicely, so the opportunities were limited. Warrington was a mess, and TBH I think there was too much interference from above to allow Powell to do so.

One of the beauties of the Championship is that you do have more room to experiment. You only really need to finish top 4 IMHO to have a real good pop. SL has been pretty tight in recent years, even Trinity were hardly whipping boys last season, many a game was lost by a few points, we took some beating on occasions. The balance in the Championship is not so strong IMHO, and there are a few weak teams, and by that I mean lacking in depth, rather than just being poor.

Whatever the case, the lad will get a few shots in friendlies. and then bide his time in the reserves. I can't see him as a first choice right now for Powell or any other Coach.

Re: 2024 Squad and Recruitment : Mon Nov 13, 2023 10:26 am  

Pyrah123 wrote:

Also according to Gledhill he offered him a greatly improved 3 year deal which he didn’t want no point breaking the bank for him

Gledhill talks some guff. A three year deal in PT environment is not worth the same as a FT contract. He may effectively become full time player, but he's still in reality a part timer, because the club he plays for is.

Trinity's big advantage IMHO is not what they can pay players, but the fact that they are offering a FT club environment, effectively the same as a SL club. A draw card to any young player.

Re: 2024 Squad and Recruitment : Mon Nov 13, 2023 10:43 am  

vastman wrote:

Gledhill talks some guff. A three year deal in PT environment is not worth the same as a FT contract. He may effectively become full time player, but he's still in reality a part timer, because the club he plays for is.

Trinity's big advantage IMHO is not what they can pay players, but the fact that they are offering a FT club environment, effectively the same as a SL club. A draw card to any young player.

Which is what Doyle is doing, after a wasted year p/t at Keighley. Bet he wishes he’d taken Leigh’s offer at the time….

[Bullseye]

Re: 2024 Squad and Recruitment : Mon Nov 13, 2023 11:08 am  

I suppose the cover for Gaskell/Lilley is Holmes/Jowitt. Not ideal but perhaps the budget only stretches so far.

Re: 2024 Squad and Recruitment : Mon Nov 13, 2023 12:43 pm  

Call me cynical but if he was the real deal, he'd already be gone. Just like Trueman, GFJ, Wilson, and all the others. You can't keep anyone with any quality in this division, so the only option you have left is to cash in while you can.

Fully expecting SL clubs to be after Myers if he kicks on next season.

[Bullseye]

Re: 2024 Squad and Recruitment : Tue Nov 14, 2023 10:53 am  

Two young lads from St Helens on trial. https://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/article ... D8FG0KxQ2M

Two young lads from St Helens on trial. https://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/article ... D8FG0KxQ2M