Re: Round 2. Featherstone v Halifax : Tue Feb 14, 2023 1:20 pm
Ilkley Fax wrote:
I completely agree with your realistic summary of the forward alternatives available to Grix; wasn't aware of the detail around Springers departure as at the time was very sorry to see him leave as he seemed to offer something we hadn't had in the forwards for several years. Unfortunately the signing of Maher felt to me as a recognition that we needed bigger forwards, but we're getting one who might be solid defensively but offered little going forward. My only hope here is that Grix is able to do with Maher what he helped achieve with Murray who I thought improved massively last season. In signing Doro and King i was really hopeful they would offer the dynamism that's been lacking in the pack - as one hasn't played yet and the others only had 1 game, probably only fair to give them time to show their worth.
Regarding the pack it's probably more noticeable and that area has certainly received the most attention but it's not only there were we are either being outbid or asked to pay more than we are prepared to as I am led to believe that Fax have gone in for more than one player and come up against that scenario and lost out.
We have still got some funds available but only for the right players at the right price but considering the above makes you wonder where we will find them?
Likewise with player retention, if Sheffield can offer more than we are prepared to / able to for Gwaze then what chance is there of trumping the bigger fish to a signature?
On bigger fish and money everything is relative to the pond your swimming in, for example in the Championship in each case Leigh, Toronto, Toulouse have been the big ones in the Championship but as soon as they go into a bigger pool the tables are turned, they become the little fish, face the same challenges we are and they have all finished bottom!!
This year seeing how Leigh go in SL will be interesting because no club has invested more or looked better than they did last year but if they struggle again it begs the question can anyone bridge the gap?
