Re: Five New Signings : Thu Nov 03, 2016 10:15 pm  

I thought that by finishing in the eight we could use this to finalise and improve the squad long before the training started. I believe we have now started training and are still uncertain what the final squad will be.
I would also point out that when the 5 NEW signings were mentioned by MC it was indicated that these were in addition to Caton-Brown, Hirst and Grix. I also think the suggestion that we should consider Fafita a new signing is stretching the term a little far. If that was the case we should include all the existing squad that have signed new contracts and the two young lads obtaining their first full time contract. That would mean we have made 12 new signings which can only bode well for next season.

Re: Five New Signings : Thu Nov 03, 2016 10:36 pm  

I know we havent signed too many but I think in retaining the majority of the squad plus adding a bit of quality was the way forward.

Overall, so far, quite happy with the recruitmemt for next year.

Ideally, 1 more prop, a back rower and a decent replacement for Moore.

It maybe a case of bringing in someone like Blake on a one year deal to see if he is at this level then taking a more long term view at the end if the season

Re: Five New Signings : Thu Nov 03, 2016 11:17 pm  

OK our signing are good but I still feel we need a good centre , somebody like collis to Tom J service

Re: Five New Signings : Thu Nov 03, 2016 11:17 pm  

OK our signing are good but I still feel we need a good centre , somebody like collis to give Tom J service

[PopTart]

Re: Five New Signings : Fri Nov 04, 2016 12:47 am  

I think the squad is looking good.
Ok we need a hooker but no one could have planned for the Moore incident and I'd even be OK if it had to be Finn and Sio until the right one comes along.

Williams and Fifita are great signings for the club and a coup over many other far richer clubs that would have wanted both of them.

Re: Five New Signings : Fri Nov 04, 2016 2:02 am  

cosmicat wrote:

OK our signing are good but I still feel we need a good centre , somebody like collis to give Tom J service

Arundel was striking up a good partnership with Tom before Arundel got injured and when he came back from injury,was not his centre.

Re: Five New Signings : Fri Nov 04, 2016 2:30 am  

PopTart wrote:

I think the squad is looking good.
Ok we need a hooker but no one could have planned for the Moore incident and I'd even be OK if it had to be Finn and Sio until the right one comes along.

Williams and Fifita are great signings for the club and a coup over many other far richer clubs that would have wanted both of them.

Agree, I'm not too sure what more people are expecting tbh. Like you say if Moore hadn't screwed up we'd be looking pretty good to go and hopefully we can mange to sort something out there. Being a bit greedy you could maybe want an extra Prop/SR, which we still might end up with
Someone mentions we need a Centre to give Johnstone service, well he scored 19 out of 24 games before he got injured so his service wasn't that bad tbf. CC also said in an interview that he'd be having a look at Centre next year, when we have some players off contract. Saying that atm Centre is a position we're pretty loaded, we've got Arundel, Gibson, Mason-caton Brown, Lyne & Tupou who play there and are all SL quality players. As we've seen with the England team, really good centres are a bit thin on the ground, without going down under.

Re: Five New Signings : Fri Nov 04, 2016 2:47 am  

Scarlet Pimpernell wrote:

I thought that by finishing in the eight we could use this to finalise and improve the squad long before the training started. I believe we have now started training and are still uncertain what the final squad will be.
I would also point out that when the 5 NEW signings were mentioned by MC it was indicated that these were in addition to Caton-Brown, Hirst and Grix. I also think the suggestion that we should consider Fafita a new signing is stretching the term a little far. If that was the case we should include all the existing squad that have signed new contracts and the two young lads obtaining their first full time contract. That would mean we have made 12 new signings which can only bode well for next season.

It was Hirst and MCB that had signed when we announced 5 other signings. You even said at that start of the thread.

We are apparently reducing the current squad by up to 12 players, we know some of the names but not all. The 5 new players are they in addition to the two already named ?

Also considering when Fifita was signed, which was because England was out for the season and others forwards were dropping like flies with injuries. I'd consider him almost as good as a new signing to start the year, especially when it seemed like he'd got an NRL gig as well but each to their own. Bit like Leeds fans will consider Segeyaro as good as a new signing for next year.

Re: Five New Signings : Fri Nov 04, 2016 6:43 am  

Yes I agree regardiing centres.

For now I think were ok. The service to both Johnstone and BJB wasnt bad.

We have signed Brown and with Gibson now fit he will be like a new signing for us.

Re: Five New Signings : Fri Nov 04, 2016 7:50 am  

Shifty Cat wrote:

Agree, I'm not too sure what more people are expecting tbh. Like you say if Moore hadn't screwed up we'd be looking pretty good to go and hopefully we can mange to sort something out there. Being a bit greedy you could maybe want an extra Prop/SR, which we still might end up with

I don't think we're being greedy at wanting another prop!
From last season we've lost Scruton and Anerson - both first choice props and replaced them with Hirst, who is untried at SL level (although if he's good enough for John Kear he's good enough for me) but that still leaves us at least one prop less than last season and don't lets forget our pack was beaten by bigger packs more than once last season.
Backs perform better behind a good strong pack. At the moment we probably have one of the weakest packs in SL - just my opinion!