Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Tue Sep 23, 2014 8:54 pm  

woolly07 wrote:

Didn't we also sign Baloo after he had serious stomach illness and he was a gamble

Didn't Baloo recover from stomach cancer just before we signed him, seemed to have a faded memory of this one so might be wrong.

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Wed Sep 24, 2014 6:44 am  

bit nearer timewise Langley a couple of seasons ago had a number of different injuries and never got going, the following season with a preseason and little injury his stats were transformed to the point that the getriders were silenced.

and if you look at the balance of the squad, 18 forwards and 12 backs for 6 positions and 7 positions respectively, then it is extremely unlikely that we will ever lack go forward in the pack next season even if we have several injuries.

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Wed Sep 24, 2014 6:52 am  

You know you just said that out loud, right?

[Bullseye]

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Wed Sep 24, 2014 7:18 am  

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Wed Sep 24, 2014 8:29 am  

The back row looks very strong, respectable even by SL standard. The backline looks solid and Jimmy has followed the adage, if in doubt make sure they're big enough.

Gaskell is our one known quantity at half back but good luck to Harry S. You can't sign quality scrum halves when you've just been relegated. It's up to Jimmy and co to make a player out of him.

My concern is this set of props,

Adam Sidlow
Dan Flemming
Mark Offerdahl
Karl Davies
Paul Clough
Samir Tahraoui
Sam Bates

With O'B, Halafifi and Conroy as three very young hookers. No doubt they'll do well in the Championship but come the play off games if both Sidlow and Clough are fit then two of Offerdhal, Davies, Tahroui, Fleming will have to demonstrate they are SL level players. I trust Lowes and we're in the boat we're in, but it's a significant set of 'ifs'.

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Wed Sep 24, 2014 9:09 am  

M@islebugs wrote:

The back row looks very strong, respectable even by SL standard. The backline looks solid and Jimmy has followed the adage, if in doubt make sure they're big enough.

Gaskell is our one known quantity at half back but good luck to Harry S. You can't sign quality scrum halves when you've just been relegated. It's up to Jimmy and co to make a player out of him.

My concern is this set of props,

Adam Sidlow
Dan Flemming
Mark Offerdahl
Karl Davies
Paul Clough
Samir Tahraoui
Sam Bates

With O'B, Halafifi and Conroy as three very young hookers. No doubt they'll do well in the Championship but come the play off games if both Sidlow and Clough are fit then two of Offerdhal, Davies, Tahroui, Fleming will have to demonstrate they are SL level players. I trust Lowes and we're in the boat we're in, but it's a significant set of 'ifs'.

I think we're strong in the props. Sidlow and Clough are SL standard. Offerdahl looked good in WC. The rest are BIG young hungry forwards with a point to prove. Some may not cut it, but there are 3 others waiting to take the place of those that don't

[Bulliac]

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Wed Sep 24, 2014 9:19 am  

Agree.
As a relegated club, playing in the championship, we no longer have either the 'pull' or the money to be signing many even 'medium name' SL standard players, so I'm happy with what we have, and the only qualifying word I'd stick in is 'very', before the happy.

Come the middle 8, assuming we're in it, we'll see where we really are but it certainly won't be easy against clubs on double the cap.

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Wed Sep 24, 2014 10:17 am  

The other point to remember is that we have assembled our squad before the end of the season, and that Jimmy will have the full offseason to get the team to gel - this is a luxury we have not enjoyed in the last few years and will hopefully make a big difference to the conditioning as well.

[Bulliac]

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Wed Sep 24, 2014 10:28 am  

Wonder when the pre-season games will be announced....

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Wed Sep 24, 2014 10:37 am  

Bulliac wrote:

Agree.
As a relegated club, playing in the championship, we no longer have either the 'pull' or the money to be signing many even 'medium name' SL standard players, so I'm happy with what we have, and the only qualifying word I'd stick in is 'very', before the happy.

Come the middle 8, assuming we're in it, we'll see where we really are but it certainly won't be easy against clubs on double the cap.

There is a lot of talk about the gap between SL and Championship and how we will fair when it gets to the business end of next season...

However, there will be some squeaky bums in those bottom 4 SL clubs and IF (yes another IF) one of them has an internal issues at the time - it will have a detrimental effect on the team.

Scenarios may be;

Coach has "lost" the players.
Cliques within the team.
Financial issues.
Demotivated players

I guess it will be down to timing and possibly a bit of luck and we won't know for sure until we go head to head - but I am not convinced as some that no Championship teams will win promotion.