Looking positive - but they must retain Tom Amone, he is the standout forward this season. Obviously SL clubs will be sniffing for such a hard working prop.
Looking positive - but they must retain Tom Amone, he is the standout forward this season. Obviously SL clubs will be sniffing for such a hard working prop.
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2005 10:13 pm Posts: 3605 Location: Vancouver, Canada Member for 17 years
Great news and agreed re Amone. Nice thing is that A Lam says that we have more than just Nene locked up for next season also. this kind of forward thinking and commitment will ensure that we have a strong second half to the season, with players seeing that the club has big ambition, long term plans and effort will be rewarded.
First game was in 1967, and have been hooked since day 1. Now live in Vancouver, Canada but follow our team any way I can. “Up The Comics !”
Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2020 10:38 am Posts: 68 Member for 2 years
For my money Adrian Lam is one of the shrewdest signings the club has made and for this reason I hope DB is making every effort to keep him tied to the club as well.
I like what he is doing on the back of DB's funding of the player signings. Whilst the attack is a steadily improving work in progress he has certainly fixed our traditionally flaky defence. I also sense that he is the reason why some of the impressive signings have come to the club. After all, and as we all know, he is a PNG legend! Enough said to any perspective signing.
The good thing for me is that when interviewed, particularly on TV, he comes across as being quite happy. I think that in itself is a good sign and perhaps a small indicator that all is well, both at the club and with him personally. Let's hope that he has a really big smile on his face come the final whistle next Saturday and, most importantly, at the end of the season.
Yes, agreed, that Amone must be retained at all costs. What on earth are we doing with a prop of this calibre. Whoever at the club is responsible for his signing must be complimented. What a find.
I know that this thread is about player retentions but i am still going to say it here that, having gone to Batley on Monday night, that I still have one of the smugest smiles on my face 4 days later. I liked very much what i witnessed. What a win against traditionally tricky opponents on their sloping backyard. What a statement of intent. For the first time this season i am prepared to say, bring on Fev, we are now ready for them. Things are building nicely. Now let's win DB his Cup back!
For my money Adrian Lam is one of the shrewdest signings the club has made and for this reason I hope DB is making every effort to keep him tied to the club as well.
I like what he is doing on the back of DB's funding of the player signings. Whilst the attack is a steadily improving work in progress he has certainly fixed our traditionally flaky defence. I also sense that he is the reason why some of the impressive signings have come to the club. After all, and as we all know, he is a PNG legend! Enough said to any perspective signing.
The good thing for me is that when interviewed, particularly on TV, he comes across as being quite happy. I think that in itself is a good sign and perhaps a small indicator that all is well, both at the club and with him personally. Let's hope that he has a really big smile on his face come the final whistle next Saturday and, most importantly, at the end of the season.
Yes, agreed, that Amone must be retained at all costs. What on earth are we doing with a prop of this calibre. Whoever at the club is responsible for his signing must be complimented. What a find.
I know that this thread is about player retentions but i am still going to say it here that, having gone to Batley on Monday night, that I still have one of the smugest smiles on my face 4 days later. I liked very much what i witnessed. What a win against traditionally tricky opponents on their sloping backyard. What a statement of intent. For the first time this season i am prepared to say, bring on Fev, we are now ready for them. Things are building nicely. Now let's win DB his Cup back!
Completely agree with your full post, it's a shame we have to cut some of the overseas players if we go up and I'm glad I don't have to do that job as there will be some difficult conversations. Lam looks happy, Chester looks happy and the players looked very happy at Batley. That performance the other night made me dip into my pocket and pay the £100 for next week, as finances are short at the minute.
Regarding Amone I do believe that was Chesters find as he wanted him for Wakey but they missed out. He's a top 4 prop forward so I hope he is one of the players that are already signed up. I'd be surprised if players were signing if Lam wasn't staying but I'd get Lam signed up on a 2 year deal. He's a model professional and he knows how to build a squad.
Joined: Fri Nov 13, 2020 12:52 pm Posts: 102 Member for 2 years
Overseas Players
McDonald - Keep Ipape - freedom of the town of Leigh Amone - Pay what him what he wants just keep him Fergyferg4 - Top class entertainment Asiata - Keep Stone - Keep Inu - now aged 35 might be his swansong Ioane - not sure Hingano - release Nakubuwei - Too early to tell Hitchcox - The forgotten man
O'Donnell - British family - so keep Aekins - Welsh mother - a keeper
6 overseas positions tied up - leaving 1 slots with a little wriggle room for a half back to come over at the back end of the season and for next year.
Last edited by Septimius Severus on Thu Jun 02, 2022 10:48 am, edited 3 times in total.
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2005 10:13 pm Posts: 3605 Location: Vancouver, Canada Member for 17 years
Septimius Severus wrote:
Overseas Players
McDonald - Keep Ipape - freedom of the town of Leigh Amone - Pay what him what he wants just keep him Fergyferg4 - Top class entertainment Asiata - Keep Inu - now aged 35 might be his swansong Ioane - not sure Hingano - release Nakubuwei - Too early to tell
O'Donnell - British family - so keep Aekins - Welsh mother - a keeper
5 overseas positions tied up - leaving 2 slots with a little wriggle room for a half back to come over at the back end of the season and for next year.
Tough to argue against your calls. I would keep Aekins regardless (or despite ) him being of Welsh origin. O’Donnell is a personal favourite of mine, but would be likely a strong squad player at SL level. If not a Brit background, that may have cost him but for me he is a keeper for next season.
First game was in 1967, and have been hooked since day 1. Now live in Vancouver, Canada but follow our team any way I can. “Up The Comics !”
Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2011 6:58 pm Posts: 15883 Location: Across The Universe....... Jai guru deva om - Nothings gonna change my world. Member for 11 years
I'd keep: Brand Mellor Wardle (if he's not on much as he would be a squad player) Chamberlain (squad player) Green (I think he will be great when back fit and he's reliable with the ball) Smith.
If we were to go up then we will need to sign quite a few to compete but I understand the club are already doing this.
Joined: Sun Jun 16, 2013 9:17 pm Posts: 2781 Member for 9 years
Septimius Severus wrote:
Overseas Players
McDonald - Keep Ipape - freedom of the town of Leigh Amone - Pay what him what he wants just keep him Fergyferg4 - Top class entertainment Asiata - Keep Stone - Keep Inu - now aged 35 might be his swansong Ioane - not sure Hingano - release Nakubuwei - Too early to tell
O'Donnell - British family - so keep Aekins - Welsh mother - a keeper
6 overseas positions tied up - leaving 1 slots with a little wriggle room for a half back to come over at the back end of the season and for next year.
May as well join in with my personal take so far .... McDonald Already signed ✅️ Ipape An absolute must sign Amone Again must sign Asiata - Yes Ferguson - Yes, (if he really wants it) like what I've seen. Stone - Yes, solid, no nonesense. Ioane - Also a maybe (done nothing wrong though) O'Donnell - Yes, keep. He's solid & gets through a mountain of work, very good. Aekins I don't think the British passport thing is relevant anymore , so far it's a Yes - keep. Hingano - not seen enough from him (yet) so release Inu - Release based on age Nakubuwei - plenty better - Release
Edit.
I think that's 7 I've picked with Ioane so maybe 1 gets cut. Also assuming all those that Chester & Lam approach actually want to sign or are not hunted with much bigger money from Super League or NRL Club's (in the case of Ipape & Ferguson maybe)
2 years
17 years
) him being of Welsh origin. 
11 years
9 years
