Five New Signings : Sat Sep 24, 2016 7:38 am  

Chris Chester says we are nearly there on a overseas signing and expecting one more from overseas and possibly three from The Uk for next season. Let the speculation begin, I reckon the criteria will start with can they tackle? And are they leaders? excited already

Re: Five New Signings : Sat Sep 24, 2016 7:43 am  

Wakefield No 1 wrote:

Chris Chester says we are nearly there on a overseas signing and expecting one more from overseas and possibly three from The Uk for next season. Let the speculation begin, I reckon the criteria will start with can they tackle? And are they leaders? excited already

We heard you the first time

Re: Five New Signings : Sat Sep 24, 2016 7:56 am  

Hopefully a couple of big NRL standard props, a creative second row, a hooker and a genuine top quality half back.

Re: Five New Signings : Sat Sep 24, 2016 8:09 am  

I think an NRL half back is on their way.

Could do with a bit of cover at 1 and 9. Jowitt looked worn out and Moore isnt overly reliable.

Decent replacements for Anderson and Scruton that are regular weekly SL standard.

I would have liked Atkins to add a bit of punch in centres, but hey Rome wasnt built in a day.

One thing though if 2 NRL players coming then it looks like one of our overseas players is going as well as Anderson

Re: Five New Signings : Sat Sep 24, 2016 11:34 am  

Eastern Wildcat wrote: I think an NRL half back is on their way. Could do with a bit of cover at 1 and 9. Jowitt looked worn out and Moore isnt overly reliable. Decent replacements for Anderson and Scruton that are regular weekly SL standard. I would have liked Atkins to add a bit of punch in centres, but hey Rome wasnt built in a day. One thing though if 2 NRL players coming then it looks like one of our overseas players is going as well as Anderson Good news then hopefully someone like the quality of Sam Williams is signed as he can control a game and has an attacking/kicking threat himself. As for 9 there needs to be genuine competition and signing someone like Boudebza who is out of contract at Hull KR and looking for a club may be a shrewd signing as he can't be on big money. At full back then I think cover for Jowitt could be provided by Ben Jones Bishop next season. At prop we have Hirst, England, Simon, Arona and hopefully Fifita but need a couple more big strong running, no nonsense hard nosed props in my opinion rather than fringe first team props in Yates and Walker. Ben Evans just been released by Warrington and is 6foot 2 and 17 1/2 stone so may fit the bill. http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/spo ... Ben_Evans/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Evans_(rugby_league) Also need a big second row (Mateo?) in the mould of Lauitiiti that has some creativity. A.Tupou has not had the expected impact or provided apparent leadership on the pitch and hopefully will follow Anderson into retirement. To get these in there needs to be a bit of a clear out as finances with the current squad won't go that far and the team won't continue its progression next year.

Eastern Wildcat wrote: I think an NRL half back is on their way. Could do with a bit of cover at 1 and 9. Jowitt looked worn out and Moore isnt overly reliable. Decent replacements for Anderson and Scruton that are regular weekly SL standard. I would have liked Atkins to add a bit of punch in centres, but hey Rome wasnt built in a day. One thing though if 2 NRL players coming then it looks like one of our overseas players is going as well as Anderson Good news then hopefully someone like the quality of Sam Williams is signed as he can control a game and has an attacking/kicking threat himself. As for 9 there needs to be genuine competition and signing someone like Boudebza who is out of contract at Hull KR and looking for a club may be a shrewd signing as he can't be on big money. At full back then I think cover for Jowitt could be provided by Ben Jones Bishop next season. At prop we have Hirst, England, Simon, Arona and hopefully Fifita but need a couple more big strong running, no nonsense hard nosed props in my opinion rather than fringe first team props in Yates and Walker. Ben Evans just been released by Warrington and is 6foot 2 and 17 1/2 stone so may fit the bill. http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/spo ... Ben_Evans/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Evans_(rugby_league) Also need a big second row (Mateo?) in the mould of Lauitiiti that has some creativity. A.Tupou has not had the expected impact or provided apparent leadership on the pitch and hopefully will follow Anderson into retirement. To get these in there needs to be a bit of a clear out as finances with the current squad won't go that far and the team won't continue its progression next year.

Re: Five New Signings : Sat Sep 24, 2016 12:40 pm  

I don't want to be pessimistic but the suggestions on here are as ever ludicrously OTT.

I'm sure the five players we get will be the best we can manage and will serve us well but they WILL NOT BE five players of the calibre some have suggested on here, heads out of the clouds please.

Do any of you realise what an unattractive proposition coming to Wakefield is to most players especially the much vaunted NRL players demanded on here.

We must be the only club in SL that even if we had the cash our money still wouldn't count like it does for the rest. We have a poor reputation for looking after players in the game going back years especially the Pearman fiasco which still haunts us 16 years on. Also it's not just the spectator facilities that are woeful at Wakefield but the players facilities. We may just get away with this occasionally but for NRL players used to Aussie facilities, nah.

Luckily or not we have no cash and few fans and probably can't pay up to the cap so so having big money offers rejected won't actually happen.

I warn you now we are still shopping at Netto for players in the hope of finding bargains, if you think otherwise prepare to be disappointed. That's not to say we might not get the odd bit of quality but the idea we can buy a team is pure fantasy.

If we are to break out next season it will depend hugely on our youngsters and certain fringe players making the leap.

If Johnstone succeeds next season we have a genuine match winner and crowd pleasure and all clubs need them, ditto Jowitt. Also if Crowther moves up next year then we will really be building a team base on youth. Then if the like of Moules and Batchelor can fill some gaps now and then whilst finding their feet then bingo.

Then there are the fringe players who have been promising for years but not quite delivering their big season and we have a shed load of those. For me Lyne, Arundel, Simon, Molloy, Yates, Anakin are still to hit their peak and even the likes of England, B Tupou and BJB still have more to give.

It's these players rather than your next great NRL signing who make the difference. It's they who are the back bone of any team, the youngsters and the journeymen. If the stars align and they all click then anything is possible. People like Finn, Moore and Miller would look world beaters behind that let alone your much wished for Aussie super hero - it's all to do with good foundations and ours are still a bit shallow.

Re: Five New Signings : Sat Sep 24, 2016 1:10 pm  

vastman wrote:

I don't want to be pessimistic but the suggestions on here are as ever ludicrously OTT.

I'm sure the five players we get will be the best we can manage and will serve us well but they WILL NOT BE five players of the calibre some have suggested on here, heads out of the clouds please..

Why who out of the players mentioned are OTT? We've been linked with a a fair few in the press but no one probably apart from David Shillington has been a big name. I suppose you could say Atkins but that was a rumor that came out of nowhere and I doubt many think he's coming back. The only one that people have mentioned but may not fancy moving to Trinity is Sam Williams, seen as he's been getting game time at Canberra but even he isn't exactly a big name or even a first choice NRL player when Blake Austins fit.

I doubt anyone's under any illusions that we'll suddenly start signing quality players left and right but even just going on what the Coach says , he wants less quantity and more quality in or squad next year. The key is to steadily build on the quality we have, along with our homegrown lads. Eventually if the stars align and we get the stadium sorted and we can follow up this season with another relatively successful one, we can hopefully build something good here.

Re: Five New Signings : Sat Sep 24, 2016 1:32 pm  

Shifty Cat wrote:

Why who out of the players mentioned are OTT? We've been linked with a a fair few in the press but no one probably apart from David Shillington has been a big name. I suppose you could say Atkins but that was a rumor that came out of nowhere and I doubt many think he's coming back. The only one that people have mentioned but may not fancy moving to Trinity is Sam Williams, seen as he's been getting game time at Canberra but even he isn't exactly a big name or even a first choice NRL player when Blake Green's fit.

I doubt anyone's under any illusions that we'll suddenly start signing quality players left and right but even just going on what the Coach says , he wants less quantity and more quality in or squad next year. The key is to steadily build on the quality we have, along with our homegrown lads. Eventually if the stars align and we get the stadium sorted and we can follow up this season with another relatively successful one, we can hopefully build something good here.

It's not just this three obviously as there have been a few, it's also what happens every season where fans expectations are way beyond what the club can eventually provide.

Hoever on this thread alone we have had mentioned Atkins, I mean at what point was that ever realistic yet at least one fan is disappointed.

Alos mentioned are Sam Williams, Boudebza, Mateo, Hopefully a couple of big NRL standard props and it goes on.

We might mange one of those but I wouldn't be surprised if it were none - just my opinion.

Re: Five New Signings : Sat Sep 24, 2016 1:49 pm  

vastman wrote:

It's not just this three obviously as there have been a few, it's also what happens every season where fans expectations are way beyond what the club can eventually provide.

Hoever on this thread alone we have had mentioned Atkins, I mean at what point was that ever realistic yet at least one fan is disappointed.

Alos mentioned are Sam Williams, Boudebza, Mateo, Hopefully a couple of big NRL standard props and it goes on.

We might mange one of those but I wouldn't be surprised if it were none - just my opinion.

Yes I get what you're saying but I suppose it's part of the fun of being a RL fan. Hoping and guessing who we might sign next year & reading the RL blogs on who've we've been linked to. Especially for a Trinity fan after this season, it's the first time in a bit we've been in a position to plan and test the waters and inquire about who's willing to play for us.

I haven't a clue who'll we'll end up with but I reckon we'll get a couple of a good quality signings and the rest will be solid SL players. Obviously when it comes to potential NRL signings we've only got one spot at the moment, maybe 2 at the most if one leaves, so that limits overseas anyway. Going on what Chester has said about signings, it's going to be really interesting to see who we can attract for next year.

Re: Five New Signings : Sat Sep 24, 2016 2:45 pm  

vastman wrote:

......Sam Williams, Boudebza, Mateo, Hopefully a couple of big NRL standard props and it goes on.

We might mange one of those but I wouldn't be surprised if it were none - just my opinion.

CC has stated 5 new players coming in (2 overseas and 3x Uk) not a keyboard coach......plus Williams is the only one out of the names mentioned that may be unrealistic...Boudebza? Really big name?......he is without a club and could go back to lower leagues in France where he came from if unsigned in SL.

As for Mateo he is 33 and can't get a game in NRL now and has just been released by Salford so is not unrealistic either...

Anderson (NRL grand final winner) and Scruton (seasoned SL prop and ex international) why can't they be replaced with similar pedigree at Trinity?

There will be a big contract that needs reviewing with A.Tupou and if the club decide/manage to negotiate an early release then there may be potential to replace him with someone like Mateo.

I do however accept your comments about trying to build the team around youth such as Jowitt, Johnstone, Crowther, Batchelor and Moules but think Yates who will be 27 by next season does not fit in with that and is a championship standard player at best.