Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Thu Nov 28, 2019 9:01 pm  

christopher wrote:

I think were a couple short of where we need to be (unless some of the younger players really come on this year) but we are far better than we were when Sinfield cane in 18 months ago IMO, assuming Merrin is gone the 17 should line up something like this

1. Walker
2. Briscoes
3. Hurrell (I’d move him to the right centre spot)
4. Newman
5. Handley
6. Lui
7. Gale
8. Ava
9. leeming
10. Prior
11. Martin
12. Mellor
13. Ward (C)

14. Dwyer
15. Cuthbertson
16. Oledski/Crosby
17. Sutcliffe/Donaldson/Smith

As I say even without Merrin I think that’s much stronger than 2018/2019 team

Merrin is a better player than Mellor, but Mellor can play 80 mins, has better pace and defends pretty well. As a balance I don’t mind our back row at all even without Merrin. I thought the team just looked lethargic at times last year - Martin and Mellor are much more zippy.

Disappointed we’ve lost Trout but we still have Walters, Muizz and Holroyd to make a mark this year.

Much will depend on how well the younger lads, including Cam Smith, step up in training this pre-season.

Difference between this year and last should be some team cohesion, and better pace in the pack and strike with more match-winners. We did lose a lot of games last year by small margins which even the change in half backs would probably change. We were also travelling much better in the last third of the season.

Reasons for optimism but of course the squad isn’t where it needs to be yet. 2021 will be the real push year.

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Thu Nov 28, 2019 9:02 pm  

Seth wrote:

I really dont want to see Ward playing 13 its not the workload his body needs.

Depends how we play the 13 role. Personally would try mellor there if merrin goes

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Thu Nov 28, 2019 9:05 pm  

tad rhino wrote:

will crosby ever be fit???

I know the lad has been through a lot, but looks like one of the worst signings we have made in a while hasn’t even played since we bought him in

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Thu Nov 28, 2019 9:15 pm  

Ferdy wrote:

I know the lad has been through a lot, but looks like one of the worst signings we have made in a while hasn’t even played since we bought him in

he has played

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Thu Nov 28, 2019 9:23 pm  

fanstanningley wrote:

he has played

Has he? He played when we had him on loan not seen him since we actually signed him

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Fri Nov 29, 2019 8:54 am  

Well the club gave him a deal and supported him so it really is up to him

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Fri Nov 29, 2019 9:10 am  

Merrin's missus is on a flight somewhere so maybe they've gone? (I'm not stalking her honest!)

Merrin was on one of the players instagram last night though so who knows?

Just to add reports on Twitter that its all a done deal, St George on a 2 year contract. I understand why he has done it but I think he's let himself and the club down big time with the way he's handled it, there was no need to come back and give it all the 'I'm totally committed' BS. It's a real shame as he was a quality player and seemed like a quality person to have around.

Just shows that the recent success we have had as a club was built totally around home grown players that were 100% committed to the club with a smattering of class from the NRL - we need to get back to that.

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Fri Nov 29, 2019 10:27 am  

christopher wrote:

Merrin's missus is on a flight somewhere so maybe they've gone? (I'm not stalking her honest!)

Merrin was on one of the players instagram last night though so who knows?

Just to add reports on Twitter that its all a done deal, St George on a 2 year contract. I understand why he has done it but I think he's let himself and the club down big time with the way he's handled it, there was no need to come back and give it all the 'I'm totally committed' BS. It's a real shame as he was a quality player and seemed like a quality person to have around.

Just shows that the recent success we have had as a club was built totally around home grown players that were 100% committed to the club with a smattering of class from the NRL - we need to get back to that.

In a nutshell. Our periods of success in my living memory have all come from a squad of mainly home grown players and the o erseas players bought Into the club culture

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Fri Nov 29, 2019 10:44 am  

Just shows how much of a mess we got in post 2015.

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Fri Nov 29, 2019 11:20 am  

lionarmour87 wrote:

In a nutshell. Our periods of success in my living memory have all come from a squad of mainly home grown players and the o erseas players bought Into the club culture

Interesting reading some of the St Georges fans take on this, they don't seem too impressed with Merrin returning and hope he's not on much money as he would be taking a youngsters spot, one of which they shipping of to Wests to accommodate the move