10 things we have learned in pre-season so far : Tue Nov 25, 2014 4:32 pm  

An assessment by Rob Crossland posted on the other forum:-

1. Our recruitment has been more measured – taking more time to assess a bigger picture and introduce players with a different emphasis on fitness, attitude and longer-term stability.

2. There are positives with such a high turnover of players given everyone is starting largely together with something to prove.

3. The flip side is that we must work harder to improve retention but for the right reasons.

4. Some of our more established players have come back with points to prove, contracts to win and progress to achieve.

5. There is more accountability and ownership in the coaching and football structure and Willie Poaching is a great recruit.

6. The wish list of support we need to provide to the squad is long (and expensive!) but items are being ticked off.

7. Our inconsistency in previous seasons has affected season pass sales but with squad taking shape we are improving and matching 2014.

8. RFL are trying to carve out management and marketing of Super League along with more emphasis on refereeing standards but won’t happen overnight. Also been told about the general unhappiness of Magic fixture setting.

9. We must demonstrate reality of new attitude through performance and consistency, not just words.

10. Squad is largely complete but some room to finesse and pre-season training is giving Coach some interesting thoughts.

Re: 10 things we have learned in pre-season so far : Tue Nov 25, 2014 7:41 pm  

10. Worries me, if we're not bringing a hooker in then it could be a long season. Carlisle isn't good enough as a starting 9 as he has shown over tge last 18 months regardless of how well they go in training.

Re: 10 things we have learned in pre-season so far : Tue Nov 25, 2014 7:56 pm  

Re item 6 :-
Lets hope this includes investing in and then maintaining a Youth development system that ensures a "conveyor" belt of talent. Until this is established we will never compete with the likes of Leeds and Wigan

[Mild Rover]

Re: 10 things we have learned in pre-season so far : Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:05 pm  

itsarobinthing wrote:

Re item 6 :-
Lets hope this includes investing in and then maintaining a Youth development system that ensures a "conveyor" belt of talent. Until this is established we will never compete with the likes of Leeds and Wigan

Symptom of a resource gap (gulf?), rather than the underlying cause of inability to match the biggest/richest clubs, I reckon.

[Mild Rover]

Re: 10 things we have learned in pre-season so far : Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:16 pm  

barham red wrote:

10. Worries me, if we're not bringing a hooker in then it could be a long season. Carlisle isn't good enough as a starting 9 as he has shown over tge last 18 months regardless of how well they go in training.

Tbf, the standard of SL hookers could meet us halfway - the upside of the shortage options!

But I agree, the lack of proven quality and experience at 9, along with the of cover at 6 and 7 (no disrespect to Marsh) is a concern.

I saw Howarth's name mentioned on the other forum - to limited acclaim. I think he'd be a good option, as he's a half decent and versatile pivot.

Re: 10 things we have learned in pre-season so far : Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:17 pm  

Mild Rover wrote:

Symptom of a resource gap (gulf?), rather than the underlying cause of inability to match the biggest/richest clubs, I reckon.

There,s talent out there, South Holderness School under 14 were national cup winners in 2014.
In the Yorkshire Youth Leagues East Hull are peerless, so the resources do exist, Rovers just need to offer the right carrots !

Re: 10 things we have learned in pre-season so far : Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:22 pm  

Mild Rover wrote:

Tbf, the standard of SL hookers could meet us halfway - the upside of the shortage options!

But I agree, the lack of proven quality and experience at 9, along with the of cover at 6 and 7 (no disrespect to Marsh) is a concern.

I saw Howarth's name mentioned on the other forum - to limited acclaim. I think he'd be a good option, as he's a half decent and versatile pivot.

Howarth is rubbish,the salford fans watch him every week and feel they are giving the opposition a man start.

[Mild Rover]

Re: 10 things we have learned in pre-season so far : Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:31 pm  

itsarobinthing wrote:

There,s talent out there, South Holderness School under 14 were national cup winners in 2014.
In the Yorkshire Youth Leagues East Hull are peerless, so the resources do exist, Rovers just need to offer the right carrots !

I was thinking more in terms of cash to invest, rather than talent. Leeds and Wigan have bigger fan bases. Ken Davy is effectively the one funding Hudds academy going full time.
We need more fans through the gate or even richer benefactors, if we're to regularly compete at the top.
I totally agree that we should be aiming to emulate, for example, Cas (though I think the success of their youth system is exaggerated just a tad), but they haven't routinely challenged Leeds and Wigan over the years - because they're generally a bit skint. We should be aiming high but it has to be acknowledged it is a tough target.

Re: 10 things we have learned in pre-season so far : Tue Nov 25, 2014 9:02 pm  

Mild Rover wrote:

I was thinking more in terms of cash to invest, rather than talent. Leeds and Wigan have bigger fan bases. Ken Davy is effectively the one funding Hudds academy going full time.
We need more fans through the gate or even richer benefactors, if we're to regularly compete at the top.
I totally agree that we should be aiming to emulate, for example, Cas (though I think the success of their youth system is exaggerated just a tad), but they haven't routinely challenged Leeds and Wigan over the years - because they're generally a bit skint. We should be aiming high but it has to be acknowledged it is a tough target.

I know I was been idealistic, but if there's money available to support the first team squad, long term, youth has to be the way to go. Short term, we will bring in a couple of loan `players and leave development to others.

Re: 10 things we have learned in pre-season so far : Tue Nov 25, 2014 10:24 pm  

[quote="deslawson"]Howarth is rubbish,the salford fans watch him every week and feel they are giving the opposition a man start.[/quote

Howarth is indeed mediocre and would be a folly.

Its now or never for Connor Robinson, he has huge talent but is 20 now so needs a chance to prove himself. I think he can make it...

Daryl Clark is only 18 months older , is an international and the Man of Steel and was playing regular SL rugby at 18...