I know we shouldn't slag off signings before they even play, but surely we're in our right to voice our concerns, especially when we've all seen the named signings play many times over.
So what is our recruitment policy? Yes RL is a squad game, rotating players keeping them fresh for the playoffs/CC, covering for injured players and suspension is a must, but who are what are we signing?
Firstly we 'appear' to be going backward with our squad, we've lost quality over the past few years:
J Tomkins
Hoffman (although he was never staying over a season)
Finch
Lima
Tommy
Carmont
Fielden (was crocked most of the time)
Mossop
Richards
Poss Sam
ETC
And it truth the players we have bought in haven't been as good.
Looking at where we stand to do we're on the verge of losing Sam Tomkins and replacing him with Matty Bowen. Bowen is a class act with bags of experience to add to our backline, furthermore he's ending his NRL career playing very well... but at his age etc, is he a step backward from Sam? Yes. Another backward step from the club, was this move unavoidable? Many think not, many think as he's still contracted to Wigan so it is avoidable. Which ever way the black and white of it is; we're losing another quality player, our star.
Who else are we signing? Pettybourne.. the man may as well end the spelling of his name with a question mark after the season he's had in the NRL.
The two from London, unispiring, don't seem like worthy signings, so I revisit my original statement what is our recruitment policy?
This season, now the league is over, we can forget about the poor form over the last few games and look at where we're at, 80mins from the GL and CC holders-all in all, this looks pretty good.
But wouldn't it have been better to be able to rest our stars and still field a team which can win? Maybe this is were the likes of Clubb etc step in. Not a player to feature in the 13/17 when everyone is fit but to play a portion of the season to cover injuries and when players are rested/rotated, experience from the likes of Clubb etc could possibly gell with the younger up and coming players to get us wins in games against weaker teams allowing us to rest players from our select 13/17.
So what characteristics are we looking for in this type of player?
Experience, will play for a lower salary etc (Clubb fits the bill)
Abilty to cover a wide range of positions/low salary/SL experience (Sarginson fits the bill)
Maybe this is what the club are developing. In effect, we could field a team minus several first teamers and beat weaker teams.
First 13
Bowen
Briscoe (fingers crossed) Thornley Goulding Charnley
Green Smith
Flower MM Taylor
Hansen Faz
Lockers
----------------------------
Second team
Tierney
Manfredi Sarginson (Experienced) Gelling (SL Experienced) Burgess
Hampshire Powell
Powell (Experienced RUGBY player) Logan (SL Experienced) Dudson (SL Experienced)
Pettybourne (NRL Experienced) Hughes (SL Experienced
Clubb (SL Experienced player)
(Some of the younger lads also have already played a handful of games in the SL)
With other players being involved throughout the season and obviously on the bench.
This looks sound considering the structure of the season considering the CC and playoff structure, all of which fits under the SC.
My concern is the lack of class and quality, players who are good enough to help you win the big games in the finals v the likes of Leeds and Wire, we seem to have a lack of said players.
Today it's difficult to sign such quality from Aus, you either target the young exceptional talent, bascially on loan for a season or two offering them experience at a top level rather than playing Toyota Cup, also allowing them to grow up as they experience life in another country.
Or you almost take a punt on a player coming to the back end of his career hoping he still has enough in his tank to add the flair we need (Bowen).
IMO both options aren't solid.
Naturally theres Union to target, then the players will need time to get up to speed (Powell) and might not ever be good enough, again another risk.
So who should we be looking at? Possibly after our own development systems; we should look at the quality players in SL. Might be harder to take a Watkins from Leeds for example, but players move to and from clubs all the time in Aus.
We could look at this, especially players from lower league teams who want to move on to have the opportunity to win the finals or dare I say put themselves in a 'bigger shop window' at Wigan for the NRL.
Who potentially falls into the bracket?
Kirkmond
Carney
Clark
Collis
Eden
Lineham
Burns
Etc
And from the stars list:
Briscoe
Lomax
Hall
Watkins
Moon
Hardaker
Burrow (still looks great)
Roby
Atkins
Etc
Signing 1 from the stars list and 3 from the 'stars' of the lower brackett could really change the look of our first team, FOR EXAMPLE:
Bowen
Charnley Goulding WATKINS CARNEY
Smith Green
Flower McM Taylor
Hansen Faz
Lockers
------------------------------------
CLARK Dudson Powell KIRKMOND
It's now all a blancing act, developing a squad and having the players who have what it takes to win the big games and of course, keeping all this under the SC.
