Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Tue Sep 24, 2024 1:19 pm  

Which Head Coaches roles did Peters, Burgess, Peet come from before they got their teams finishing in the top 3 this year? Fact is, he's worked in some fantastic environments, the NSW Assistant Coach. It's a fantastic pedigree.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Tue Sep 24, 2024 1:22 pm  

We have made 5 good signings in Hardraker, Asiata, Seizer, Cartwright and Rapana.

Abdul could be a masterstroke if we can get him back to his London and early Rovers form.

Holmes strengthens the backrow and a young hooker with potential.

We are going from Moy, Trueman, Charles, Smith and Fash to

Rapana, Seizer, Abdul, Cust and Asiata.

Plus greater depth in those positions.

Going from Smith, Gene and Grix to

Cartwright, Last, Grix, Ellis and maybe one more is massive too

Think there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic for next season.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Tue Sep 24, 2024 1:23 pm  

Irregs#16 wrote:

Which Head Coaches roles did Peters, Burgess, Peet come from before they got their teams finishing in the top 3 this year? Fact is, he's worked in some fantastic environments, the NSW Assistant Coach. It's a fantastic pedigree.

All those have had walked into good clubs with good squads and money to spend, I do get your point, but we are the opposite absolute basket case with a poor squad.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Tue Sep 24, 2024 1:25 pm  

Irregs#16 wrote:

Which Head Coaches roles did Peters, Burgess, Peet come from before they got their teams finishing in the top 3 this year? Fact is, he's worked in some fantastic environments, the NSW Assistant Coach. It's a fantastic pedigree.

The fact that players speak very highly of him too.

Not sure who people wanted, we went for Rowley and Lam, don't think we could have got a better coach on paper anyway.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Tue Sep 24, 2024 1:29 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

We have made 5 good signings in Hardraker, Asiata, Seizer, Cartwright and Rapana.

Abdul could be a masterstroke if we can get him back to his London and early Rovers form.

Holmes strengthens the backrow and a young hooker with potential.

We are going from Moy, Trueman, Charles, Smith and Fash to

Rapana, Seizer, Abdul, Cust and Asiata.

Plus greater depth in those positions.

Going from Smith, Gene and Grix to

Cartwright, Last, Grix, Ellis and maybe one more is massive too

Think there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic for next season.

I admire your optimism

Too many injury prone players for me, injuries will hit again. We needed a top hooker just don’t see Borough as that. Mellor and Atkin aren’t even hookers and they are keeping him out.

We are still missing a quality centre. Don’t mind Hardaker but if it’s him and Chamberlain then that’s really poor.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Tue Sep 24, 2024 1:35 pm  

Cuddleclub wrote:

I admire your optimism

Too many injury prone players for me, injuries will hit again. We needed a top hooker just don’t see Borough as that. Mellor and Atkin aren’t even hookers and they are keeping him out.

We are still missing a quality centre. Don’t mind Hardaker but if it’s him and Chamberlain then that’s really poor.

Mellor has been outstanding this year, they gave him the 9 short and most fans thought he would be the starting hooker, they also have Atkin and Shorrocks, so as soon he signed for Hull, think Rowley decided it would be better to play those.

100% agree on the last point, definitely need another centre, not sure how though. I'd play Litten or Dawson over Chamberlain.

Cautiously optimistic

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Tue Sep 24, 2024 1:44 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

Mellor has been outstanding this year, they gave him the 9 short and most fans thought he would be the starting hooker, they also have Atkin and Shorrocks, so as soon he signed for Hull, think Rowley decided it would be better to play those.

100% agree on the last point, definitely need another centre, not sure how though. I'd play Litten or Dawson over Chamberlain.

Cautiously optimistic

Fingers crossed on Borough but it’s a gamble for me if he’s our first choice.

Still not sure on Litten at centre had a decent game there but needs a longer run at it to nail down that position. Would still be better than chamberlain, that 3 year deal is baffling.

I’ll remain pessimistic (it’s my nature)

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Tue Sep 24, 2024 1:50 pm  

Cuddleclub wrote:

Fingers crossed on Borough but it’s a gamble for me if he’s our first choice.

Still not sure on Litten at centre had a decent game there but needs a longer run at it to nail down that position. Would still be better than chamberlain, that 3 year deal is baffling.

I’ll remain pessimistic (it’s my nature)

I'm not sure on Litten, definitely needs to put some strength on amd have a run at centre, must really look good in training after what Carlos said about him.

I don't mind Chamberlain as a low cost squad player, even at three years, he will hardly denting the cap. If he is our starting centre, then that's a different story.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Tue Sep 24, 2024 2:03 pm  

Cuddleclub wrote:

Cust isn’t even a top championship player.

And with that comment you've immediately shown your rugby league IQ as being non existent, WOW

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Tue Sep 24, 2024 2:41 pm  

Cuddleclub wrote:

I just don’t see the recruitment as solid, I know what you saying hard to attract players because of our position, but I largely think recruitment has been poor personally.

For me people are putting too much emphasis on Cartwright. Fact is he’s not been a head coach for 10 years. I for one hope he comes here and transforms the club as that’s what we all want. But the signings are largely underwhelming and people are expecting him to work miracles with a largely poor injury prone squad yet again. I just can’t see much changing in 2025, if that’s having a “dig or rant” then so be it. Just an honest assessment.

For me, Cartwright is the best we could realistically get and I’m surprised we’ve got him to be honest. Go down the Aussie route and there’s no way you’re getting anyone with half a chance of getting an NRL head coach gig. He ticks every box possibly apart from being a little bit older than ideal but it’s not like he’s been out of the game he’ll still be up on the latest trends and have fresh ideas.

That said I think people are way simplifying the task he’s got. I see people saying ‘Cartwright will get them fit’ and we need to bring in a ‘S and C coach’ or ‘attacking coach’ like it’s that simple and nobody ever thought of that before.

He’s vastly experienced and should be able
to command a lot of respect. Just don’t think anyone would be able to get a lot out of the squad we’ve assembled up to now.