Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Apr 05, 2022 5:06 pm  

NSW wrote:

Agree on 1 and 2 for sure.

Flogging Powell for 80 minutes every week isn’t going to improve his performances, and if he got an injury cover isn’t great in our squad would be O’Neill and Cust covering 9.

Centres deffo lacking skill IMO, letting Hardaker leave and getting an out and out centre would solve this.

Kind of disagree with the props. A top quality prop who plays decent spells defines Havard imo.

Havard, Ellis, Mago, Singleton, Byrne is a good first choice 5 imo. Sure I’d like a big upgrade on Singleton but many clubs are after props.

I think most super league teams would swap their props for ours (Saints and Catalan excluded) but don’t think we’re as far off as we have been (with Bullock, Clubb and Clark). Guess we’ll find out on GF.

I get what you’re saying but yeah Singleton and Mago are the weak links for me at the moment. Mago is not showing enough fitness and last week against Hull he was terrible - too busy trying to offload before he’s even made any contact and slow to get up and PTB. Need to see big improvements from him.

Been excited by Havard’s start to the year and Byrne seems to have upped his game but I can’t help but think one more big experienced prop would help us compete with Saints in that department

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Apr 05, 2022 5:24 pm  

cherryandwhitedavid06 wrote:

I get what you’re saying but yeah Singleton and Mago are the weak links for me at the moment. Mago is not showing enough fitness and last week against Hull he was terrible - too busy trying to offload before he’s even made any contact and slow to get up and PTB. Need to see big improvements from him.

Iv posted several times about my concerns re his fitness. You make a good point about the offloads - there's next to no leg drive in his carries and maybe it's because he's too focused on getting the ball away.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 06, 2022 6:50 am  

MattyB wrote:

I'd agree there. In fact I'd argue we need a fourth in that we need a goal kicker with an accurate boot, whilst Hardaker seems improved so far this year there is talk of him leaving next year so we need to start again. A goalkicking centre with the accuracy of someone like Sneyd would be worth his weight in gold.

Oh well that's easy then. Jarod Croker or Valentine Holmes it is then. Come on IL, get the cheque book out I could have said Zac Lomax but he plays for St George Illawarra and the name and club combination makes my skin crawl

Joking aside and I know it's a big ask but Jarod Croker might just be available soon. He is being usurped slowly but surely and is not getting any younger but would be awesome in SL. I could see him somewhere like Canterbury though to be honest. Still got plenty left in the tank.

KPP : Thu Apr 07, 2022 4:05 pm  

Reportedly in "deep discussions" with Newcastle Knights along with Will Pryce. Probably expected but not great to be having our players poached as early as this. Seems to be that the NRL are looking at ever younger players.

Re: KPP : Thu Apr 07, 2022 4:26 pm  

The report seemed quite a loose rumour even though the term ‘deep discussions’ was used but there will be no doubt clubs will be putting feelers out. They seemed to almost admit defeat on KPP at the recent fans forum. The thing that worries me with an exit like that is that as much as I rate the lad, it’s still all potential. We should be able to hold them until they’ve at least made a real name for themselves. I think it’s in their interests to do that rather than doing a Harry Rushton and going playing reserves rugby. He’d have 20-30 first team appearances under his belt here by now.

Re: KPP : Thu Apr 07, 2022 6:09 pm  

Newcastle came to watch Wigan Huddersfield to watch Will Pryce but he had a shocked and KPP had a blinder.

There were NRL clubs in for him when we signed him, he picked us as Wigan seemed close to his London family compared to Australia.

Rads seems confident he’ll stay next year but then move on. Was probably Kai’s plan, 4 years at Wigan then go.

Would love him here for 10 years but isn’t going to happen unfortunately.

Re: KPP : Thu Apr 07, 2022 6:39 pm  

A few weeks ago I heard a rumour from someone who has always been on the money. He claimed Wigan were in for Dom Young to play centre as he’s homesick and there would be a bit of a merry go round at the knights to accommodate the move.

Re: KPP : Thu Apr 07, 2022 7:08 pm  

TheWarringtonWolve69 wrote:

A few weeks ago I heard a rumour from someone who has always been on the money. He claimed Wigan were in for Dom Young to play centre as he’s homesick and there would be a bit of a merry go round at the knights to accommodate the move.

Was it Dan by any chance off the other forum? Aka “The Oracle”.

In relation to KPP and other ambitious young top quality players it’s inevitable they will go and who can blame them.

What I would say is they really need to establish themselves first in a SL team prior to taking a punt at the NRL.

I think he would be ill advised to go for another 2 years but if he backs himself to have a go now, fair play.

Re: KPP : Thu Apr 07, 2022 8:39 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

The report seemed quite a loose rumour even though the term ‘deep discussions’ was used but there will be no doubt clubs will be putting feelers out. They seemed to almost admit defeat on KPP at the recent fans forum. The thing that worries me with an exit like that is that as much as I rate the lad, it’s still all potential. We should be able to hold them until they’ve at least made a real name for themselves. I think it’s in their interests to do that rather than doing a Harry Rushton and going playing reserves rugby. He’d have 20-30 first team appearances under his belt here by now.

That's the worry NK. There doesn't seem to be any need to establish themselves anymore. Anyone with any potential is worth a punt it seems. I know it's a money thing but is it the best for the players themselves, let alone the Superleague competition. Does anyone know how Harry Rushton has got on over there?

Re: KPP : Thu Apr 07, 2022 8:48 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

That's the worry NK. There doesn't seem to be any need to establish themselves anymore. Anyone with any potential is worth a punt it seems. I know it's a money thing but is it the best for the players themselves, let alone the Superleague competition. Does anyone know how Harry Rushton has got on over there?

Yet to make his first team debut but does look to be getting close-ish. He’s usually about the 3rd/4th reserve on the team list. He plays in the NSW Cup each week and looks to be doing pretty well at that level.

Maybe he’ll break in, smash it to bits and stay there and it’ll work out great for him but I can’t help but feel a lad is better getting 100-150 first team games here before they go. You’re then going on good money, with a reputation behind you and you’re not starting again. I suppose it worked for George Burgess and it looks to be working for Dom Young but they have to be better served going down the Ellis, Graham, Morley, Bateman, Williams etc route IMO.