Re: Rumours 2 : Sun Dec 01, 2019 4:09 pm  

MorePlaymakersNeeded wrote:

Moaning or not, I believe our pack is in need of a Prop or two. We've been back row heavy for a while now, and we are where we are because of some poor recruiting.

Take SHW's point with the salary cap, hence we cannot attract a prop with what we have left. However, we've had too many back rows on the books which hasn't helped in the last couple of years.

If we didn't have much salary cap space left why were we talking to tetevano? He would've commanded a very big wage. Whatever we offered to him we should be using to lure watts from cas.

Re: Rumours 2 : Sun Dec 01, 2019 5:13 pm  

rubber duckie wrote:

I did say Listone is waiting for visa clearance.
We was in for Prior but got gazumped

I'm not sure the Lisone rumour is real, he's already started training with the Warriors and looks relaxed and chilled out with where he is and what he's doing.
You never know Kibula could become the Prop we need and Eribe could step up you never know?
I think Widdop will be a big game changer for us next year, threats on both sides of the field now so teams can't just target Austin as if they do that Widdop will run Havoc and vice versa with Austin.
I Genuinely think Currie will find his form again next year, he's had a full season and a good 4 weeks off and has started pre-season i think he'll be refreshed and mentally recharged fingers crossed.
I've been caught up with the whole new prop situation for so long i've forgotten how good our squad actually is looking at it.
I re-read through some of the previous threads and someone said we've lost depth in the forwards rather than being weaker and that rings true.
BMM looks like he'll be an animal for us, Daz clark is awesome as always,Philbin will keep kicking ass, and i have my fingers crossed Gelling and Lineham will kick ass together, looking at us fully for next year i'm Quite excited and if we we do find a new forward than that's just an added bonus

Re: Rumours 2 : Sun Dec 01, 2019 7:44 pm  

Don't hey me wrong OT.
That team will walk all over SL....providing the depth of prop doesn't become an issue....Copper not get silly and earn a series of sidelines.

Re: Rumours 2 : Sun Dec 01, 2019 7:53 pm  

Or thane wrote:

You never know Kibula could become the Prop we need and Eribe could step up you never know?

1. Wigan rarely get rid of top talent.
2. Eribe hasnt got a place in the squad.

If our hopes are resting on those two its going to be a long season.

Re: Rumours 2 : Mon Dec 02, 2019 10:51 am  

My preferred starting 17 for 2020 would probably be:

(I've also listed the remaining squad players to show depth in each position).

1. Ratchford
2. Charnley
3. Gelling
4. King
5. Lineham
6. Austin
7. Widdop
8. Hill
9. Clark
10. Cooper
11. Currie
12. BMM
13. Hughes

14. Sita
15. Philbin
16. Clark
17. Davis

Cover:

Full Back: Mamo; Ashton; Thewlis
Wing: Mamo; Ashton; Brand; Thewlis
Centre: Brand; Burrell; Mamo; Roebuck
Half back: Patton; Dean
Prop: Kibula.......
Hooker: Walker; Davis
Back Row: Luis Johnson; Ellis Robson

I dont think there is too much wrong with the starting 13, centre still doesn't look great to me, but hopefully if they can run decent lines for Austin & Widdop we should do well. Philbin on the bench is good the rest are a little underwhelming, Sita really needs to step up and perform for 40 mins a game.

Cover from 1 - 7 & 9 looks good, the rest looks concerning, unless Kibula at prop and Luis Johnson & Robson in the back row can look the part - the lack of depth for me is the main issue. We need a prop but it seems pretty obvious that prop isn't going to be the pack leader we wanted. To challenge for silverwear we need Hill, Cooper & Philbin to be much better than 2019, I'm not sure Hill still has it in him to get the form back of a few years ago, Cooper has shown he is at his best when he is looking for the offload so will depend on our game plan. Philbin should keep improving.

I'd leave it now, let the season start and see what happens over the season, you never know who will become available.

Re: Rumours 2 : Mon Dec 02, 2019 11:14 am  

Moe syslak wrote:

If we didn't have much salary cap space left why were we talking to tetevano? He would've commanded a very big wage. Whatever we offered to him we should be using to lure watts from cas.

Good question, to which I don't know the answer, and can only list a few possibilities.

a) We either had cap space all along (and therefore assume we still do).

b) We were going to release somebody early from their contract (if that's possible).

c) The salary cap doesn't apply to us, so it doesn't matter.

d) We can have more than two marquee spots, as that rule doesn't apply to us, either.

Re: Rumours 2 : Mon Dec 02, 2019 11:29 am  

Alffi_7 wrote:

My preferred starting 17 for 2020 would probably be:

(I've also listed the remaining squad players to show depth in each position).

1. Ratchford
2. Charnley
3. Gelling
4. King
5. Lineham
6. Austin
7. Widdop
8. Hill
9. Clark
10. Cooper
11. Currie
12. BMM
13. Hughes

14. Sita
15. Philbin
16. Clark
17. Davis

Cover:

Full Back: Mamo; Ashton; Thewlis
Wing: Mamo; Ashton; Brand; Thewlis
Centre: Brand; Burrell; Mamo; Roebuck
Half back: Patton; Dean
Prop: Kibula.......
Hooker: Walker; Davis
Back Row: Luis Johnson; Ellis Robson

I dont think there is too much wrong with the starting 13, centre still doesn't look great to me, but hopefully if they can run decent lines for Austin & Widdop we should do well. Philbin on the bench is good the rest are a little underwhelming, Sita really needs to step up and perform for 40 mins a game.

Cover from 1 - 7 & 9 looks good, the rest looks concerning, unless Kibula at prop and Luis Johnson & Robson in the back row can look the part - the lack of depth for me is the main issue. We need a prop but it seems pretty obvious that prop isn't going to be the pack leader we wanted. To challenge for silverwear we need Hill, Cooper & Philbin to be much better than 2019, I'm not sure Hill still has it in him to get the form back of a few years ago, Cooper has shown he is at his best when he is looking for the offload so will depend on our game plan. Philbin should keep improving.

I'd leave it now, let the season start and see what happens over the season, you never know who will become available.

Team looks okay with me.

Re: Rumours 2 : Mon Dec 02, 2019 12:27 pm  

Alffi_7 wrote:

My preferred starting 17 for 2020 would probably be:

(I've also listed the remaining squad players to show depth in each position).

1. Ratchford
2. Charnley
3. Gelling
4. King
5. Lineham
6. Austin
7. Widdop
8. Hill
9. Clark
10. Cooper
11. Currie
12. BMM
13. Hughes

14. Sita
15. Philbin
16. Clark
17. Davis

Cover:

Full Back: Mamo; Ashton; Thewlis
Wing: Mamo; Ashton; Brand; Thewlis
Centre: Brand; Burrell; Mamo; Roebuck
Half back: Patton; Dean
Prop: Kibula.......
Hooker: Walker; Davis
Back Row: Luis Johnson; Ellis Robson

I dont think there is too much wrong with the starting 13, centre still doesn't look great to me, but hopefully if they can run decent lines for Austin & Widdop we should do well. Philbin on the bench is good the rest are a little underwhelming, Sita really needs to step up and perform for 40 mins a game.

Cover from 1 - 7 & 9 looks good, the rest looks concerning, unless Kibula at prop and Luis Johnson & Robson in the back row can look the part - the lack of depth for me is the main issue. We need a prop but it seems pretty obvious that prop isn't going to be the pack leader we wanted. To challenge for silverwear we need Hill, Cooper & Philbin to be much better than 2019, I'm not sure Hill still has it in him to get the form back of a few years ago, Cooper has shown he is at his best when he is looking for the offload so will depend on our game plan. Philbin should keep improving.

I'd leave it now, let the season start and see what happens over the season, you never know who will become available.

I've put in bold the 2 changes from the 2019 starting XVII. Is it enough?

Re: Rumours 2 : Mon Dec 02, 2019 12:49 pm  

Wires71 wrote:

I've put in bold the 2 changes from the 2019 starting XVII. Is it enough?

If we'd signed a proper centre and a prop then maybe. but currently, no. I think we're going to be given a severe spanking in th first half of the season. Mid table at best and out the cup in the quarter finals if we draw a top 5 team.

Re: Rumours 2 : Mon Dec 02, 2019 1:07 pm  

Wires71 wrote:

I've put in bold the 2 changes from the 2019 starting XVII. Is it enough?

Gelling is a step back, Widdop is obviously a massive step forward, and his influence will be huge for us, his passing game, kicking game, running game and organisation will be so far ahead of Patton there's no comparison.

We were cruising second in the first half of last season, I don't agree with some on here that massive changes are needed, Price needs to get a hold of the squad, and play a style of rugby that suits the team and the competition.

I'm hoping BMM and Currie can be massive positives on last season, but then I said the same this time last year.

I don't think it's enough to win the comp, we needed a top prop signing for that, but its good enough to be challenging on all fronts, which is what I expect.