Re: Planning for next season : Sat Aug 24, 2024 12:29 am  

If we are looking for a winger, what about Jon Bennison at Saints. He’s out of contract at end of season. What I have seen of him, he looked quite handy and he can play full back if necessary. What are your thoughts Leythers.

Re: Planning for next season : Mon Aug 26, 2024 6:41 am  

Leyther in nz wrote:

If we are looking for a winger, what about Jon Bennison at Saints. He’s out of contract at end of season. What I have seen of him, he looked quite handy and he can play full back if necessary. What are your thoughts Leythers.

I would certainly have a punt on him. He's young, fast and probably won't cost us much in terms of cap space.

Re: Planning for next season : Mon Aug 26, 2024 9:25 am  

Snowy wrote:

Would not surprise me if Rhys Martin has signed for us.

It would surprise me…

Re: Planning for next season : Mon Aug 26, 2024 1:46 pm  

jason b wrote:

I would certainly have a punt on him. He's young, fast and probably won't cost us much in terms of cap space.

sooner have a class centre to feed hanley

Re: Planning for next season : Mon Aug 26, 2024 9:08 pm  

On the centre position I think that we are already covered. Lammy has made it quite clear that he sees Hanley as one of our current first team centres - not a winger. He is repeatedly saying how well both he and McIntosh play well together on our right edge.

We have reportedly signed for next season Tesi Nui who is a centre who plays wing.

Bailey Hodgson, who we not yet seen play, covers full back and wing and whom the club made a great deal of play of in the announcement of his signing that he also plays centre.

Add to the above Keanan Brand who never puts a foot wrong - apart from his comical howler at Barrow 2 seasons ago. Lammy always makes a point of singing his praises and clearly rates him.

I make that 4 centres for next season

To use 2 quota spots on centres sounds a bit wasteful and I don't think is going to happen. There could of course be an announcement of another British qualified centre signing but it seems likely that the remaining available overseas quota spots are going elsewhere in the team. The consensus appears to be both a number 13 and a second rower, one of whom I am really hoping for will be Issac Liu. The Iceman cometh - I hope.

Re: Planning for next season : Tue Aug 27, 2024 9:42 am  

Snowy wrote:

Would not surprise me if Rhys Martin has signed for us.

Pretty much a done deal at KR. That's why they are releasing Opacic.

They seem to have a knack for getting out of contracts with overseas players, they managed to get rid of Rhys Kennedy last year, despite him having a contract for this season, so they could sign Tanginoa.

Re: Planning for next season : Wed Aug 28, 2024 1:15 pm  

I’d be keeping an eye on the Wigan situation they are reportedly having cap issues for next year with all the youngsters upgrading.
I’d definitely be looking at one of their young British props like Liam Byrne however Salford always seem to pick their players up, apparently Zak Eckersley may need to make way and he’s a class out and out young British centre. Id also enquire about Taiki Chan as a wide running back row, he seems to have fallen out of favour and is young, none quota and a big strong runner being used as a prop. I really hope we stock up on props we always seem to be too lean on that area and they win you games.

Re: Planning for next season : Wed Aug 28, 2024 1:36 pm  

Binosh wrote:

I’d be keeping an eye on the Wigan situation they are reportedly having cap issues for next year with all the youngsters upgrading.
I’d definitely be looking at one of their young British props like Liam Byrne however Salford always seem to pick their players up, apparently Zak Eckersley may need to make way and he’s a class out and out young British centre. Id also enquire about Taiki Chan as a wide running back row, he seems to have fallen out of favour and is young, none quota and a big strong runner being used as a prop. I really hope we stock up on props we always seem to be too lean on that area and they win you games.

We seem to have decided on Niu as the Leutele replacement. If Eckersley was going to be available, I'd much rather have him and use a quota spot on another prop. Be surprised if he wasn't at Wigan next year though.

Re: Planning for next season : Wed Aug 28, 2024 4:24 pm  

From what I've seen of Taiki Chan I've not been overly excited.

Liam Byrne always struck me as someone who ran out of gas far too quickly, but then again I formed that opinion while watching him and Mulhern playing for Ireland and I thought the same about Robbie, so who knows what wonders our team can work.

Re: Planning for next season : Wed Aug 28, 2024 7:17 pm  

Does anyone have any up to date info on the IMG grading, some slight rule changes today, or atleast announced today, likely the club has known for some time.
Like what position are we likely to be in, Derek seems 100% confident some 11 months ago but been quiet on journalists and anyone of note since on any updates