: Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:13 pm  

Bully_Boxer wrote:

Probably so. I would say we're more likely to find a prop rather than a centre in the current market. But you never know.

The ideology behind these comments I think is a fairly good idea:

But McNamara is not unduly worried and admits he has space on the salary cap to make further signings if opportunities arise.

Now, if for example there was no way he could get a decent centre in for the start of 2009, keeping some cash aside is a decent idea me thinks.

You only have to look at some mid-season signings recently, we signed Ian Henderson who was arguably the catalyst for our 2005 success. Wigan got Phelps this year, who has been a very good signing.

: Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:22 pm  

Shontayne Hape's move to Bath was announced in May, but known about long before then - the club also knew that James Evans' deal was up at the end of the season.

Even starting at that point (and they shouldn't have been) they have had 5 months to identify some possible targets to bring in for the centres, I find it hard to believe that such a player could not be identified, if not it doesn't say a lot about our scouting, knowledge base and networks within the game.

We now have 7 senior players to cover the back 3 positions in the forwards and just 2 senior players for our lamentable backline, I defy anyone to seriously suggest that our recruitment has been smart and to be happy with it, apart from those who would declare themselves happy with whatever the club decided to do.

: Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:41 pm  

Asim wrote:

We now have 7 senior players to cover the back 3 positions in the forwards and just 2 senior players for our lamentable backline, I defy anyone to seriously suggest that our recruitment has been smart and to be happy with it, apart from those who would declare themselves happy with whatever the club decided to do.

It hasn't been smart, far from it. The club have missed out in strengthening the backline, but they did identify targets over the course of the season.

Shenton was aimed for, but he opted to stay at Castleford, as did Adam Mogg with Les Catalans. The lure of playing for Bradford just isn't what it used to be.

: Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:21 pm  

What centres have signed for other SL sides so far?

: Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:31 am  

Asim wrote:

We won't be able to judge Steve as a coach in 2009, as he was unable to recruit the players he wanted.

We can't comment on his capability until 2010 at the earliest, when the can build the team he wants.

Of course you can comment on his coaching!! Any manager in the world could "coach" a team with the best players, this will be a challenge for Mac, and will prove his capabilities as a coach. The majority of coaches nowadays don't get the money to fund the players they want!!

: Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:48 am  

Mystic Leper wrote:

With the current squad Mid table may be the most we can hope for im not convinced our signings are strong enough to even guarantee that, the bulk of our new recruits over the past 2 seasons have come from mediocre clubs if Maccas statement is correct i dotn hold out much hope for next year or the clubs future, sherrife hardly gonna draw the crowds in is he...

downward spiral continues...
Menzies good tutor for the kids to learn from but IMO wont play enough due to age
Scuton--only positive signing
Sherriffe and Worrincy--average at best, but lets not forget the old "their young and they have potential" funny that as quins were happy to release both....bet Saints and Leeds are papping themselves at our back line....sorry i mean laughing their socks off

as for menzies he has played every game this season for the sea eagles, and has started 16 out of 26 of them. so there is no reason why he wont play every game for us next year.

worrincy and sheriffe were both offered new deals but rejected them, so quins did want to keep them.

: Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:26 am  

af wrote:

What centres have signed for other SL sides so far?

Answer will there be none.

PS In your neat summary you omitted that even if the Bulls signed the entire Aus international 1st and 2nd squads, we would still finish bottom half, due to having a crap coach, so discussion of signings is academic, but that's our fault too as we should have started off by signing Wayne Bennett with Danny Anderson as his assistant.

That's as I understand it, anyway.

: Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:35 am  

Bullpower wrote:

Hey. . . here's an idea.

Why don't we poll people on these boards to see if they think Macca ought to be kicked out?

. . . oh hang on

Great idea! After his amazing season last season and less than inspiring recruitment for 2009, I reckon there would be a few people after him....

: Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:42 am  

mystic eddie wrote:

Great idea! After his amazing season last season and less than inspiring recruitment for 2009, I reckon there would be a few people after him....

. . . off you go then

: Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:42 am  

Asim wrote:

Shontayne Hape's move to Bath was announced in May, but known about long before then - the club also knew that James Evans' deal was up at the end of the season.

Even starting at that point (and they shouldn't have been) they have had 5 months to identify some possible targets to bring in for the centres, I find it hard to believe that such a player could not be identified, if not it doesn't say a lot about our scouting, knowledge base and networks within the game.

We now have 7 senior players to cover the back 3 positions in the forwards and just 2 senior players for our lamentable backline, I defy anyone to seriously suggest that our recruitment has been smart and to be happy with it, apart from those who would declare themselves happy with whatever the club decided to do.

You also have to ask, again, just exactly was the point in McNamara's trip to Oz last year, which, according to some of the "experts" on here was to either.....

1. Help improve his coaching abilities, or,
2. Help identify signing targets.

Now, the ONE Aussie we signed, everyone knew of him so that hardly was a result of overseas scouting was it? (His coaching abilities also have not improved)

You could also point out the the apparrent two centres we fancied, Shenton and Mogg, were both nowhere near club sides in Australia.

Also, I thought it was common knowledge that Glenn Morrison was helping out with identifying targets when back home during his injury? What became of that?

There will always be the usual suspects on here that can see the club/board/coach doing no wrong but they look more and more silly as days go by.

The simple fact is that if Leeds were in our position and recruited like we did this off season, there would be plenty on here queueing up to have a right good laugh at them.