Marty Ashurst signed 2023 : Wed Jun 23, 2021 2:17 pm  

Ashurst contract extension end of 2023.

Re: Marty Ashurst signed 2023 : Wed Jun 23, 2021 2:36 pm  

He's been a very good player for us, probably one of the best value for money signings in a long time. He does turn 32 this year though and seems to have picked up more injuries and suffered from more indifferent form in recent seasons. I'm a bit unsure about the two year deal to be honest.

Re: Marty Ashurst signed 2023 : Wed Jun 23, 2021 2:52 pm  

2 years seems rather generous

Re: Marty Ashurst signed 2023 : Wed Jun 23, 2021 3:01 pm  

Sacred Cow wrote:

He's been a very good player for us, probably one of the best value for money signings in a long time. He does turn 32 this year though and seems to have picked up more injuries and suffered from more indifferent form in recent seasons. I'm a bit unsure about the two year deal to be honest.

As am I to be honest.

Tanginoa killed it at SR when he came and got numerous MOTM performances. Seems with Pitts and Ashurst signed up that he’s been pushed into a permemant prop role. He does a decent job at prop don’t get me wrong but the guy was a beast in the SR.

I’m kind of concerned about the average age of our pack and team.

There’s a lot of 30+ players in there. Arona, Fifita, Pitts, Ashurst, Battye (shortly). These players are likely only a year or two away from retirement from professional rugby. I was hoping to see us refresh the squad a bit but we’ve just signed another 30+ player in Gaskell And rumoured Sidlow and it’s turning into a bit of a dads army camp.

I guess we will have to wait and see how recruitment pans out.

I will support the team as always and Ashurst has been a great player for us. Hopefully he’s got plenty left to give.

Re: Marty Ashurst signed 2023 : Wed Jun 23, 2021 3:14 pm  

Bit of an eyebrow raiser for me. Been an absolute giant in our team in the past, but has really struggled this year (I'd say a mixture of his own confidence and conditioning, and also the number of crash balls he is subjected to).

I'd really like to say he will get on top of those challenges, but this must be harder as a forward at 32 years of age with back injuries.

Wonder if we could have drawn a line under this part of our heritage and promoted Batch and put Tanginoa in his natural position.

Notwithstanding - Good luck Tash.

Re: Marty Ashurst signed 2023 : Wed Jun 23, 2021 11:11 pm  

great that he is staying but this is a mediocre signing and will just get us the same relegation battle every year

Re: Marty Ashurst signed 2023 : Thu Jun 24, 2021 8:39 am  

I’m pleased to hear this

He’s being excellent for us, hopefully he can stay injury free and keep playing well

The reality is the player pool is becoming smaller and smaller

We are going to see more and more players playing in to there mid to late 30s as a necessity to the clubs IMO