Re: Who is still available? : Mon Nov 08, 2021 10:28 am  

ok so we went for Williams and failed, don't understand how that stops us signing any other half back ???

Williams contract was going to be the largest in the club's history, so from that I perceive that we have dosh in the budget left, unless signing Williams meant we would have had to let swathes of players go that we subsequently retained - unlikely IMO.

I really hope KR and Lenegan are trying to recruit in the Southern Hemisphere and the target is an out of favour experienced player or a starlet not getting the game time.

Re: Who is still available? : Mon Nov 08, 2021 10:32 am  

nikos wrote:

ok so we went for Williams and failed, don't understand how that stops us signing any other half back ???

Williams contract was going to be the largest in the club's history, so from that I perceive that we have dosh in the budget left, unless signing Williams meant we would have had to let swathes of players go that we subsequently retained - unlikely IMO.

It's not that simple tho.

There's two other considerations - salary cap space (we had dispensations for GW) and quota spots.

We might have the money to spend, but not the room on the cap for it. We also don't have any quota spots available, so can't just 'go out' and sign someone.

Re: Who is still available? : Mon Nov 08, 2021 10:49 am  

quota spots?

I know its wrong to assume, but you see other SL teams and they appear to have far more overseas players than us, some are packed with south sea islanders...

Re: Who is still available? : Mon Nov 08, 2021 11:12 am  

nikos wrote:

quota spots?

I know its wrong to assume, but you see other SL teams and they appear to have far more overseas players than us, some are packed with south sea islanders...

Well they don't, we have seven.

Re: Who is still available? : Mon Nov 08, 2021 11:15 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

I think it’s safe to assume we won’t be paying transfer fees, so you’re talking somebody like Norman or a team here doing a swap deal or releasing a player to free up cap space.

I try to be positive and I’m realistic in that doing deals for the sake of them isn’t the right thing to do (like going for Sneyd) but we’ve made an absolute mess of recruiting a halfback.

We have and that's all because the club cannot make tough decisions e.g. not giving Tommy another contract.

Re: Who is still available? : Mon Nov 08, 2021 11:25 am  

Sweaty Betty's wrote:

We have and that's all because the club cannot make tough decisions e.g. not giving Tommy another contract.

Undoubtedly we've made a mess of it, but I disagree with the Tommy thing point.

The club have backed themselves into such a corner (by putting all their eggs in the GW basket) that anyone of quality has been snapped up. The Tommy signing to me screams of a last min, rushed decision to have some kind of cover & not doing him a favour or not being able to make tough decisions.

I'm sure that, if we'd have gone for someone else (which we should have done) Tommy would have moved into coaching.

Re: Who is still available? : Mon Nov 08, 2021 11:31 am  

Sweaty Betty's wrote:

We have and that's all because the club cannot make tough decisions e.g. not giving Tommy another contract.

Was that the clubs choice or was it Tommy's choice i.e. the extra year was in his favour?

Re: Who is still available? : Mon Nov 08, 2021 12:38 pm  

nikos wrote:

quota spots?

I know its wrong to assume, but you see other SL teams and they appear to have far more overseas players than us, some are packed with south sea islanders...

With Clarke going we now comply with the overseas quota limit of 7, prior to that we were 1 over and administratively we wouldn’t have been able to register one of the players.

So even by losing Clarke we still don’t have any quota spots available.

It really does smack of very poor planning over the course of a number of years not just last year.

In my opinion someone should be made accountable for that, and maybe Lam has been but I’ve a feeling it’s down to decisions higher up the food chain than that and also one of the main reasons Wane is back at the club.

Re: Who is still available? : Mon Nov 08, 2021 1:00 pm  

With Smith, Field, TL and French able to play in the halves, I wonder whether half back is really the biggest area?

I reckon an experienced prop and a strike centre might be more valuable. I respect Powell but maybe even a 9 with a little more strike to accompany him.

Re: Who is still available? : Mon Nov 08, 2021 1:09 pm  

FearTheVee wrote:

With Smith, Field, TL and French able to play in the halves, I wonder whether half back is really the biggest area?

I reckon an experienced prop and a strike centre might be more valuable. I respect Powell but maybe even a 9 with a little more strike to accompany him.

It's really hard to judge tbh. A good HB and make or break a team.

I really like the idea of Bibby being given a shot at centre too. He was great for Salford there, but has been a winger for the majority of his time here.