Re: New Prop : Fri Oct 15, 2021 6:58 pm  

Fletcher-end-red wrote:

The only hope may be an Aussie import who can't find a squad place at home, with their club part funding his wage.

Worked out ok with Latu, didn't it?

Haha well if that doesn't raise optimism levels through the roof then nothing will.

Re: New Prop : Fri Oct 15, 2021 7:03 pm  

Think I've convinced myself we'll be ok, and that Powell will want us to be more mobile rather than a straight up running down the middle approach.

Re: New Prop : Fri Oct 15, 2021 7:07 pm  

Yeah I agree, I'd take an improvement in playing style with the quality we have in the halves and hooker that should see us win more than we lose.

Re: New Prop : Fri Oct 15, 2021 8:51 pm  

Just going off other clubs ins and outs and looking at ours.saints are the team to beat..no doubt Leeds and Wigan will look to improve.catalans will still be up there and don't count out sir Tony's kr they.ll be sniffing around the top 6 with us..hope I'm wrong

Re: New Prop : Fri Oct 15, 2021 9:43 pm  

Fletcher-end-red wrote:

The only hope may be an Aussie import who can't find a squad place at home, with their club part funding his wage.

Worked out ok with Latu, didn't it?

I feel ill…..

Re: New Prop : Sat Oct 16, 2021 4:10 pm  

CW8 wrote:

It's Bullock and Harrison who is unfortunately going to be out for a good while. I'd imagine we are done now to be honest. Most players will already have contracts in place for next season and there won't be many good players available for 2022 now.

I'm optimistic about playing style but the squad isn't quite good enough I don't think, plus Darryl Clark and some of the new signings (Harrison and Minikin) aren't likely to be available at the start of the season.

Does anyone know when Powell will be in officially? I'm guessing pre season will start in December for most of the squad.

I agree with you that i also thought we were done with regard to next years playing roster. However, this thread, (also by somebody who thought we'd completed our squad) threw up a couple speculative posts in reply. However, I still believe that's it on the new signings front, too.

Re: New Prop : Sun Oct 17, 2021 7:45 am  

If we are making no further prop signings, who do we think Powell might be able to take up a level to help us out from Philbin, Butler and Bullock. Butler had a bit of a non season last year but came with a really good rep in the Championship, Bullock doesn’t run his weight according to wigan fans and Philbin plateaued at just below average last year.

Re: New Prop : Sun Oct 17, 2021 8:54 am  

They all have the potential to step up a gear. I don’t know why Philbin didn’t seem to progress last year, that’s up to the new coach to work out, but these things do happen and he may pick up next season. Bullock may benefit from a change of scene, but no guarantees. Sometimes players flourish with a change, sometimes they just continue to disappoint but in different colours. Butler was unlucky with the covid situation last season resulting in no reserve grade competition.

Re: New Prop : Sun Oct 17, 2021 10:09 am  

Kevin Turvey wrote:

If we are making no further prop signings, who do we think Powell might be able to take up a level to help us out from Philbin, Butler and Bullock. Butler had a bit of a non season last year but came with a really good rep in the Championship, Bullock doesn’t run his weight according to wigan fans and Philbin plateaued at just below average last year.

With Price gone we have a clean slate with Butler and Doro, and a change of club for Bullock. We had Hill & Cooper as first choice and major minute props, without anybody that looked able to fill their shoes. With Hill gone, there's a fair bit of stepping up to do for Mulhern, who hasn't been a starting prop for us on a regular basis, and for other three being able to fit in as starting prop, should anything happen to Cooper and Mulhern injury wise. A very difficult task for Powell to get right in 2022, as a number of posters on here have already commented on, having to cover for Chris Hill's regular contribution. We seemed to struggle at times with both Hill and Cooper in the side, with the go forward to dropping when they were spelled, now we may have a problem with the go forward from the first whistle. Hope that I, and liked minded folk on here are pleasantly surprised in '22.

Re: New Prop : Sun Oct 17, 2021 11:14 am  

Shaun Wane has picked Philbin (and Cooper) in his 20 for next week's match. So, he obviously has no problems with Philbin.