Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 1:55 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

Yeah Thornley is more the problem there though IMO. We should be able to attract better than him as a starting centre.

Sooner have Gelling than Thornley.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 2:00 pm  

jonh wrote:

I really don’t think that is the case.

If we could maintain the quality but add some depth I think there would be no reason why we couldn’t win trophies.

The priority and the biggest factor in winning trophies or not is the ongoing issue upfront.

We will have to agree to disagree. A backline with French, Manfredi and Gildart is far more potent and creative. Now if you introduced the likes of Dufty and Davies into the equation then I could live with it.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 2:15 pm  

Sweaty Betty's wrote:

We will have to agree to disagree. A backline with French, Manfredi and Gildart is far more potent and creative. Now if you introduced the likes of Dufty and Davies into the equation then I could live with it.

A backline of French, Manfredi and Gildart is far more potent and creative than what?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 2:51 pm  

It all depends on who the extra/new HB or FB is going to be.

If we sign Williams, we could have one of French, Field or Zak at FB. If we miss out on him and move Field to 6 then we could have French at 1, or we could even sign a guy like Dufty to play there. French might go, or he might stay etc.

1- French
6 - Field
7 - Smith

1- French
6 - Williams
7 - Smith

1- Dufty
6 - Field
7 - Smith

1- Field
6 - Williams
7 - Smith

It's too soon to say "this back line" is better than that one etc. At this time, there's too many moving parts. I will say however that the other guys might not be "stars", but guys like Zak, Bibby and Thornley are good enough. They won't ever be embarrassed and I've seen them all outplay so called better players. Johnstone being a perfect example, Bibby has had him in his back pocket a couple of times.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 3:00 pm  

jonh wrote:

A backline of French, Manfredi and Gildart is far more potent and creative than what?

Not much when it's behind a pack getting hammered and rarely gets good ball.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 3:24 pm  

I don't think we should automatically grant Field a starting spot. He's unproven, should be first reserve for any injury/loss of form from 1-7 IMO.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 4:24 pm  

jonh wrote:

A backline of French, Manfredi and Gildart is far more potent and creative than what?

Than a backline including Bibby, Thornley and Hardaker.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 4:28 pm  

Egg Chasing wrote:

Not much when it's behind a pack getting hammered and rarely gets good ball.

Whichever way you look at it they are still better players. Behind a good pack they would be devastating. There is no way that Bibby and Thornley should be first choice threequarters at Wigan.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 6:09 pm  

Sweaty Betty's wrote:

Than a backline including Bibby, Thornley and Hardaker.

Is it better than a backline containing Isa, Farrell and Hanley?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 03, 2021 6:11 pm  

Sweaty Betty's wrote:

Whichever way you look at it they are still better players. Behind a good pack they would be devastating. There is no way that Bibby and Thornley should be first choice threequarters at Wigan.

Who says they will be? To be honest though I’ve no issue with Bibby getting a spot in a full strength backline.

Every year we have this mid season knee jerk about our squad for the following year.

It’s alright pressing the panic button but the point is you or I have no idea if they are being signed and in what role they are being recruited to play.