Players : Sun Jan 29, 2023 4:38 pm  

We seem accidentally to have failed to recruit sufficient numbers for start of season. What we have looks OK but not enough depth. So inevitably late additions will come in. Poor planning, exacting standards or lack of interest in London from the RL community -who knows. However as we must be in the market for players, who of those we have mislaid in recent years would we take back and might realistically be interested.
I can see Jacob Jones not getting much of a look in at Leigh and he would be a good re-acquisition. However I think he comes from the Midlands so signing for a northern team rather than us may not give him a nose bleed. What about Boafo? Out for a long time but when he came back had both elusive, explosive pace and seemed robust in the tackle. I’d assume Newcastle was less of a draw now they are PT so he may be amenable.
Finally there is Rob Butler he was excellent for us but post Broncos things, from the outside, don’t appear to have gone so well. Would he be interested?

Re: Players : Sun Jan 29, 2023 9:23 pm  

BigTime wrote:

We seem accidentally to have failed to recruit sufficient numbers for start of season. What we have looks OK but not enough depth. So inevitably late additions will come in. Poor planning, exacting standards or lack of interest in London from the RL community -who knows. However as we must be in the market for players, who of those we have mislaid in recent years would we take back and might realistically be interested.
I can see Jacob Jones not getting much of a look in at Leigh and he would be a good re-acquisition. However I think he comes from the Midlands so signing for a northern team rather than us may not give him a nose bleed. What about Boafo? Out for a long time but when he came back had both elusive, explosive pace and seemed robust in the tackle. I’d assume Newcastle was less of a draw now they are PT so he may be amenable.
Finally there is Rob Butler he was excellent for us but post Broncos things, from the outside, don’t appear to have gone so well. Would he be interested?

Post Covid, it has become more obvious that employees put a huge emphasis on "working conditions" and not just renumeration. I would suggest that there's something "toxic" in the London camp and that through word of mouth in the pretty small talent pool that is RL players, the job isn't seen as worth the hassle.
Gone are the days where a mark McLinden, Luke Dorn or Denis Moran would jump at the chance to further their careers whilst playing in one of the greatest cities in the world.... now we are reduced to promoting kids who aren't ready for the task in hand in the "hope" that at least 2 other sides are worse than us and we don't get relegated.

Re: Players : Sun Jan 29, 2023 9:34 pm  

At the end of the day the club has failed to recruit enough players for the start of the season. It's all very well talking about needing the right 'fit' but most of these players would be on a one year contract. It's not like we are signing long term deals. Injuries are inevitable so relying on the first choice 17 being available every week is asking for trouble.

Re: Players : Sun Jan 29, 2023 10:40 pm  

jbuzza wrote:

At the end of the day the club has failed to recruit enough players for the start of the season. It's all very well talking about needing the right 'fit' but most of these players would be on a one year contract. It's not like we are signing long term deals. Injuries are inevitable so relying on the first choice 17 being available every week is asking for trouble.

Last year we basically forgot to retain any players or back room staff. This year we forgot to recruit players ....and back room staff ...and shirts .....and sponsors. What’s going to happen next year? Never a dull moment. Looking forward to seeing what happens next Sunday. Possibly playing in bibs.

Re: Players : Mon Jan 30, 2023 9:15 am  

BigTime wrote:

We seem accidentally to have failed to recruit sufficient numbers for start of season. What we have looks OK but not enough depth. So inevitably late additions will come in. Poor planning, exacting standards or lack of interest in London from the RL community -who knows. However as we must be in the market for players, who of those we have mislaid in recent years would we take back and might realistically be interested.
I can see Jacob Jones not getting much of a look in at Leigh and he would be a good re-acquisition. However I think he comes from the Midlands so signing for a northern team rather than us may not give him a nose bleed. What about Boafo? Out for a long time but when he came back had both elusive, explosive pace and seemed robust in the tackle. I’d assume Newcastle was less of a draw now they are PT so he may be amenable.
Finally there is Rob Butler he was excellent for us but post Broncos things, from the outside, don’t appear to have gone so well. Would he be interested?

Saw Jacob Ogden was released by York at the backend of last season. Probably more pressing areas of the squad to address than outside back but wouldn't have minded if we had been able to tempt him back. Was disappointed when he left as he seemed a decent prospect. I think he's a teacher at a school in Wakefield currently, so another one probably unwilling to head back down. Butler would be a good shout if we could work it, we are looking very light up front