Re: Planning for next season : Tue Jul 09, 2024 7:54 am  

Matty English available from Huddersfield from 2025, with us releasing a load of fringe players (some have never played first team) he would be a perfect signing for us, young, experienced none quota prop with his best years ahead. We have never had a good Stock props like Wigan.

Re: Planning for next season : Tue Jul 09, 2024 7:54 am  

Matty English available from Huddersfield from 2025, with us releasing a load of fringe players (some have never played first team) he would be a perfect signing for us, young, experienced none quota prop with his best years ahead. We have never had a good Stock props like Wigan.

Re: Planning for next season : Tue Jul 09, 2024 9:46 am  

Is Matty English available for 2025?

Re: Planning for next season : Tue Jul 09, 2024 4:34 pm  

With the arrival of Pene who is an excellent signing, there are greater priorities for recruitment than prop. We need two first rate centres, a loose forward and two quality second rows. I think Trout is going to develop into a top player and Norman is progressing well. I rate McNamara and it is unfortunate that he has been injured, otherwise the opportunity has been there for him to stake a claim on a regular place in the seventeen like Hanley, who has progressed into an outstanding player with further development to come.

Re: Planning for next season : Tue Jul 09, 2024 6:14 pm  

J7P1 wrote:

With the arrival of Pene who is an excellent signing, there are greater priorities for recruitment than prop. We need two first rate centres, a loose forward and two quality second rows. I think Trout is going to develop into a top player and Norman is progressing well. I rate McNamara and it is unfortunate that he has been injured, otherwise the opportunity has been there for him to stake a claim on a regular place in the seventeen like Hanley, who has progressed into an outstanding player with further development to come.

We still need at least 1 more prop. Pene replaces Amone but still need to replace Nakubuwai(talking in terms of numbers not quality). Players like English don't come available very often, we'd be daft not to try and get him in to further beef the pack up as this season has shown you can't go through a season on only 4 quality props.

Re: Planning for next season : Tue Jul 09, 2024 8:07 pm  

LeytherRob wrote:

We still need at least 1 more prop. Pene replaces Amone but still need to replace Nakubuwai(talking in terms of numbers not quality). Players like English don't come available very often, we'd be daft not to try and get him in to further beef the pack up as this season has shown you can't go through a season on only 4 quality props.

I agree that Matty English would be a good signing but for the salary cap. If we are to sign two top quality centres, two top quality second rows and a top quality loose forward then I think that would spend the cap. Personally I think the salary cap should be abolished as it limits growth and investment in the sport.

Re: Planning for next season : Thu Jul 11, 2024 9:16 am  

J7P1 wrote:

I agree that Matty English would be a good signing but for the salary cap. If we are to sign two top quality centres, two top quality second rows and a top quality loose forward then I think that would spend the cap. Personally I think the salary cap should be abolished as it limits growth and investment in the sport.

We have two centres who will be on decent money, a top prop, second row and loose forward all leaving the club at the end of the season, so there should be room on the cap. Though, I can see us going a bit cheaper at centres now, with attempts at various overseas players seemingly not coming off, and we are losing some serious quality in the pack which will be expensive to replace.

Re: Planning for next season : Thu Jul 18, 2024 8:10 pm  

The naïve approach to recruitment and retention continues whilst the other clubs continue to ‘make hay’ with announcements raising the spirits of loyal fans. The silent approach to anything positive is once again evident and it is astonishing that the club has not provided a news release on the position regarding Lachlan Lam. To make matters worse it now appears that we have lost out on signing Rhyse Martin. If the club is hoping to achieve the 7500 average attendance IMG points threshold, regular positive news on recruitment will be required rather than the silent stance which is so negative for the fans.

Re: Planning for next season : Thu Jul 18, 2024 8:45 pm  

Seems odd that everyone is announcing signings but us. Are we struggling because of our poor form this year. Last year retention was main thing which we achieved if this years departures are a shock we may have been knocked off our strategy for 2025. In the end no one is irreplaceable though but may take work and money.

Re: Planning for next season : Thu Jul 18, 2024 9:23 pm  

It is beginning to be a worry. Not only have we not announced much in the way of signings, there's not really much noise from the journalists either. This time last year, we knew we'd signed Trout and Norman, and that was without losing any key players.