St pete wrote:
Better squad? Really? You think ?
Will any idea these signings be in the 17 ?
Do we play this game again? Okay...
Tasi - Masoe : I'll take your laughter in the Tasi thread as you agree this is at least on par, if not an improvement...
Peyroux - Jones : a lot has been said about Peyroux and his lack of game time, but he has consistently been in international setups (I mean there's a whole argument to be had about him switching international teams but that's for another day), so the question is, do you think Jones would have gotten into any of those international set ups? If the answers no, we may well have ourselves an improvement
Fages - Hohaia : Hohaia has my total support, and it's a great shame he had to bow out in the way he did ... But his impact on the team last year in the time he did play was (understandably) lacking, so any contribution made by Fages next year is an improvement
SMD - Wellens : this is the hardest one for me, and if have no problem people telling me this is a loss to the squad. But the Hohaia argument is applicable here too...
Charnock - Walker : one youngster out, another in. The fact Walker couldn't hold down a permanent spot in the Wakefield team says it all (even though I hope in time hell fulfil some of his early promise). Charnock into the 25 and covers the spine and in particular Roby where we're very short.
Davies/ Knowles - Hand : see above, like for like, hopefully one of them can seize their opportunities
Owens - flanagan : quite different so hard to compare, but Flash was the definition of bland for me and a real bugbear of mine last year, and Owens pushes Dawson down the pecking order (regardless of whether your in the "he's average" or "he has potential" camp) so that's win win for me!
Then you get into the fact our halfbacks will actually have a preseason together, the kids will be looking to get over their sophomore slump etc...
How that isn't a net improvement to the squad is beyond me ...