: Fri Jun 26, 2009 10:05 am  

Cruncher wrote:

Agreed. We don't need Bailey. His age and his nationality are against him. I just hope this, along with the Hock fiasco, doesn't change the dynamic of our recruitment policy and means we now start looking for a second row instead of a prop or half. We've got the back-row covered among our own ranks already.

If a top draw second rower becomes available to us then i'd persue the interest but i hope the club doesn't go out of it's way looking for one.

Prop

Halfback

Second row or 2nd prop

should be what we're looking for and in that order.

: Fri Jun 26, 2009 10:25 am  

Not sorry to see Bailey go, hope he had a good time at Wigan.

: Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:13 pm  

SiY wrote:

I'm just bit worried about losing someone who appears to have experience a level head and probably commands respect in the changing room.

Granted he probably isn't worth the quota spot and i don't know his wages but if his replacement is another youngster, we'll soon be lacking experience and be a step further away from getting back the culture of the club as we have little players with experience to guide these new academy players.

By the looks of it in the next 2 years we could have Tomkins, Ainscough, Flanagan, Farrel, Mossop, Thornley and Davis either in the first team or pushing the bench spot. Thats a lot of inexperience. It's vital one of our next signings will be able to settle the changing room and guide these players from young lads playing rugby into professional sportsmen.

We need a player like Pongia, C.Smith or Lammy someone to really focus them and keep them from thinking that they have "made it". A new coach may be able to help but i think we need a player to do that.

I honestly believe O'Loughlin will be able to do this but another player to help wouldn't hurt.

It's a fair point but I think the two new signings we will make will be experienced players and with putting so many young players in the first team I have no doubt we will see the rewards of that in years to come as saints and leeds have.

: Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:39 pm  

cant we tempt mr fletcher out of retirement?

: Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:46 pm  

[Gareth] wrote:

cant we tempt mr fletcher out of retirement?

His type of forward would be perfect for us imo after we've signed an out and out prop.

Nathan Hindmarsh was meant to have turned us down a couple of months back and thats a shame because he'd have been a player that really could have helped us. He's get great experience, is a leader and never shirks a challenge aswell as being able to cover at prop if needs be.

Shame.

: Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:53 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

His type of forward would be perfect for us imo after we've signed an out and out prop.

Nathan Hindmarsh was meant to have turned us down a couple of months back and thats a shame because he'd have been a player that really could have helped us. He's get great experience, is a leader and never shirks a challenge aswell as being able to cover at prop if needs be.

Shame.

imo, theres only 1 player we need to bring into the pack and thats Steve Price

: Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:55 pm  

[Gareth] wrote:

imo, theres only 1 player we need to bring into the pack and thats Steve Price

That is just unrealistic if you ask me.

: Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:58 pm  

odemwingie wrote:

That is just unrealistic if you ask me.

ive no doubt but for 1 season hed put fear into everyone he played against, lead and inspire the team and be a great mentor for o'barrell and prescott

rl : Fri Jun 26, 2009 1:13 pm  

This season we've had an underpowered pack which had in it players like,
Fielden, Coley, Feka, Prescott & O'Carroll as our props. That front row has been second best in too many games and that's why we've won so few. We very obviously needed another big powerful prop and this need was identified well prior to the start of the season. He never arrived.
Noble will have identified the men he wanted so why haven't they been signed? It seems we've signed in every position but where the priority lay, prop forward.
Coley is OOC and it looks like Bailey will be leaving, after Tuesday we may well have lost Gaz Hock. That is a lot of experience and skill which won't be around next year.
We still need one prop for this year, if Coley goes we need two for 2010.
Should neither Hock & Bailey be here next year we need an experienced 2nd row to complement the younger player/s who may come in. Surely we'll go for a player such as Puletua, Fakir or Lauatiti. We need the type of bulk, power and skill that those guys provide.
So at the moment it looks like we will need two props, an experienced 2nd row with a younger player coming into the squad, perhaps Flanagan, Farrell or Mossop. Then of course there's the quality half back that is also a priority.
IL & BN have their work cut out finding that lot. Money and quota spots may well not be the problem, finding the right player could be difficult.

Re: rl : Fri Jun 26, 2009 1:34 pm  

Father Ted wrote:

This season we've had an underpowered pack which had in it players like,
Fielden, Coley, Feka, Prescott & O'Carroll as our props. That front row has been second best in too many games and that's why we've won so few. We very obviously needed another big powerful prop and this need was identified well prior to the start of the season. He never arrived.
Noble will have identified the men he wanted so why haven't they been signed? It seems we've signed in every position but where the priority lay, prop forward.
Coley is OOC and it looks like Bailey will be leaving, after Tuesday we may well have lost Gaz Hock. That is a lot of experience and skill which won't be around next year.
We still need one prop for this year, if Coley goes we need two for 2010.
Should neither Hock & Bailey be here next year we need an experienced 2nd row to complement the younger player/s who may come in. Surely we'll go for a player such as Puletua, Fakir or Lauatiti. We need the type of bulk, power and skill that those guys provide.
So at the moment it looks like we will need two props, an experienced 2nd row with a younger player coming into the squad, perhaps Flanagan, Farrell or Mossop. Then of course there's the quality half back that is also a priority.
IL & BN have their work cut out finding that lot. Money and quota spots may well not be the problem, finding the right player could be difficult.

Like you say it comes down to who we let go and who retain, personally would definitely let Bailey go, as for Coley I'm unsure it really depends who we can bring in, there's no point replacing like with like.
If Lenegan and the future coach get a plan together, at the end of this season and next will give us the ability to completely restructure are pack, particlaraly the frontrow.

It's definitley a fine line to balance, especially when were still in need of a halfback, and the number of halfbacks available are dwindling by the day.