Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 12:27 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

If Hampshire, Thornley and Cust go, I do think we'll need a signing, just to offer that cover. Due to how versatile Keighran, Field and French are, it won't really matter which position any back signing played in. If you're looking around at available options there are a few that stand out. We would need to pay for Dagger I think but Deon Cross and Jack Walker are out of contract and Bayley Hodgson has been released by Newcastle Knights (maybe a bit young though to call him experienced cover). I'd be happy to just keep Hampshire but if he does go, one of those guys could do a job for us.

We’ve effectively replaced Cust but if either Hampshire or Thornley are not retained then we would need to replace them.
Cross would be a decent signing but he’d have to accept that he would only probably get a place if there were injuries or suspensions. Not sure if that go well with a current first team player.
I would rate any of our academy or reserve players better than Walker.
Not sure on Dagger and personally I’ve never heard of Hodgson.

It will be interesting to see what would happen if Isa, Powell and Mago are not retained. It wouldn’t surprise me if Smithies departs sooner rather than later to the nrl.

Interesting times.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 12:50 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

We’ve effectively replaced Cust but if either Hampshire or Thornley are not retained then we would need to replace them.
Cross would be a decent signing but he’d have to accept that he would only probably get a place if there were injuries or suspensions. Not sure if that go well with a current first team player.
I would rate any of our academy or reserve players better than Walker.
Not sure on Dagger and personally I’ve never heard of Hodgson.

It will be interesting to see what would happen if Isa, Powell and Mago are not retained. It wouldn’t surprise me if Smithies departs sooner rather than later to the nrl.

Interesting times.

Eckersley needs to replace Thornley in the squad.

I don’t really think we have replaced Cust. I’d argue we have replaced Powell (even though it’s not yet confirmed he is going).

If Hampshire stays he replaces the role Cust plays as first voice back up half, if he goes I think he need someone in to cover that role.

Isa also needs to be replaced in my opinion.

Next year we have Walters, Nsemba, Faz as specialist secondrows with utility cover from Shorocks. At the moment that for me is the key position to strengthen.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 1:36 pm  

bazdev wrote:

If Wigan go anywhere near Jack Walker somebody in the recruitment team needs sacking. One of the worst players I've ever seen. Hull kr couldn't get rid quick enough. He's abysmal

He's had 2 or 3 really poor years, affected by injury and a loss of form/confidence after initially bursting on to the scene and looking like an exceptional talent. He's played well for them in recent weeks though and we'd be talking about him as out and out back up. I'd rather keep Hampshire myself but if he goes and Cust/Thornley follow, it wouldn't be the worst pick up in the world, even if it is just to shield some of the young backs from being over played.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 1:44 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

We’ve effectively replaced Cust but if either Hampshire or Thornley are not retained then we would need to replace them.
Cross would be a decent signing but he’d have to accept that he would only probably get a place if there were injuries or suspensions. Not sure if that go well with a current first team player.
I would rate any of our academy or reserve players better than Walker.
Not sure on Dagger and personally I’ve never heard of Hodgson.

It will be interesting to see what would happen if Isa, Powell and Mago are not retained. It wouldn’t surprise me if Smithies departs sooner rather than later to the nrl.

Interesting times.

A players ambition to be a starter could be a stumbling block to any signing in the backs. You would clearly be recruiting for a position as 1st, 2nd or even 3rd choice back up (potentially behind Eckersley at least) and getting a Deon Cross to accept that could be tough, much in the same way Hampshire might not want to accept that going forward. I think you'd have more chance of Jack Walker accepting that sort of deal or Bayley Hodgson (he's Josh Hodgson's nephew I believe and has been playing NSW cup for the last couple of years but he's very young himself).

Names you throw around for that sort of role aren't going to be everyone's tastes but I do think we will need somebody to come in if we strip out any experienced back up we currently have (Hampshire, Thornley and Cust). I'm with Jonh though in that our first priority needs to be a new second rower. I fancy Walters in the middle more than second row and Nsemba isn't ready to be a starter. Shorrocks isn't good enough in that position to be a starter here IMO.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 1:49 pm  

We can scrap Jack Walker anyway (I can hear the cheers..ha) as he's just signed for Hull FC.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 3:36 pm  

Don’t watch much championship rugby but could there not be a decent player in that league that could do a job in the current squad if called upon and be willing to play the Thornley/Hampshire role if they’re leaving?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 3:39 pm  

If we are looking for a utility I’m guessing the rumoured “game changing” potential signing could be an excellent addition covering several positions in the backs and forwards including 12, 13, 6 and centre.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 5:14 pm  

jonh wrote:

If we are looking for a utility I’m guessing the rumoured “game changing” potential signing could be an excellent addition covering several positions in the backs and forwards including 12, 13, 6 and centre.

There aren’t many players who can do that.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 6:01 pm  

jonh wrote:

If we are looking for a utility I’m guessing the rumoured “game changing” potential signing could be an excellent addition covering several positions in the backs and forwards including 12, 13, 6 and centre.

I don’t know of any player who could cover such a broad role. Andy Farrell and Paul Sculthorpe historically could play in those roles but I can’t think of one currently. At a push Owen Farrell could cover all of them except SR but age and lack of any first experience in RL I think would preclude him.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Sep 07, 2023 6:06 pm  

jonh wrote:

If we are looking for a utility I’m guessing the rumoured “game changing” potential signing could be an excellent addition covering several positions in the backs and forwards including 12, 13, 6 and centre.

Owen Farrell