Re: Crabtree, Mullally & Elima : Sun Sep 25, 2016 2:39 am  

Stockwell & Smales wrote:

Let's just remember we are a championship side

No, we're definitely a Superleague side

Stockwell & Smales wrote:

and have to cut our cloth accordingly.

Well we might, but at the moment, we don't have any spare cloth

Stockwell & Smales wrote:

If we were in superleague with the money that comes with that I agree I would not sign either of those players but both would be decent in the championship.

We don't want to be decent in the Championship. We have to be able to beat SL clubs in the second half of the season.

[Bulliac]

Re: Crabtree, Mullally & Elima : Sun Sep 25, 2016 9:16 am  

In love all the aspirations, honestly I do but, are we not still a club which is wondering whether the wages are going to be paid, come the month end?

Or is that sooo last month..?

Re: Crabtree, Mullally & Elima : Sun Sep 25, 2016 9:49 am  

HamsterChops wrote:

Eorl Crabtree is past it. Even when he wasn't past it, he's still one of the most overrated props in the league. For someone of his size, he should be knocking players flying. Instead, he just doesn't. He's like Lauaki without the blowing out of his @rse after 5 minutes.

Couldn't agree more ....

On a side note, do Bulls have a scouting system & how far afield do they venture if so ?
I ask as I believe we did very well to go looking at the NSW Cup comp in Oz & in doing so bagging Josh Drinkwater *who initially & clearly told the club it was until end of season in order to put him in shop window of SL*. NSW Cup is a good hunting ground IMO.

I also believe that there aren't enough top amateur players getting a gig at all Pro & Semi Pro levels, can't believe there aren't some promising young lads out there in most positions who deserve a shot.

Edit.

Rumours are that FFMM, Tom Spencer & Sam Hopkins could be on the move, all 3 are very useful players. Spencer is a big lad & always looks in top physical condition, he isn't a cart horse & I think he has been under used & under rated for a long time.
Sam Hopkins has had some very big games for Leigh (probably the least likely to leave) & FFMM rumoured to be having a final fling in France, quite how much of this has substance is anyone's guess.

[Bulliac]

Re: Crabtree, Mullally & Elima : Sun Sep 25, 2016 10:00 am  

Our academy is doing very well, to be fair - especially so considering we don't have the 'pull', we did a few years back. Rated as, 'excellent', by the RFL both U16s and U19s have beaten some decent SL teams over the last season. The academy certainly gets recruits form all over the north of England, though not Aussie, so far as I know.

We have had some young [above academy age] players from the Aussie lower leagues though, both last year and the current one though, not all were really successful.

Re: Crabtree, Mullally & Elima : Sun Sep 25, 2016 10:47 am  

Bulliac wrote:

In love all the aspirations, honestly I do but, are we not still a club which is wondering whether the wages are going to be paid, come the month end?

Or is that sooo last month..?

Nope, as I say, we have no spare cloth and I remain very worried as to future deliveries. But, if we don't run completely out of cloth, then there is no alternative but to aim to be the next Leigh, as settling for has-beens and never-wills and resigning ourselves to permanent mediocrity is a death knell.

It wouldn't in reality be settling for anything, because what would actually happen is a spiral into decline and probably oblivion. The best analogy I can draw is that of my first club, Bradford Park Avenue. They have done decades of cloth cutting, but ceased to be recognisable as my club within a short time of relegation, and I considered the old Avenue pretty much defunct and wasn't prepared to watch the new low rent incarnation with all due respect to the stalwarts who have kept it going. It may be lots of things, and its still here, but to me it isn't Avenue. Not my Avenue, anyway.

Nobody is saying it is easy, indeed it may easily prove impossible, and if I'm honest I have no clue how we're keeping going or how we will do so over the winter ... but I'd much rather go out with a bang, not a whimper. I really don't want us signing club singers, because they and we will never qualify to perform on any big stages - they're just not up to it.

If somehow we can afford it, then while I'm not mad keen on the signing, getting players of the category of Leon (i..e genuine SL quality, not gone at the game, last- hurrah stylee players) may be one short term policy to try to make us competitive.

So for example, a season in the Championship being led around the park with players like Chisholm, Pryce and Moss, with some genuine top quality backs, and genuine top quality hookers, notably AOB, must put us in with at least a genuine chance of playing well, if financially we can find a way to keep it going.

If there is a next season for us, maybe we should market it as the Last Chance Saloon Season.

Re: Crabtree, Mullally & Elima : Sun Sep 25, 2016 12:18 pm  

The problem with Bulls is the crowd size required just to break even. I believe it is not a million miles away from 4K. You are not going to generate that without consistently challenging for promotion. I believe that next year is going to be the real point of no return for the Bulls as it is hard to imagine generating decent season ticket sales following this year.

Re: Crabtree, Mullally & Elima : Sun Sep 25, 2016 2:34 pm  

Ben Evans?? http://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... the-season

Ben Evans?? http://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... the-season

Re: Crabtree, Mullally & Elima : Sun Sep 25, 2016 2:44 pm  

Scrap that... Gledhill just confirmed he is going to London

Re: Crabtree, Mullally & Elima : Sun Sep 25, 2016 3:15 pm  

melly88 wrote:

Scrap that... Gledhill just confirmed he is going to London

Could be going anywhere then!

Re: Crabtree, Mullally & Elima : Sun Sep 25, 2016 3:43 pm  

According to the Huddersfield board young prop Josh Johnson could be available?