2016 Squad : Thu Nov 26, 2015 10:11 am  

The Ferres debacle has got me thinking about our squad for 2016, the team we can put on the field and who will fill in given injuries.

I see the starting 17 as follows

Grix
Jerry
Leroy
Connor (think he is out for the first month or two)
Murphy
Brough
Ellis
Crabtree
Hinchliffe
Huby
Wardle
Ta'ai
Lawence

Rapira
Smith
Patrick
Leeming

Reserves:
Robinson - Will probably get picked over Leeming.
K.Wood - Will return a couple of months into the season I think, good player but do we need all these halves?
Roberts - Apparently bags of potential but he's never played first team for us.
Simpson - Looks a great player for the future, not sure if he's enough cover in the back line.
L.Johnson - Don't know much about him but heard good things, will probably get 1/2 games this year.
J.Johnson - Has played some Super League and I liked the look of him at Loose Forward I'd imagine this is his opportunity.
Dickinson - Out on Loan to Keighley.
M.Wood - One for the future, might get a game this year.

2015 Outs: Lunt, Koppy, Mullally, Hughes, Broughton, Bailey, Fairbank, Learmoth, (Ferres)
2016 Ins: Hinchliffe, Rapira, Patrick, M.Wood

We have lost a lot of quality there with lot of SL experience (Learmoth aside) and while I'm confident the young lads can step up and we can potentially shuffle about if required, I think we are slightly short in the centre/wing, back-row and prop area, more so given that Anderson has said Rapira has been struggling for a while with injuries.

Any thoughts on potential line-ups, or rumours of further signings, with pre-season underway i'd imagine our options are limited, unless we can get someone in a swap deal for Ferres, or we splash a couple of quid?

Re: 2016 Squad : Thu Nov 26, 2015 6:15 pm  

think connor will be fit for start of season, hes just abit behind in pre season

wood too i think will be ok for the start but no need to rush them

we have cover in the half back roles with robinson and wood which is good.

will be relying on the youngsters to come good if we get some injuries in the pack

who knows what we will do to replace ferres, the club doesnt rush to make signings bit like when lunt left.

Re: 2016 Squad : Thu Nov 26, 2015 7:24 pm  

How do you guys think Patrick will go for you?
He clearly wasn't in Baloo's plans last season when they allowed him to go to Wigan in exchange for Jack Hughes in a loan swap

Word was that you wanted him off your cap space and wanted Wigan to keep him after the loan spell
If this isn't true then what are you gaining by getting him back that you wouldnt have had last season if you had kept him?

Re: 2016 Squad : Thu Nov 26, 2015 9:40 pm  

He wanted to go, Wigan didn't want to keep him. I can't see we've gained anything apart from perhaps cutting down an ego.

[Durham Giant]

Re: 2016 Squad : Thu Nov 26, 2015 9:49 pm  

That squad will win nothing this season.
Although i would love it absolutely love it if this turns into my Alan Hansen moment.

Patrick is in a difficult position. He has to perform to get a contract at the Giants ( unlikely ) or if he plays badly no one will be offering him big bucks anywhere else.

So he will have to play out of his skin to put himself in the shop window for 2017.

We are still a back row forward and a wing / centre short in the squad in terms of numbers.

The only hope is that we can manipulate a deal to get someone in exchange for Ferres. Lots of clubs would want him but who would they offer.

Personally i would phone Rusell Crowe up and tell him we will help him out by taking Sam Burgess for a year but he will have to pay half his wages then send Ferres to OZ for a year.

Re: 2016 Squad : Fri Nov 27, 2015 1:17 pm  

patrick has alot to prove, thought the grass would be greener

looks like he will get his chance though and being in last year of a contract is always a good thing as they will be trying their best to get a new one

[Durham Giant]

Re: 2016 Squad : Fri Nov 27, 2015 2:31 pm  

I hope he has a grear season and then we let him go and get someone on who wants to play for the club and not a contract

Re: 2016 Squad : Fri Nov 27, 2015 3:00 pm  

There isn't many who play for pride in the shirt anymore. RL is a short career and money more than often rules over anything. I'll take Patrick playing for a contract if it meant we won something.

I do fear us to be short on the second row though unless somebody comes through who isn't expected. Roberts should get a chance but would still like to see a second rower with experience playing at a high level signed. Even just a squad player.

Re: 2016 Squad : Sat Nov 28, 2015 7:39 pm  

AntonyGiant wrote:

There isn't many who play for pride in the shirt anymore. RL is a short career and money more than often rules over anything.

You are bang right there but IMO that is more to do with a clubs culture in keeping players happy in their working environment rather than chasing the bigger salary elsewhere and being enticed by the lure of the Koukash dream
I know you've heard it all before but the Rhinos have kept so many players over the years because they were happy to be playing where they were happy
Sir Kev mentioned this in one of his GF winning speeches when he said that they could have all earned a few more quid elsewhere

The Giants have got so much going for them if they control and manage it right, If the players buy into it as a collective group then the rewards will certainly come to those that decide to stay on the ride rather than those that decide to jump off at the first opportunity of more money elsewhere

Re: 2016 Squad : Mon Nov 30, 2015 9:05 am  

Lee Smith is on trial at Hull FC, worth a punt as cover at the right price? Plus he's won some big games which is what we need...