Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:40 pm  

Tommy coming back in a coaching capacity would freshen up our attack (fingers crossed)

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jun 15, 2016 11:51 am  

bazdev wrote:

Me too and I have no reason to question it. He will be back for the big games

Me either, our source also mentioned Burgess is coming back (fingers & toes crossed)!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jun 15, 2016 6:08 pm  

St Helens aren't having much luck with their recruitment. We've been told Saints had started talks with Mike Cooper about bringing him back to Super League and then Warrington matched their offer. And Cooper has decided on re-joining the Wolves, with St Helens missing their man. It also looks like Wigan have beaten them to both Frank-Paul Nu'uasala and Thomas Leulaui, while Huddersfield won out on Tom Symonds. It also appears Luke Lewis is set to to stay in the NRL

From LoveRugbyLeague. If we get those two and Burgess I'll be over the moon.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jun 15, 2016 6:41 pm  

Cokey wrote:

Bateman to Leyth.

Ha ha ha!
You didn't fall for that one did you

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jun 15, 2016 9:08 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

From LoveRugbyLeague. If we get those two and Burgess I'll be over the moon.

Massively.

Our 17 will look very good indeed if we could get those three in and keep our exits to Charnley, Sarginson and one or two fringe players.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jun 15, 2016 9:42 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Massively.

Our 17 will look very good indeed if we could get those three in and keep our exits to Charnley, Sarginson and one or two fringe players.

I suspect that if we do sign those three players, another regular first teamer would have to leave. Burke could go but I would guess the required salaries for the incoming players would exceed the three departees.

I wouldnt be surprised if Sean O'Loughlin calls it a day.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jun 15, 2016 9:56 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

I suspect that if we do sign those three players, another regular first teamer would have to leave. Burke could go but I would guess the required salaries for the incoming players would exceed the three departees.

I wouldnt be surprised if Sean O'Loughlin calls it a day.

That's exactly my hunch. I can't see how we fit Tommy Leuluai in without somebody going and you just sense Lockers is coming towards the end. I get the feeling we may see a move to loose forward for Micky Mac with Powell and Leuluai sharing the hooking role.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jun 15, 2016 10:20 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

That's exactly my hunch. I can't see how we fit Tommy Leuluai in without somebody going and you just sense Lockers is coming towards the end. I get the feeling we may see a move to loose forward for Micky Mac with Powell and Leuluai sharing the hooking role.

I just don't get the MM to loose forward.
He is far too little and hasn't shown any attributes to me that would suggest he can make that move.
A backrow of MM, Farrell and potentially Bateman with Isa and JT as backup is just too leightweight and won't bring any improvement in go forward which at times currently is non existent.
MM has been poor for over 2 seasons and personally if we can replace him with an 80 minute genuine hooker rather than converted scrum half's that would be my preferred route. I expect that MM takes up more than SOL from a salary cap perspective too.
Easier said than done but we have been without an effective and genuine hooker capable of playing 80 minutes for too long.
I understand Tommy at hooker if it is just for a season until Waterworth or Ganson can step up.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jun 15, 2016 10:29 pm  

It's all opinions isn't it. I see him as a lad who's hugely important to us. He sets our tempo and line speed in defence and always plays at full throttle. He drags others with him and he's brings some intimidation to our pack. If he's playing at 13 in the modern game his role in defence won't change but it obviously will in attack. He's clearly got a pass in him but he's obviously not going to throw some of the stunners Lockers can.

I don't but this 'they're too small' line especially in Superleague. I can't think of a back rower I'd swap Bateman for (from a playing point of view) and Faz certainly doesn't get held back by his size. As for McIlorum it's a good job he isn't much bigger or else some of these 6ft 5 lads that run at him would take an even bigger belting then they already do.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Jun 15, 2016 10:48 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

It's all opinions isn't it. I see him as a lad who's hugely important to us. He sets our tempo and line speed in defence and always plays at full throttle. He drags others with him and he's brings some intimidation to our pack. If he's playing at 13 in the modern game his role in defence won't change but it obviously will in attack. He's clearly got a pass in him but he's obviously not going to throw some of the stunners Lockers can.

I don't but this 'they're too small' line especially in Superleague. I can't think of a back rower I'd swap Bateman for (from a playing point of view) and Faz certainly doesn't get held back by his size. As for McIlorum it's a good job he isn't much bigger or else some of these 6ft 5 lads that run at him would take an even bigger belting then they already do.

For me he just doesn't do enough minutes it's as simple as that for the salary that he will be on.
It's the same with SOL.
Two of our top four earners are incapable of playing 80 minutes on a regular basis. To me it's shear absolute madness. If ST played 40 minutes a match there would be uproar but MM seems totally immune from any criticism.
3 seasons ago MM was probably my favourite player however, for me he has been in serious decline since then and if I'm honest I can't recall a game where I thought MM was particularly outstanding during that period. In terms of his tempo for the last 2 years it's been so slow he is unrecognisable from the top player that he was.
As you say it's all about opinions and without differing ones it would be a sad boring owd place