Re: Junior! : Thu Sep 26, 2024 9:32 am  

SFW wrote:

That's a great bit of business. How big is this salary cap?

We've borrowed the model from Saints circa 2019-2023 of getting lads to sign up for the 'love of the club'. Some don't even get paid

In all seriousness though, we've signed nobody for 2025 and Hampshire, Cooper and Isa will leave. I also think we may well see Liam Byrne leave, which rumour seems to be suggesting could be the case.

Re: Junior! : Thu Sep 26, 2024 9:34 am  

MattyB wrote:

We've not yet seen who's leaving other than Hampshire. Rumours are both Isa and Cooper are to retire (along with Byrne potentially leaving). More than enough cap space there to give Nsemba & Eckersley improved extensions.

No suggestion as yet if we are signing anyone, do we really need to? Potentially the first season I can remember where we might not which is great planning by the club.

I think some new blood into the squad is always a good option and SC permitting I’m sure that the club would look to cover the second row if Isa was to retire. I think that we may also cover the Hampshire departure with a “project” signing.

Re: Junior! : Thu Sep 26, 2024 10:26 am  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

I think some new blood into the squad is always a good option and SC permitting I’m sure that the club would look to cover the second row if Isa was to retire. I think that we may also cover the Hampshire departure with a “project” signing.

Cooper, Isa, Rocky and Chan I would be comfortable to all see move on to manage the upgrades provided to retain the quality in the squad.

I would like to see the secondrow strengthened. I know Lucas Mason is well though of (just needs to make sure his old man doesn’t get too involved with guidance) however Faz isn’t going to go on forever and a secondrow to support that rotation of Faz, Nsemba and Walters would be the only addition I would think we may need.

The versatility of the squad is one of its key strengths which means we can really focus on quality over quantity as long as we keep feeding in young prospects.

All our props are pretty much modern middles able to play 13 except maybe Byrne and Dupree.

Walters and cover Prop.

Field can play 6 &1 as can French and also wing.

Eckersley can cover centre, wing and fullback.

Keighran can cover the halves.

Leeming can play in the halves.

Then we have the likes of Farrimond and Douglas as specialist backup.

It’s clearly a tactic to build a squad around versatility and quality which means we can really use the money available under the cap most successfully.

Re: Junior! : Thu Sep 26, 2024 11:47 am  

jonh wrote:

Cooper, Isa, Rocky and Chan I would be comfortable to all see move on to manage the upgrades provided to retain the quality in the squad.

I would like to see the secondrow strengthened. I know Lucas Mason is well though of (just needs to make sure his old man doesn’t get too involved with guidance) however Faz isn’t going to go on forever and a secondrow to support that rotation of Faz, Nsemba and Walters would be the only addition I would think we may need.

The versatility of the squad is one of its key strengths which means we can really focus on quality over quantity as long as we keep feeding in young prospects.

All our props are pretty much modern middles able to play 13 except maybe Byrne and Dupree.

Walters and cover Prop.

Field can play 6 &1 as can French and also wing.

Eckersley can cover centre, wing and fullback.

Keighran can cover the halves.

Leeming can play in the halves.

Then we have the likes of Farrimond and Douglas as specialist backup.

It’s clearly a tactic to build a squad around versatility and quality which means we can really use the money available under the cap most successfully.

Yeah agree with all of that Jon particularly your comment on Mason.
I was told a few weeks ago that we have signed a young HB from a rival team. The source is usually pretty sound so at this point I’m assuming that this is still potentially valid.
Have you heard anything about the young Bradford backrow forward Fulton being a target?

Re: Junior! : Thu Sep 26, 2024 12:09 pm  

So a couple of days ago there was a post on Facebook where a supporter coming out of the arena had seen laser writing on the South Stand wall showing 'JNR 2030' we all know what this has led to with the fantastic news of Junior's contract extension. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/nrerWJzuDY5kadG5/ EDIT - Seems the 'Danny W' message was just a test.

So a couple of days ago there was a post on Facebook where a supporter coming out of the arena had seen laser writing on the South Stand wall showing 'JNR 2030' we all know what this has led to with the fantastic news of Junior's contract extension. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/nrerWJzuDY5kadG5/ EDIT - Seems the 'Danny W' message was just a test.

Re: Junior! : Thu Feb 06, 2025 5:17 am  

Didn't want to start a new thread for this so have revived an old one.

Just watching an interview with Peet on The Sportsman Youtube channel (the season preview show for anybody interested) and he mentions that Junior is bigger this year than last.

Apparently he is 20kg heavier than he was this time last year, that's 3 stone He was already beasting everybody last year, and he still looks super fit in the pre season stuff so it seems to all be healthy weight, he is going to be an animal again this season if that is correct!

Re: Junior! : Thu Feb 06, 2025 7:34 am  

Was strange after the launch yesterday we was saying look at the size of JNR he made the other players look like little lads. When I watched the Sportsman interview with Matt it made me chuckle ….. just wait until he fills out!