Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Apr 22, 2014 8:37 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

I'd have Burke in the 17 here if he were fit tbh. Jack Hughes hasn't done enough to warrent a place and Clubb is looking excellent when he plays at prop. There's a bench spot still open IMO and I'm a big fan of Burke. He's got a good workrate and looks a really steady player.

I'm not convinced about Burke (unless he moves up to prop) He isn't athletic enough IMO to play in the back row - no pace. Hughes is far more of an athlete but needs a lot of work on his basic skills - timing of the pass and when just to run. Time will tell.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Apr 22, 2014 8:52 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I'm not convinced about Burke (unless he moves up to prop) He isn't athletic enough IMO to play in the back row - no pace. Hughes is far more of an athlete but needs a lot of work on his basic skills - timing of the pass and when just to run. Time will tell.

I remember you saying your not convinced by Burke in the past and you certainly watch enough of these young lads to judge.

I must admit though I've always been impressed. He's got good hands, he's tough and a very solid back row option. He reminds me of an old fashioned second row although that may just be because he looks about 47!

As for Hughes he's a real athlete and I've always backed his corner but he's had an atrocious start to the year to follow up a poor one last year. I don't think his move in to the centres did him any favours though and it may just be a confidence issue. His handling really needs some work if he's to kick on IMO.

I'd love to merge Hughes and Burke in to one player!!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:07 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

I remember you saying your not convinced by Burke in the past and you certainly watch enough of these young lads to judge.

I must admit though I've always been impressed. He's got good hands, he's tough and a very solid back row option. He reminds me of an old fashioned second row although that may just be because he looks about 47!

As for Hughes he's a real athlete and I've always backed his corner but he's had an atrocious start to the year to follow up a poor one last year. I don't think his move in to the centres did him any favours though and it may just be a confidence issue. His handling really needs some work if he's to kick on IMO.

I'd love to merge Hughes and Burke in to one player!!

Amen to that.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:15 pm  

We're starting to work well again this year but the squad does need a bit of a 'springclean' so to speak.

Hughes, Dudson, James, Gelling, Lloyd and Murphy (barring a huge impact over the next few months) should all go.

There also seems to be a chance that some or all of Bowen, Charnley, Green and Taylor will go.

I don't think much recruitment is needed for the backline with Hampshire, Powell and Sarginson around. Although definitely wouldn't object to a bigger, stronger centre.

More size in the pack has to be the priority though. A second rower and a prop should do it - we need to get rid of some of the dead wood and replace with quality to fulfil the potential of the team.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:42 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

We're starting to work well again this year but the squad does need a bit of a 'springclean' so to speak.

Hughes, Dudson, James, Gelling, Lloyd and Murphy (barring a huge impact over the next few months) should all go.

There also seems to be a chance that some or all of Bowen, Charnley, Green and Taylor will go.

I don't think much recruitment is needed for the backline with Hampshire, Powell and Sarginson around. Although definitely wouldn't object to a bigger, stronger centre.

More size in the pack has to be the priority though. A second rower and a prop should do it - we need to get rid of some of the dead wood and replace with quality to fulfil the potential of the team.

I've been thinking along the same lines myself. The squad is fine as it is but I think we can tweak a few things by clearing out a few fringe players, moving youngsters up the line and signing exactly what you mention- a prop and a second rower.

I think we can afford to lose one of Bowen or Green next year but not both (I wouldn't be against keeping both if possible) and still not have to strengthen the back line due to the quality coming through and the versatility of one or two players. That is presuming we can keep Charnley which I'm not confident we will. I'd love to be wrong though and this be an off season where we shape our own plans rather then our hand being forced.

In an ideal world I think our ins and outs would look something like-

Outs-
Bowen (to make way for Hampshire and to free cap space)
Murphy
James (on to the coaching staff)
Dudson (not progressing at all)
L Tomkins (season long loan if possible due to Williams and Powell's form)


Ins
New prop
New second row
Greenwood and Sutton up the pecking order.

That would be our first positive off season in a little while IMO but we'll wait and see.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Apr 22, 2014 10:37 pm  

Lets go for Simon Mannering!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 23, 2014 3:18 am  

cherryandwhitedavid06 wrote:

Lets go for Simon Mannering!

Really? Every time i watch him i think he is overrated, mades good meters but then ruins it by making a mistake. There are a lot more 2nd rows in the NRL that i would pay big money to before Mannering. I would like to see Ikahihifo but that would never happen as he is the biggest junior to come through.

If Joel Tomkins is returning to super league he will becoming back to Wigan as we hold first refusal or a set contract i believe. Wonder how long it would take to get back up to speed.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 23, 2014 7:01 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

I've been thinking along the same lines myself. The squad is fine as it is but I think we can tweak a few things by clearing out a few fringe players, moving youngsters up the line and signing exactly what you mention- a prop and a second rower.

I think we can afford to lose one of Bowen or Green next year but not both (I wouldn't be against keeping both if possible) and still not have to strengthen the back line due to the quality coming through and the versatility of one or two players. That is presuming we can keep Charnley which I'm not confident we will. I'd love to be wrong though and this be an off season where we shape our own plans rather then our hand being forced.

In an ideal world I think our ins and outs would look something like-

Outs-
Bowen (to make way for Hampshire and to free cap space)
Murphy
James (on to the coaching staff)
Dudson (not progressing at all)
L Tomkins (season long loan if possible due to Williams and Powell's form)


Ins
New prop
New second row
Greenwood and Sutton up the pecking order.

That would be our first positive off season in a little while IMO but we'll wait and see.

As it stands I'd be quite tempted to add Hughes to the Outs list, he's another one who's shown very little progression over the last couple of seasons despite over 50 first team apperances, and I think there's a strong possibility that Green will go. I don't think that would be too much of a disasterous off season as long as the likes of Charnley, Taylor, Farrell and McIlorum are still here (and Wane!)

A spine of:

FB - Hampshire
SO - Powell
SH - Smith
H - McIlorum
LF - O'Loughlin

INT - Williams/L Tomkins

would be pretty exciting to see.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 23, 2014 7:10 am  

WARRIORCRAIG wrote:

As it stands I'd be quite tempted to add Hughes to the Outs list, he's another one who's shown very little progression over the last couple of seasons despite over 50 first team apperances, and I think there's a strong possibility that Green will go. I don't think that would be too much of a disasterous off season as long as the likes of Charnley, Taylor, Farrell and McIlorum are still here (and Wane!)

A spine of:

FB - Hampshire
SO - Powell
SH - Smith
H - McIlorum
LF - O'Loughlin

INT - Williams/L Tomkins

would be pretty exciting to see.

I did have Hughes in the outs column as a loan deal but deleted him. I just hope he wakes up before people who matter decide to put him on their list for shipping out. He's got a lot of talent but he's just drifting along IMO and looks like he needs a kick up the backside. I'd have expected more from him after his spell at Leigh last year but aside from playing a blinder for the England Knights I've not seen him have a good game for a long time.

There's just something about him though that'd make me reluctant to let him go permanently.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 23, 2014 7:37 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

I did have Hughes in the outs column as a loan deal but deleted him. I just hope he wakes up before people who matter decide to put him on their list for shipping out. He's got a lot of talent but he's just drifting along IMO and looks like he needs a kick up the backside. I'd have expected more from him after his spell at Leigh last year but aside from playing a blinder for the England Knights I've not seen him have a good game for a long time.

There's just something about him though that'd make me reluctant to let him go permanently.

He's got all the physical attributes, he's a decent defender and he runs very good lines in attack, but his basic ball skills need to improve. He always looks like he's got an error in him and he often makes the wrong decision whether to pass or keep hold if he makes a break.

A top quality 2nd rower is definitely a priority for next season. Can't see Joel coming back anytime soon although that would be ideal.