The near future with Smith in charge? : Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:25 pm  

When a new coach comes in the rummours start of who is going where and who is coming in, who is out of favour and who has spat the dummy.

In trying to compare what team TS inherited at Leeds against what he has taken on at Warrington I have looked at the Leeds squad for 2002.
By 2002 Sinfield had the 13 shirt and Diskin the No 9 shirt but Burrows, Mcguire, Bailey JJB and Mathers out of the first 17 squad numbers.

Some of the signings he made were not NRL Galactico’s, Dunneman for example was no Darren Lockyer and to me was brought in on a one or two year deal as cover and help whilst the likes of Burrow grew into SL regulars. One thing I was impressed with was his use of dunneman and Burrow in rotation as a spare hooker. I feel that every halfback should play a couple of dozen games at Hooker get them used to dropping the big guys (I know Burrow has been knocked out a lot recently but he never backs down)
In a way there are lots of similarities to the Leeds squad in that there were quite a lot of young players that were semi established first teamers who almost overnight became big names.

Do we think that TS can turn the likes of Harrison, Cooper, Pickersgill into the new JJB, Bailey and co or Riley into the new Mathers?
(I know they are not the greatest comparisons but they did / do a decent job for Leeds) or can he unearth the new Burrow / McGuire

Also TS let go quite a number of players, do we expect a similar turnover in playing staff?

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:30 pm  

I can see a number of changes at Warrington, probably next year when contracts are up, id say maybe 4 or 5 will be allowed to go elsewhere.
Kevin Sinfield will take a fair wage so Smith needs to make cutbacks to be able to afford him under the cap.

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:39 pm  

Latchford Wolvesfan wrote:

I can see a number of changes at Warrington, probably next year when contracts are up, id say maybe 4 or 5 will be allowed to go elsewhere.
Kevin Sinfield will take a fair wage so Smith needs to make cutbacks to be able to afford him under the cap.

Do your sources confirm this is a done deal Latchy?

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:44 pm  

i'd prefer McGuire to Sinfield

personally

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:44 pm  

YED79 wrote:

i'd prefer McGuire to Sinfield

personally

I wouldn't.

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:49 pm  

Lefty wrote:

I wouldn't.

we don't need a loose forward

and McGuire is fantastic in his position we would then have a decent player in place of Briers

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:49 pm  

Ian [77] wrote:

Do your sources confirm this is a done deal Latchy?

Almost Ian, just tying up a few lose ends i believe.

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:52 pm  

Hope this is true, his goal kicking alone would be a massive bonus!

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:41 pm  

spot on it...I really cant remember the last time he missed a kick...he's as good as Frano Botica was for Wigan.....(except Sinfield can play rugby)

but on top of that superb Captain material.....

I feel slightly odd but I hope Latchfordwolves fan is right......

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:50 pm  

when we played leeds there was an interview with sinfield at the end, he said something like warrington rugby is ready to explode and he expects us to go on and with things, then he said, but hopefully not until ive retired, doesnt really give the impression that he's signing for us