Re: Rumours 2 : Thu Nov 21, 2019 12:22 pm  

Have faith.

Re: Rumours 2 : Thu Nov 21, 2019 2:51 pm  

I refuse to believe that we arent signing at LEAST 2 established forwards.... Like someone already said.. We had a weak pack and we lost Westwood and Tasi... No one at the club can seriously be thinking we are ok as we are.

Re: Rumours 2 : Thu Nov 21, 2019 3:35 pm  

Stuart Middleton doesn't think that. He's frustrated.
We were in the hunt but we keep losing out.
We'll get someone I'm sure.

Re: Rumours 2 : Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:21 pm  

I'm not sure we need 2, I think one would suffice presuming Kibula can step up and play a few games. Tasi & Westwood didn't play regularly last year to mean we need to replace them both. I would much rather we got one top prop rather than two average ones, but the signs currently don't look great.

I wonder whether its a choice of signing someone for the sake of it to fill a place, or keeping it open to see if there is any movement during the season, which would people prefer?

Re: Rumours 2 : Thu Nov 21, 2019 5:27 pm  

I would prefer us to sign the right person even if it means waiting til season starts

Re: Rumours 2 : Thu Nov 21, 2019 5:29 pm  

Hopefully it won't be a bargain bucket panic buy like we've done so many times. I hope Kibula hits the ground running and impresses and i'm hoping Luis Johnson can up a gear as from the little i saw him play for us he was very impressive. Looked like he'd packed some size on when we saw him at KR and was about on par with Tasi

[Winslade's Offload]

Re: Rumours 2 : Thu Nov 21, 2019 5:31 pm  

Last year we struggled to make ground through our forwards and when Cooper and Hill were off the pitch we looked very poor. Personally I think we were fortunate with injuries as Coops and Hill played 60 games between them, I hate to think where we would have been if they each had, say 6 games out.

We then have Philbin and BMM as impact props. Can either of them do long minutes ? It's possible as Philbin is still young whilst BMM seems to be over his injury / fitness issues, but I wouldn't like to go into 2020 assuming they will.

Samy Kibula looks the part physically, but has played only 1 SL game. Eribe Doro will hopefully make a debut for us, but I suspect both these players may only play a handful of games next year. If we get more from them, then its a bonus. I think we need to view them as replacements for 2021/2, and that assumes they 'come good'.

Clark and Akauola at interchange is not very inspiring. Clark can do the time but not the yardage. Akauola can do the yardage but not the time.

So yes, I think we definitely need a top class prop that can fill in for Hill and Coops. Failing that, two decent interchange props.

Re: Rumours 2 : Thu Nov 21, 2019 6:57 pm  

Alffi_7 wrote:

I'm not sure we need 2, I think one would suffice presuming Kibula can step up and play a few games. Tasi & Westwood didn't play regularly last year to mean we need to replace them both. I would much rather we got one top prop rather than two average ones, but the signs currently don't look great.

I wonder whether its a choice of signing someone for the sake of it to fill a place, or keeping it open to see if there is any movement during the season, which would people prefer?

I think we do. Hill has another season in him at best. I'd rather get 2 props now for bedding in.

Re: Rumours 2 : Thu Nov 21, 2019 8:55 pm  

Don't honestly expect much from Kibula. (At least this season).
Wigan let him go for a reason.
And Wire don't have a great record of developing players.
Matty Russell's failings weren't ironed out and he was let go by Wigan.

Re: Rumours 2 : Thu Nov 21, 2019 9:23 pm  

We need 2 props, a top quality one and a very solid interchange like Paul Wood was. Cooper and Hill will be gassed for the business end, akauola won't do enough minutes, philbin is very good but would be better spelling loose forward or second row IMO.

Kibula may well end up being very good but we can't rely on an unproven player at this stage. I really think we are barking up the wrong tree in the NRL. We should be aiming for a quality prop from another superleague side like we did with carvel. You know they will settle a lot quicker and you know what you're getting.