Re: So, Next Years Team, Whats it Looking Like : Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:52 am  

Jethro Gibbs wrote:

I believe he is going to Australia

Would obviously prefer him to say, but rather Oz than one of our SL competitors.

Re: So, Next Years Team, Whats it Looking Like : Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:55 am  

Jethro Gibbs wrote:

I believe he is going to Australia

Would obviously prefer him to stay, but rather Oz than one of our SL competitors.

Re: So, Next Years Team, Whats it Looking Like : Sun Sep 15, 2019 9:30 am  

Ideally 1st 17:

Escare
Tupou
Lyne
Atkins
Johnstone
Miller
Brough
Fifita
Wood
Green??
Tanginoa
Arona
Crowther

Tangata ??
New prop ideally Battye for me
Batchelor
Josh Wood

Think Hampshire and Jowitt will move on I'd keep Hampshire but would he happy as the utility man? bjb looking a bit tired so switched tupou to wing. Pitts decent workhorse, ashurst to come back if fully fit. Not bothered about Westerman injury prone not really needed for me, heard cas bound hopefully true.

Re: So, Next Years Team, Whats it Looking Like : Sun Sep 15, 2019 9:45 am  

Well looking at all the stuff posted so far I don't think anyone has mentioned Hooker. We only have Woody for know and there is mention of that young kid from Salford , but we certainly need cover in that role when Randell leaves.

England is also a concern, he is no longer the player that joined us and injuries and time have taken their toll in my opinion. If he stays I think we would be lucky to get 10 games out of him.

Batchelor is another I am getting slightly concerned about, good player and great prospect but it seems one injury after another. May be he is unlucky and then again maybe he will suffer injuries on a regular basis. Some players never seem to get any injury issues whilst others have a perpetual problem.

One last point, on a personal note I would not have signed Atkins or Westerman (if true) We may be lucky with them but I believe we have enough 'experience' at the club as it is and it is youth that we should be investing in. They are yesterdays stars , but tomorrows stars are the future.

Re: So, Next Years Team, Whats it Looking Like : Sun Sep 15, 2019 11:21 am  

upthecats wrote:

How do we stand with quota spots is it two free now with the departures of Randell and Pauli?

If we’ve signed Walker I’d retain Rocky too and Jowitt and I think the backs are fine with plenty of cover...

Walker/Hampshire/Jowitt full backs..

Johnstone/BJB/Kershaw wing with options of Hampshire/Tupou/Lyne to cover if necessary.

Tupou/Lyne/Atkins/Arundel/Croft more than adequate in centres...

Miller/Brough halves with possibly only Hampshire as cover there could be risky?

Pack is where we need to strengthen IMO...as shown in our slump if your pack gets dominated your backs all of a sudden look poor too...we started the season well with a big strong pack that looked big and fearsome and would back down to no team.

Going into next season we’ve lost Huby, Hirst, Pauli from this and possibly England and Kirmond..

That’s plenty of size and experience lost...if finances allow I’d push the boat out for another prop and a second rower from overseas...

I don’t think we need to make too many drastic changes...just get the right mix and hope and pray we don’t suffer injuries like we have this year!

I got told that Atkins was coming to play in the second row.

Re: So, Next Years Team, Whats it Looking Like : Sun Sep 15, 2019 11:25 am  

Think Tanginoa could actually play anywhere on the field the way he's gone so far with us he's been a great find by the club.
Regarding the rest
Walker - YES i would
Pitts- YES again
Tangata -Yes
Westerman -??
Green-Yes if he want's to stay with us
Escare -Yes if the price is right if not stick with walker & Jowitt
Anybody else ?????

Re: So, Next Years Team, Whats it Looking Like : Sun Sep 15, 2019 11:28 am  

PopTart wrote:

I do wonder about second row.

Ashurst and Tanginoa are both outstanding but both play on the left.
If Kirmond retires it means we only have Batch for the right and I don't think he is ready to take the season on as starting Sr.
Arundal I don't think is the answer yet either.

So I'm wondering if we are thinking about playing Westerman down that channel so Arona and Crowther and possibly King are left to do 13.

Id certainly sign Tangata and I think we'd be a good option for him.
Green I like a lot but he has options so it depends if he wants to.

Walker, Escare and Hampshire are all options. Depends who signed first.

I think thats a fairly dated view, yes players have a preference but most S/Rs can play both sides these days, the games far less structured than it was. Also, Crowther can play SR as can Arundel, in fact that looks to be the way CC is sending him. That's five good SR's. Have we actually signed Westerman, last I heard he was Cas bound?

Re: So, Next Years Team, Whats it Looking Like : Sun Sep 15, 2019 11:43 am  

trin77 wrote:

Ideally 1st 17:

Escare
Tupou
Lyne
Atkins
Johnstone
Miller
Brough
Fifita
Wood
Green??
Tanginoa
Arona
Crowther

Tangata ??
New prop ideally Battye for me
Batchelor
Josh Wood

Think Hampshire and Jowitt will move on I'd keep Hampshire but would he happy as the utility man? bjb looking a bit tired so switched tupou to wing. Pitts decent workhorse, ashurst to come back if fully fit. Not bothered about Westerman injury prone not really needed for me, heard cas bound hopefully true.

No Ashurst?

[PopTart]

Re: So, Next Years Team, Whats it Looking Like : Sun Sep 15, 2019 11:54 am  

Fishermanscap wrote:

I think thats a fairly dated view, yes players have a preference but most S/Rs can play both sides these days, the games far less structured than it was. Also, Crowther can play SR as can Arundel, in fact that looks to be the way CC is sending him. That's five good SR's. Have we actually signed Westerman, last I heard he was Cas bound?

Well I am dated but we'll have to disagree there.
Kirmond coming back into that role proved it for me.

The only player I've seen be just as effective when switched is Arundal.
I don't see Crowther as a second row and Arundal, as much as I like him made the left edge defense really weak when put there.

Left side is more attack minded too. Right is more defense focused.
They of course have to do both but you get more attack down the left. Every team is the same. That's why Lyne and Kirmond are so valuable being good defenders (Lyne did a monster of work on Friday missing no tackles) but can attack too.

Re: So, Next Years Team, Whats it Looking Like : Sun Sep 15, 2019 12:43 pm  

Tricky2309 wrote:

No Ashurst?

Mentiond him, ashurst to come back if fully fit.