[Wanderer]

Re: Doncaster Squad 2015 - discussion : Thu Nov 20, 2014 12:21 pm  

Harworthdon wrote:

Has anyone got a full (up to date) list of all the players signed up now to put on here.

See 'sticky' thread Doncaster 2015 squad.

Re: Doncaster Squad 2015 - discussion : Thu Nov 20, 2014 7:10 pm  

I keep reading in Dons emanating reports that we have a big squad (unfortunately not size, but numbers) ...25 is a big squad???
At the risk of someone coming on and saying this is one or two more than normal, am I missing something?

Re: Doncaster Squad 2015 - discussion : Thu Nov 20, 2014 9:21 pm  

Stand-Offish wrote:

I keep reading in Dons emanating reports that we have a big squad (unfortunately not size, but numbers) ...25 is a big squad???
At the risk of someone coming on and saying this is one or two more than normal, am I missing something?

I've been thinking this for weeks, unless for some inane reason we have a clutch of signings we haven't announced we have a small squad, so why do we keep hearing 'big squad' and that we have 'recruited well' but as of yet I don't see it. As has been said before we recruit some big props and a hooker or two and I'll start to believe it.

Re: Doncaster Squad 2015 - discussion : Thu Nov 20, 2014 10:30 pm  

AdamH wrote:

I've been thinking this for weeks, unless for some inane reason we have a clutch of signings we haven't announced we have a small squad, so why do we keep hearing 'big squad' and that we have 'recruited well' but as of yet I don't see it. As has been said before we recruit some big props and a hooker or two and I'll start to believe it.

Particularly when you factor in how a sizable chunk of the squad are youngsters that need a lot of work.
Still Wilko was a real find amongst last year's youngsters.
So there may be one or two to be discovered.

Can't help thinking they are going to take a battering in the process.

Re: Doncaster Squad 2015 - discussion : Fri Nov 21, 2014 7:54 am  

As the squad stands at the moment, we've lost three players who featured regularly in the first team (Tom Hodson, Mark Castle, and Scott Spaven), along with Ryan Wilson who played some of the time.

In effect, we've swapped Liam Cunningham for Danny Cowling, and Dave Scott will probably cover Tom Hodson's place on the wing, with Tom Carr playing at full-back.

As S/O pointed out, the youngsters will take some developing. If a couple are of the quality of Richard Wilkinson, then that will be great, but I think our concerns are that whilst we have slightly larger numbers to start the season with than last season, we have fewer players who are proven at this level, and I believe the quality of our league will be considerably higher than last season, which will make the challenge an even greater one.

We don't know if there's going to be any dual reg with Hull but I'm sure we'd all like us to be self-sufficient if possible.

I strongly believe we need to sign three or four more players with experience, especially some additions in the prop department. Even if we stay injury free with the squad we've got now, it doesn't have the feel of being the finished article. If we lost a prop to injury, as happened to Brett Waller last season, we'd be even more exposed.

Re: Doncaster Squad 2015 - discussion : Fri Nov 21, 2014 10:01 am  

I would prefer to see Waterman back at centre with his size and power and playing 80 mins.
He troubled teams when he was on last season but never on long enough.
And get a specialist experienced second row in.

Re: Doncaster Squad 2015 - discussion : Fri Nov 21, 2014 10:12 am  

Don't know about the rest of you but the longer we go with no news of a couple of good front row signings the more I worry about next season, as in previous postings we may be up on numbers compared to last season but the lack of size and quality up front is not good. When you look at the teams in our league next year realistically l cannot see us being any higher than 7th maybe 8th. Not trying to put a downer on things Im still very excited about the new season but will the youngsters ( nearly all backs) be able to compete at that level, Anyway keep smiling and COYDs..

Re: Doncaster Squad 2015 - discussion : Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:59 pm  

Featherstone seem to have struck a deal with Leeds Rhinos that appears to be better than the dual reg as we know it. I wonder what arrangements we'll have with Hull? http://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/sport/featherstone-rovers/featherstone-sign-four-rhinos-players-1-6967697

Featherstone seem to have struck a deal with Leeds Rhinos that appears to be better than the dual reg as we know it. I wonder what arrangements we'll have with Hull? http://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/sport/featherstone-rovers/featherstone-sign-four-rhinos-players-1-6967697

Re: Doncaster Squad 2015 - discussion : Wed Nov 26, 2014 10:05 am  

I would guess that with the fans' forum coming up, we won't get to hear of any new signings until then.

Hopefully, they may have a couple of players lined up to be revealed on the night.

If they have, I hope they make an announcement about it soon in order to boost attendance numbers on the night.

Re: Doncaster Squad 2015 - discussion : Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:18 pm  

I've been taking a closer look at the Hull squad to see who might be on Paul Coooke's wanted list.

Firstly, here's a bit of background with regards to rules and regulations:

Only 25 Super League players can be registered to play for a Super League team at any one time. (Rule B.1:8). Providing medical evidence is provided a player from outside the 25 can be drafted in. (B.1:13).

The rules are slightly different for our league but a 25 man list had to be submitted to the RFL for shirt number purposes but any player on the "training list" is eligible to play. (B.1:11)

There's a maximum of of five dual reg or loan players allowed in any match day 17. Players from Under 17 or Under 18 squads can't be Dual Registered (C.12:23). A Dual Reg agreement may be rescinded at any time.

Hull have already allocated provisional squad numbers to their players. Perhaps we can assume the 1 to 17 are the intended starting line up and won't be coming our way. Of the rest who may be the candidates?

Props: (8) Mickey Paea age 28; (10) Liam Watts age 24; (14) Iafeta Paleaasina age 22; (15) Chris Greed age 24; (22) Josh Bowden age 22; (30) Bobby Tyson-Wilson age 20.

The most likely DR candidate from the group would be Bobby Tyson-Wilson. He's an England Academy international.

Hookers: (9) Danny Houghton age 26; (23) James Cunningham age 20.

Hull look a bit light in the hooking department. Unless they sign another hooker, as much as I would like it to happen, it's hard to see James Cunningham coming to us.

Second Row/Loose: (11) Gareth Ellis age 33; (12) Mark Minichello age 30; (13) Joe Westerman age 25; (17) Dean Hadley age 22; (16) Jordon Rankin age 23; (21) Richard Whiting age 29; (25) Jansin Turgut age 18; (26) Jack Downs age 19; (28) Brad Fash age 18.

They seem well-catered for in this area. The three young lads look as though their first team chances could be limited. I don't know anything about the last two lads but Jansin Turgut could be a good addition for us.

Half-Backs: (6) Leon Price age 33; (7) Marc Sneyd age 23; (17) Jordon Thompson age 23; (29) Harry Tyler-Wilson age 17; (32) Jordon Thompson age 23; (32) Jordon Rankin age 22.

Harry Tyler-Wilson is thought to be a star of the future. Again first team opportunities could limited. He could do with some game time against the grown ups before playing Super League. I'd guess Hull might be keen for him to come to us. Could we manage with two youngsters (Rich Wilkinson) and HTW playing in the halves? PC shifting to play at 13 in a more central role to guide both of them?

Centres: (3) Setaimata Sa age 27; (4) Kirk Yeaman age 31; (19) Steve Michaels age 27; (24) Jack Logan age 19; (32) Jordon Rankin age 22.

The only candidate for a visit to the Keepmoat could be the young lad Jack Logan. Don't know much about him.

Wing: (2) Tom Lineham age 22; (5) Fetuli Talanoa age 27; (31) Callum Lancaster age 18.

Callum Lancaster scored a hat-trick of tries against Warrington last season. Unless the main wingers get injured he could be in need of some game time and experience. He'd be an excellent Dual Reg player for us.

Full-Back: (1) Jamie Shaul age 22; (20) Curtis Naughton age 19; (32) Jordon Rankin age 22

I'm not sure we have a vacancy at full-back with Tom Carr coming and Dave Scott as cover.

Hull look to have plenty of cover in the back row but we have plenty of players ourselves for those positions.

The most likely candidates for Dual Reg appear to be:

Prop: Bobby Tyson-Wilson: Back Row: Jansin Turgut: Half Back: Harry Tyson-Wilson: Wing: Callum Lancaster.

These lads could offer some potential pace and class to our squad.

What do the Hull FC fans think? Who would you like to see get some first team experience at the Dons?