Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 19, 2021 8:04 am  

[Gareth] wrote:

Id be happy to have in the squad on a 'prove your fit' 1 year deal

Agree.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 19, 2021 8:22 am  

If the pieces fall in to place with George Burgess then I’d certainly be happy to take the punt. This is a guy who when fit was one of the best props in the world. He won’t reach that level again but if they do an unbelievably thorough medical and get him on a short term deal on low money then go for it.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 19, 2021 8:39 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

If the pieces fall in to place with George Burgess then I’d certainly be happy to take the punt. This is a guy who when fit was one of the best props in the world. He won’t reach that level again but if they do an unbelievably thorough medical and get him on a short term deal on low money then go for it.

Agreed.

Under the right circumstances ie both recruitment and medically I’d be comfortable to take a punt on a 1 year deal or maybe 2 year with second in our favour.

Andy Murray may not have the same weight to carry but his recovery at 5 years older than GB in a sport that required significantly more dynamic movement particularly laterally shows what is possible.

It’s all ifs buts and maybes but I wouldn’t be against it assuming our due diligence was bang on this time round and the salary reflected the risk.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 19, 2021 8:43 am  

jonh wrote: Agreed. Under the right circumstances ie both recruitment and medically I’d be comfortable to take a punt on a 1 year deal or maybe 2 year with second in our favour. Andy Murray may not have the same weight to carry but his recovery at 5 years older than GB in a sport that required significantly more dynamic movement particularly laterally shows what is possible. It’s all ifs buts and maybes but I wouldn’t be against it assuming our due diligence was bang on this time round and the salary reflected the risk. Seán O'Brien in RU had a similar operation and he's been in great form. He's also a couple of years older than GB too. I'd anyone is interested, here's an interview he did about it https://punditarena.com/rugby/eoin-harte/constantly-pain-sean-obrien-hip-injury/ Not set in stone that GB will return, but there's positive stories out there of elite level players coming back.

jonh wrote: Agreed. Under the right circumstances ie both recruitment and medically I’d be comfortable to take a punt on a 1 year deal or maybe 2 year with second in our favour. Andy Murray may not have the same weight to carry but his recovery at 5 years older than GB in a sport that required significantly more dynamic movement particularly laterally shows what is possible. It’s all ifs buts and maybes but I wouldn’t be against it assuming our due diligence was bang on this time round and the salary reflected the risk. Seán O'Brien in RU had a similar operation and he's been in great form. He's also a couple of years older than GB too. I'd anyone is interested, here's an interview he did about it https://punditarena.com/rugby/eoin-harte/constantly-pain-sean-obrien-hip-injury/ Not set in stone that GB will return, but there's positive stories out there of elite level players coming back.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 19, 2021 8:51 am  

I think Burgess will have "something to prove" to the fans, the club and more importantly to himself. I know it's a big risk but if the terms are correct then it's probably a risk worth taking. However as Jonh has said it has to be alongside probably another two props and at least one centre.
If Isa goes to America with his partner then that should also free up some more cap space. Interesting times ahead, lots of clubs on the lookout for players.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 19, 2021 9:04 am  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I think Burgess will have "something to prove" to the fans, the club and more importantly to himself. I know it's a big risk but if the terms are correct then it's probably a risk worth taking. However as Jonh has said it has to be alongside probably another two props and at least one centre.
If Isa goes to America with his partner then that should also free up some more cap space. Interesting times ahead, lots of clubs on the lookout for players.

You heard anything on Isa? I must admit when I saw his missus had signed for an American club, I put 2 and 2 together with this new league that’s been set up and presumed he’ll probably end up there but it’s a total guess. I’d like to keep him but with Bateman and Farrell locked down and Smithies, Partington and Shorrocks developing nicely it wouldn’t be the end of the world, especially as it moves KPP and McDonnell up the pecking order and frees up space to readdress the quality/experience balance in the front row.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 19, 2021 9:13 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

If the pieces fall in to place with George Burgess then I’d certainly be happy to take the punt. This is a guy who when fit was one of the best props in the world. He won’t reach that level again but if they do an unbelievably thorough medical and get him on a short term deal on low money then go for it.

I would agree with that. One year max on affordable wages.

If it were to happen, let’s hope the ‘medical team’ aren’t the same ones who assessed him the first time. Something was seriously wrong there and us fans have never had a transparent explanation as to what actually happened. A fit and firing George Burgess last season and we win the Grand Final. Other than heartache for both George and the supporters, that was the true cost to the club.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 19, 2021 9:23 am  

Does seem a bit weird that we have (allegedly) one of the best doctors in world rugby that misdiagnosed Burgess' problem, even though it was widely known and publicised by Burgess himself that he had an 'arthritic hip'.

Back on our current "middles". Phenomenal performance from our incredibly mobile and skillful forwards on Monday against a truly World Class pack from Leigh:
Clark - 7 carries, 50m, 0 busts, 0 offloads
Singleton - 6 carries, 42m, 2 busts, 0 offloads
Partington - 5 carries, 30m, 0 busts, 0 offloads
Byrne - 9 carries, 62m, 0 busts, 0 offloads
Smithies - 6 carries, 47m, 0 busts, 0 offloads
Havard - 13 carries, 95m, 0 busts, 0 offloads

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 19, 2021 9:47 am  

Wigg'n wrote:

Does seem a bit weird that we have (allegedly) one of the best doctors in world rugby that misdiagnosed Burgess' problem, even though it was widely known and publicised by Burgess himself that he had an 'arthritic hip'.

Back on our current "middles". Phenomenal performance from our incredibly mobile and skillful forwards on Monday against a truly World Class pack from Leigh:
Clark - 7 carries, 50m, 0 busts, 0 offloads
Singleton - 6 carries, 42m, 2 busts, 0 offloads
Partington - 5 carries, 30m, 0 busts, 0 offloads
Byrne - 9 carries, 62m, 0 busts, 0 offloads
Smithies - 6 carries, 47m, 0 busts, 0 offloads
Havard - 13 carries, 95m, 0 busts, 0 offloads

How many metres did the Leigh pack make? What about the contributions from the backs and 2nd row?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 19, 2021 10:04 am  

We’re certainly doing things differently to other sides and have done for years. The prop stats look poor but then you had French in excess of 200m, Manfredi, Farrell and Bateman all in excess of 150m and Hardaker on 136m. We also have a halfback in Hastings just shy of 100m.

The worry will always be though that when the games tighten up and get played through the middle, as they usually are in big semi finals and finals, do we have enough on that score? I don’t think we do.