Re: New Signings : Fri Oct 22, 2021 7:00 pm  

I’m not sure any pro or semi pro sports team is going to come out and say ‘we hope to compete but we haven’t got as much cash as others so our squad won’t be as strong and we expect to fall short but please don’t forget to buy your season ticket’

Re: New Signings : Fri Oct 22, 2021 7:00 pm  

Bully_Boxer wrote:

That's fair enough, just John Kear was talking about being a serious contender next year. Not sure signing up Foggin Johnston and Millar as backline options will strike fear into Fev and Leigh.

Dawson-Jones and Kear will be the first choice wingers.
Millar and Foggin-johnston will be the back up wingers
It's an improvement on 2021

Re: New Signings : Fri Oct 22, 2021 7:11 pm  

Kear could end up in centre yet but I agree, if MDJ can stay fit a much stronger 3/4 line

Re: New Signings : Fri Oct 22, 2021 7:16 pm  

I’d disagree the squad needed more than a tinker. Far enough Toulouse and Fev were streets ahead of us this year but that’s true of everyone in the league. Had we not put the cue on the rack we would likely have finished third in the league.

Keeping the majority of the squad, I don’t think we need whole sale changes. I’d argue the players we’ve brought in are better than the ones we’ve let go. The only possible exception being pickers but as we know he wasn’t the perfect player for us although I’d have liked to keep him if we could but we couldn’t so that’s that.

I think the backline is complete. A few more forwards and some long long long overdue luck with injuries and we can better last year IMO.

As much as I would have liked to have signed Keyes, hitchcox, pickers, masi etc and all the others people keep mentioning those same people would be questioning how we can afford them and threatening to walk away again should we go pop.

People need to stop hanging on the old ‘super league’ line. Every team aspires for promotion. It’s how you motivate the team and get fans excited about the season. How many season tickets would we sell if we pitched our aim on ‘staying in the championship this year’?

Re: New Signings : Fri Oct 22, 2021 8:29 pm  

Hunslet have just announced the signing of Ethan O'Hanlon.

Re: New Signings : Fri Oct 22, 2021 8:31 pm  

Bulls4 wrote:

I’d disagree the squad needed more than a tinker. Far enough Toulouse and Fev were streets ahead of us this year but that’s true of everyone in the league. Had we not put the cue on the rack we would likely have finished third in the league.

Keeping the majority of the squad, I don’t think we need whole sale changes. I’d argue the players we’ve brought in are better than the ones we’ve let go. The only possible exception being pickers but as we know he wasn’t the perfect player for us although I’d have liked to keep him if we could but we couldn’t so that’s that.

I think the backline is complete. A few more forwards and some long long long overdue luck with injuries and we can better last year IMO.

As much as I would have liked to have signed Keyes, hitchcox, pickers, masi etc and all the others people keep mentioning those same people would be questioning how we can afford them and threatening to walk away again should we go pop.

People need to stop hanging on the old ‘super league’ line. Every team aspires for promotion. It’s how you motivate the team and get fans excited about the season. How many season tickets would we sell if we pitched our aim on ‘staying in the championship this year’?

I have no doubt this squad will be competitive and in with a good chance of finishing in the play offs, I just got the impression that Kear was pushing to challenge Fev and Leigh from his comments. The recruitment so far isn’t strong enough to trouble either side and there is no shame in that, without a major backer we are probably better off where we are anyway. Must be just me who finds the talk of SL push when we clearly aren’t equipped to challenge a bit tiresome.

Re: New Signings : Fri Oct 22, 2021 8:58 pm  

Bully_Boxer wrote:

I have no doubt this squad will be competitive and in with a good chance of finishing in the play offs, I just got the impression that Kear was pushing to challenge Fev and Leigh from his comments. The recruitment so far isn’t strong enough to trouble either side and there is no shame in that, without a major backer we are probably better off where we are anyway. Must be just me who finds the talk of SL push when we clearly aren’t equipped to challenge a bit tiresome.

To be fair I agree with that. I just think I take the tag lines of super league with a huge pinch of salt. Most fans are realistic in where we are.

Re: New Signings : Fri Oct 22, 2021 8:59 pm  

Bully_Boxer wrote:

I have no doubt this squad will be competitive and in with a good chance of finishing in the play offs, I just got the impression that Kear was pushing to challenge Fev and Leigh from his comments. The recruitment so far isn’t strong enough to trouble either side and there is no shame in that, without a major backer we are probably better off where we are anyway. Must be just me who finds the talk of SL push when we clearly aren’t equipped to challenge a bit tiresome.

I do wonder if the top two will be as strong as this years. Hard to tell when the season only finished a fortnight ago but not sure if Leigh will be as strong as Toulouse? Fev could be an interesting one. They'll spend big again, but wonder with a coach who isn't popular with the fanbase might just derail them slightly?

Re: New Signings : Fri Oct 22, 2021 9:13 pm  

Bully_Boxer wrote:

I have no doubt this squad will be competitive and in with a good chance of finishing in the play offs, I just got the impression that Kear was pushing to challenge Fev and Leigh from his comments. The recruitment so far isn’t strong enough to trouble either side and there is no shame in that, without a major backer we are probably better off where we are anyway. Must be just me who finds the talk of SL push when we clearly aren’t equipped to challenge a bit tiresome.

Couldnt agree more with everything above.

Well said Bully_Boxer, well said

Re: New Signings : Sat Oct 23, 2021 8:42 am  

Bull Mania wrote:

I do wonder if the top two will be as strong as this years. Hard to tell when the season only finished a fortnight ago but not sure if Leigh will be as strong as Toulouse? Fev could be an interesting one. They'll spend big again, but wonder with a coach who isn't popular with the fanbase might just derail them slightly?

Im expecting Fev to be just as strong if not stronger but Leigh will be nowehere near as good as Toulouse were and I don't see them been as good as Fev. For me they will be back in to the pack and the chase for 2nd spot will be wide open.