Shannon McDonnell : Fri Sep 05, 2014 11:44 am  

Unlucky for Shannon last night with his season now over with a broken Jaw?

I think he's an asset to our team?

Question: Would you give him a contract for next year

I'd give him a 2yr contract and let Wello retire

Re: Shannon McDonnell : Fri Sep 05, 2014 12:14 pm  

Rommel wrote:

Unlucky for Shannon last night with his season now over with a broken Jaw?

I think he's an asset to our team?

Question: Would you give him a contract for next year

I'd give him a 2yr contract and let Wello retire

Would not give him a contract, its not that he isn't bad, its that he uses up cap space better used elsewhere.

The harsh reality is that when Lomax is fit, Shannon would not get a look in.

For the odd matches Lomax is out then
Swift and Makinson can both cover at fullback, and we can blood a youngster on the wing or use Dawson or Gardner.

Re: Shannon McDonnell : Fri Sep 05, 2014 12:49 pm  

I'd be inclined to offer McDonnell 1-2 years from what I've seen so far, so long as it was on the right terms and with appropriate expectations on the player's part. He provides experienced cover across the backline, and looks like a safe pair of hands. Dawson is a project that I don't see going anywhere, so having another versatile back around who can provide valuable competition for places in the backs is a good thing.

Re: Shannon McDonnell : Fri Sep 05, 2014 12:52 pm  

The Chair Maker wrote:

Would not give him a contract, its not that he isn't bad, its that he uses up cap space better used elsewhere.

The harsh reality is that when Lomax is fit, Shannon would not get a look in.

For the odd matches Lomax is out then
Swift and Makinson can both cover at fullback, and we can blood a youngster on the wing or use Dawson or Gardner.

I disagree, I dont think Gardner will (or should) be with us next year, and between McDonnell and Percival our 1-5 is pretty well covered (without having to use Dawson or Wellens). We capitulated when he went off yesterday.

All is dependent on the right deal of course, 1 year with a club option of a 2nd on an "average" salary (50-70k range) would be shrewd business imo.

Re: Shannon McDonnell : Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:28 pm  

I've not been impressed with him one little bit. His kick returns are poor and on par with wello kick returns. He's basically dead with the ball.

His support play is very good tho, he's in postion where any good fullback should be when a break is made but that IMO doesn't warrant a deal.

Re: Shannon McDonnell : Fri Sep 05, 2014 7:39 pm  

Not terrible at all, but way off what i expect of a quota player

Re: Shannon McDonnell : Fri Sep 05, 2014 9:30 pm  

Gardner has a contract for next year. Les Dawson will end up with a four year deal and we will give Lomax to Leeds.

Re: Shannon McDonnell : Fri Sep 05, 2014 9:41 pm  

Saint Simon wrote:

Not terrible at all, but way off what i expect of a quota player

He's scored three tries in as many games has he not? I think that's a good return for a player who came on board at the last minute without the benefit usually afforded quota players in terms of off season and the like to get to know our systems (ha! what systems?) and stuff.

He pulled off a couple of try saving tackles on Friday night while no doubt in agony with his jaw. That's commitment given he has hardly been with the club for five minutes. Certainly more commitment than most of the team who have been with us a lot longer showed.

I wouldn't mind having him around next season. So far as I'm aware we have no up and coming young fullbacks about to break through so nobody would be blocked. Lomax spends most of the season looking knackered before he actually does get knackered so it would be good to interchange those two between matches depending on the opposition, assuming Lomax doesn't revert to playing six or retire early through having no knees.

Re: Shannon McDonnell : Fri Sep 05, 2014 10:12 pm  

I don't want another FB at the club. We have 3 already. Lomax, Wellens, Lance.

Money should be spent elsewhere. Giving kids pay rises or put it into the 6 kitty.

If we get a 6. Then Lance moves to utility and will be a sub for Roby and fill in for Lomax if injured or a half if injured.

After that there is always swift / makinson / dawson for injuries.

FB is more than covered. I like Dawson. He is not a top 17 player, but can provide cover and decent cover for any back line injuries. Not many can fill in from 1-5 from the lower part of our squad.

Swift and Makinson have more ability, but this season has shown that a drop in form will mean getting dropped and we need that pressure on our top guys. A bit like now some of the forwards need to move for better youngsters.

Re: Shannon McDonnell : Sat Sep 06, 2014 1:34 pm  

Loz wrote:

Gardner has a contract for next year. Les Dawson will end up with a four year deal and we will give Lomax to Leeds.

Pity we couldn,t give Gardener a couple of games in the pack, he would show up the current lot in how to run hard and tackle hard.