Re: Landed a new half back? : Mon Jan 11, 2016 10:14 am  

Bull Mania wrote:

Interesting at end of article we're looking bringing another player on trial to bolster our back line. I actually think our back line is SL quality and has plenty of depth.

I would kill for a better fullback. Campbell seems a "work in progress" or a gamble at best, as he's as yet unproven for full time RL. Clare is a better winger IMO and the other options again are probably best in other positions or are still quite young.

The fact it's a trial though suggests it's not going to be a proven quality player, otherwise there'd be no need to trial them.

Re: Landed a new half back? : Mon Jan 11, 2016 11:00 am  

HamsterChops wrote:

I would kill for a better fullback. Campbell seems a "work in progress" or a gamble at best, as he's as yet unproven for full time RL. Clare is a better winger IMO and the other options again are probably best in other positions or are still quite young.

The fact it's a trial though suggests it's not going to be a proven quality player, otherwise there'd be no need to trial them.

I'd prefer Clare at FB IMHO

He was immense when he played there against Salford

Re: Landed a new half back? : Mon Jan 11, 2016 11:02 am  

Bull Mania wrote:

I'd prefer Clare at FB IMHO

He was immense when he played there against Salford

He was, but he was also garbage when he played there in another game (I forget which one, but he got dropped the week after because of it).

I would probably agree he's the best current option, but I'd still rather have a new specialist fullback and Clare on the wing. Actually I'd rather have Mullaney back, but that ship has sailed....

Re: Landed a new half back? : Mon Jan 11, 2016 11:34 am  

Maybe try and get Naughton on loan from hull?

Re: Landed a new half back? : Mon Jan 11, 2016 11:50 am  

roofaldo2 wrote:

Maybe try and get Naughton on loan from hull?

No chance of that happening, he's their 2nd in line for fullback if Shaul gets a knock.

We have Clare, Mendieka, Thomas and Campbell who can all play at 1. We won't be signing another fullback.

Re: Landed a new half back? : Mon Jan 11, 2016 12:59 pm  

Nothus wrote:

No chance of that happening, he's their 2nd in line for fullback if Shaul gets a knock.

Unless they sign Lee Smith who's there on trial. But I agree, I'd be surprised to see Curt back at Odsal on loan. They'll just dual reg him if he's not in the side.

Nothus wrote:

We have Clare, Mendieka, Thomas and Campbell who can all play at 1. We won't be signing another fullback.

Mendeika is long term injured allegedly. I don't doubt we have players who CAN play there. I just question if they're good enough to be first choice fullback. Time will tell I suppose.

[Bullseye]

Re: Landed a new half back? : Mon Jan 11, 2016 4:18 pm  

Agree we have options at the club that can cover fullback.

I also doubt they're good enough in that position.

[Bulliac]

Re: Landed a new half back? : Tue Jan 12, 2016 11:24 am  

The good point is that, 'not being good enough', doesn't really become an issue until around 23 matches down the line. To be honest, I guess the club are hoping that one of 'possibles' takes the position by the horns, as it were, and develops sufficiently so as to be classed as 'good enough' by that point. My own view is that there are sufficient, solid 'possibles', for this to be a fairly realistic chance. Guess we'll find out in due course.

Re: Landed a new half back? : Tue Jan 12, 2016 11:38 am  

Bulliac wrote:

The good point is that, 'not being good enough', doesn't really become an issue until around 23 matches down the line. To be honest, I guess the club are hoping that one of 'possibles' takes the position by the horns, as it were, and develops sufficiently so as to be classed as 'good enough' by that point. My own view is that there are sufficient, solid 'possibles', for this to be a fairly realistic chance. Guess we'll find out in due course.

And so we come back to the situation of not needing to fill the role straight away. We've a 23 round pre-season to get through so there's plenty of time for the players we've got to step up and claim the spot as their own. In the mean time, we've still got, I believe, at least 1 overseas spot open as well as space on the salary cap so if a player becomes available we're in place to take advantage.

We spent the majority of 2015 missing usually one from our first choice 1,6 & 7 and still finished top out of the Championship sides and only missed out on a return to SL by a narrow margin. There is no rush to fill the position and the club has time to fully explore all options before settling on one

Re: Landed a new half back? : Wed Jan 13, 2016 12:55 pm  

Today's t&a article makes another mention of us landing another trialist, possibly as early as this week. This is at least the second time this week Ross has mentioned something, has nobody heard anything as to who we're looking at? There's normally a few rumours flying around if an announcement is as imminent as Ross is implying...