Re: Next Year : Sat Jul 23, 2016 8:12 am  

In terms of stretching the playing budget, I think Ferres has done a good job. A 30+ squad with an average age in the mid 20's with a good amount of SL and NRL experience across the board with a championship salary cap is impressive. What's not so, is that there does seem to be a lot of deadwood in the side along with unnecessary signings such as Lovegrove, Mathers & Campbell. I think it's more a case that Ferres sources have dried up some what in terms of decent player retention, but with the addition of Rohan Smith, that's not really an issue as he seems to have a lot of contacts both here and in Australia so hopefully we'll see a better, leaner and more balanced side for next year

[Bulliac]

Re: Next Year : Sat Jul 23, 2016 9:04 am  

Ferres knows full well we need a smaller squad - he actually said we were going to get one this season, just before a signing spree which gave us even more than last year. Hopefully, a squad with fewer members should be of higher average quality and lead to better results. The recruits since Rohan arrived certainly suggest that will be the case.

The good thing is that all those, 'daft', two year deals for players who barely ever played will have ended by November, so we go forward afresh and with, hopefully, some powder dry in case of emergencies.

Re: Next Year : Sat Jul 23, 2016 11:15 am  

paulwalker71 wrote:

That works fine until we get a few injuries!

Haven't the vast majority of fans spent the season moaning we've too big a squad. Now its we've too small a squad.

For me this is the perfect solution. Get a Stronger 17. 6 or 7 players to provide depth. Then some of our extremely talented academy lads get a crack when we have an injury crisis.

Look how well Ethan Ryan and Joe Lumb did when got given a chance.

Re: Next Year : Sat Jul 23, 2016 11:40 am  

who is signed on for next year? Pitts, Walshaw and Olbison are ooc this year I believe. I've not seen anything about those.

Re: Next Year : Sat Jul 23, 2016 12:39 pm  

Apart from anything else we will need a full time squad when we win the Middle 8's and qualify for SL.

Re: Next Year : Sat Jul 23, 2016 12:52 pm  

rugbyreddog wrote:

Apart from anything else we will need a full time squad when we win the Middle 8's and qualify for SL.

Well, there's the thing isn't it

Announcing that we have the squad sorted at this stage assumes we are fairly certain which division we are going to be playing in next season.

And its a fair assumption that it won't be SL

Re: Next Year : Sat Jul 23, 2016 2:46 pm  

Wether we are in SL or CL next season I would be pretty happy with Moss, Pryce, Chisholm playing In their preferred positions.

Re: Next Year : Sat Jul 23, 2016 2:50 pm  

paulwalker71 wrote:

Well, there's the thing isn't it

Announcing that we have the squad sorted at this stage assumes we are fairly certain which division we are going to be playing in next season.

And its a fair assumption that it won't be SL

It is important however that one team gets promoted otherwise it will confirm people's suspicions about P&R. Perhaps the new salary cap has now levelled the playing field for those that can afford it i.e. Leigh.

Re: Next Year : Sat Jul 23, 2016 2:55 pm  

rugbyreddog wrote:

It is important however that one team gets promoted otherwise it will confirm people's suspicions about P&R. Perhaps the new salary cap has now levelled the playing field for those that can afford it i.e. Leigh.

Leigh have now signed tickle, dawson and brown. Looks like Derek is going for it.

[Bulliac]

Re: Next Year : Sun Jul 24, 2016 9:00 am  

rugbyreddog wrote:

It is important however that one team gets promoted otherwise it will confirm people's suspicions about P&R. Perhaps the new salary cap has now levelled the playing field for those that can afford it i.e. Leigh.

I disagree on that for one simple reason - if one team does manage to overcome the big odds against [and if one did, I'd definitely suggest that Leigh, with their money is no object backer, would be it] it would do everyone else a disservice by giving the impression that the current system is, 'workable', when it's not.

Anything which detracts from a position where the RFL feels it must do something to create a proper promotion system, irrespective of whether it is straight P&R or some sort of licensing format, is just bad for future of RL imo. Having a 'money no object backer' should never be the criterion on which promotion depends as it prevents virtually every single [non-SL] club from ever being promoted.