Re: Five New Signings : Fri Oct 07, 2016 9:40 am  

thebeagle wrote:

You guys have been reading my thoughts. Was just about to express my concern as to the way things have seemingly stalled. Additionally whilst acknowledging the situation re: Kirmond, Owen and Annakin may be 'delicate' I cannot understand why we have not heard anything definite about their injuries and progress as would be the norm with on field/ training injuries.

I'm just wondering why owen hasn't been released yet

Re: Five New Signings : Fri Oct 07, 2016 10:14 am  

Prince Buster wrote:

As TRB said above if the bulk of the squad is not sorted by now after all the time we have had then we only have ourselves to blame if things don't turn out.

As we are not yet a week past the MPG...just out of interest...how many players did we have signed on at this time last year and how many have we got signed on already for next season?

Re: Five New Signings : Fri Oct 07, 2016 10:16 am  

bellycouldtackle wrote:

Dont worry TRB we have Grix and Wood, they will take us to that next level ....... The Championship.

Do you know what a self-fulfilling prophecy is?

You are. You make this prophecy every year on the dot and for 15 years you've been proved wrong year on year - sometimes to the point where you look utterly ridiculous. However being thick skinned it never bothers you and you never learn.

Now at some point we will head to the championship of that there is little doubt. None of us are stupid we know the clubs current limitations - you are not the oracle you think you are.

So can I ask you this, when or if it happens how smug and self satisfied do you think you will feel?

I do hope the umpteen years of self inflicted misery have been worth missing out on all the fun the rest of us have managed to eek out. Sure there have been bad times and times where faith has well and truly been lost. However most of us accept and deal with it when it actually happens. Most of us don't wait in our joyless little hole apparantly praying for it to happen.

Most of us manage at least to enjoy a part of the season where the sheet is clean and find hope in the build up to the new one. If you can't enjoy this part of the season I have to ask why you bother at all.

Re: Five New Signings : Fri Oct 07, 2016 10:18 am  

Prince Buster wrote:

As TRB said above if the bulk of the squad is not sorted by now after all the time we have had then we only have ourselves to blame if things don't turn out.
However I really hope we sorted other signings out that are still to be announced, because the 4 players we know about will not be enough IMHO

As far a s moore and the 'car crash three' this is house keeping and tidying up the squad, which could not be forseen

PB, surely any club would want to see the outcome of the MPG before finalising anything. Also since when has early October been the cut off point for signings

Also did TRB say that?

Re: Five New Signings : Fri Oct 07, 2016 10:26 am  

I put a comment on regarding this at the time.

He is good, but already think we have plenty of centres within the club, most of which are off contract in 2017.

To me, think we would be better focusing on the positions we need such as hooker, back row and prop.

That of course, unless someone is being released from his contract early.

Re: Five New Signings : Fri Oct 07, 2016 11:24 am  

if we do not replace moor with some one as good think we will not move on next year ,is passing is so fast. Think we will be in the bottom 4 if the players who are reported to be coming to this club turn up

Re: Five New Signings : Fri Oct 07, 2016 11:24 am  

vastman wrote:

PB, surely any club would want to see the outcome of the MPG before finalising anything. Also since when has early October been the cut off point for signings

Also did TRB say that?

It may well be that we'd have signings 'in the bottom drawer'. It may well be that we have waited until the MPG to see what might be available.

It is also possible that the uncertainty about the CC3 and more recently if anything is going on with Scott Moore (we don't know that this isn't twaddle at this stage), but our main focus was a half back initially and we got that sorted - for a year at least - but there it would seem to undermine the work getting a HB if we then don't have a quality hooker and we are, effectively, back at square one, be that by accident or otherwise.

IMO we need to keep Fifita, but at what cost? I don't know what's happening, but we need this kind of blockbusting prop, in addition to the more workhorse types, and if it isn't going to be Dave, then we need to find another. There is no point in having 6 props all the same - again IMO.

The situation with Tupou is more complicated. I think he's been a great player and his touch and game are quality, but his body doesn't want to know and he is the key to a decent chunk of our playing budget. Perhaps one thing needs to happen before anything else can. If he goes, we then need a new second row who can play a bit - not easy to find on a restricted budget!

The other dynamic is the younger players. I expect James Batchelor and Jordy Crowther to play more games next year. Add Judah and young Moules and you get a few more games. We need these exposed to first team rugby for long term benefit.

It's all very complex, but until a few more pieces are put in place I think we are short of a full picture and with players getting signed up everyday, it can't be getting easier.

We had an 8 week window where we were safe in SL but 4 SL clubs plus the Championship clubs couldn't offer that security. We did well to pick up MCB in that time, but we suspect Keegan was coming anyway. We also rescued Grix from Shudds, but whether he was leaving there anyway, I don't know. It seems like slim pickings in the circumstances.

Perhaps I just need to stop thinking / worrying as there is nothing I can do to change it - and I do know there are those who are working their socks off to sort it. Good luck to them!

Re: Five New Signings : Fri Oct 07, 2016 11:56 am  

It may just be that we're waiting till after the grand final as a mark of respect, we could have signed a couple of players from Wigan or Warrington?

Re: Five New Signings : Fri Oct 07, 2016 12:05 pm  

vastman wrote:

Do you know what a self-fulfilling prophecy is?

You are. You make this prophecy every year on the dot and for 15 years you've been proved wrong year on year - sometimes to the point where you look utterly ridiculous. However being thick skinned it never bothers you and you never learn.

Now at some point we will head to the championship of that there is little doubt. None of us are stupid we know the clubs current limitations - you are not the oracle you think you are.

So can I ask you this, when or if it happens how smug and self satisfied do you think you will feel?

I do hope the umpteen years of self inflicted misery have been worth missing out on all the fun the rest of us have managed to eek out. Sure there have been bad times and times where faith has well and truly been lost. However most of us accept and deal with it when it actually happens. Most of us don't wait in our joyless little hole apparantly praying for it to happen.

Most of us manage at least to enjoy a part of the season where the sheet is clean and find hope in the build up to the new one. If you can't enjoy this part of the season I have to ask why you bother at all.

Not sure if I've posted this before but, I started working with a guy at Nestle 35yrs since, every time we had a yearly/mid term briefing he'd come to me and say, "Mate, this factory is gonna shut down", every year he came out with the same prediction, in 2012 the factory was announced to be closing. We came out of the canteen, he looked at me and winked, "I told you it would happen mate". He was right in the end.

Re: Five New Signings : Fri Oct 07, 2016 12:09 pm  

TRB wrote:

Perhaps I just need to stop thinking / worrying as there is nothing I can do to change it - and I do know there are those who are working their socks off to sort it. Good luck to them!

Just sit back, relax and enjoy your Scooby snax.
Other than buying a season ticket and spending in the club shop we've done all we can. Trust in the club.