Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Wed Jun 14, 2023 7:55 am  

Dave K. wrote:

Maybe a positive out of potentially cutting our budget, I'm sure by now if Hodgson was in charge, Evans would have been replaced, but think Smith wants to get the right player in.

I think the club are prepared to lose a player rather than give them overs, or that extra year on the contract. I’m all for it.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Wed Jun 14, 2023 7:59 am  

Isn't Ashworth seen as Evans replacement?

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Wed Jun 14, 2023 8:00 am  

I think it feels different this time, as there’s a clear strategy that’s been put in place in supplementing the first team squad with Academy produced players.
Partly borne out of the financial damage covid brought on, and maybe partly because what we tried previously didn’t work.
It may be a success, it may fail as in previous years.
Think it’s the only option to try for future success and sustainability though.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Wed Jun 14, 2023 8:17 am  

https://www.totalrl.com/melbourne-storm ... gue-clubs/ If we're after a 9

https://www.totalrl.com/melbourne-storm ... gue-clubs/ If we're after a 9

[Mild Rover]

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Wed Jun 14, 2023 8:21 am  

Irregular Hoops wrote:

I think it feels different this time, as there’s a clear strategy that’s been put in place in supplementing the first team squad with Academy produced players.
Partly borne out of the financial damage covid brought on, and maybe partly because what we tried previously didn’t work.
It may be a success, it may fail as in previous years.
Think it’s the only option to try for future success and sustainability though.

Fair summation, and it isn’t nice of me to ghoul. I’m still scarred by the 5-year plan.

It needs a degree of pragmatism and balance, realistic objectives and for that financial damage to not undermine it. But, yeah, it may succeed.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Wed Jun 14, 2023 8:21 am  

Lewis KRs academy, Litten, Hadley, Abdull all FC academy, have they brought any others through who play regular first team?

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Wed Jun 14, 2023 8:45 am  

Mild Rover wrote:

Fair summation, and it isn’t nice of me to ghoul. I’m still scarred by the 5-year plan.

It needs a degree of pragmatism and balance, realistic objectives and for that financial damage to not undermine it. But, yeah, it may succeed.

Think it’s the only option for us going forward. It has to work on some level, or it’s back to the drawing board.

The club have no doubt looked at the Wigan, Leeds blueprint but putting it into practice is easier said than done. And there’s no guarantee of success no matter how much resource you put into it.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Wed Jun 14, 2023 8:46 am  

Ellam wrote:

Lewis KRs academy, Litten, Hadley, Abdull all FC academy, have they brought any others through who play regular first team?

Wasn’t Lewis COH Academy?

Didn’t we choose Wynne instead?

[Mild Rover]

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Wed Jun 14, 2023 8:58 am  

Ellam wrote:

Lewis KRs academy, Litten, Hadley, Abdull all FC academy, have they brought any others through who play regular first team?

How old are we allowed to go? And do they have to be at Rovers? Cator is your number 15. Lawler is younger than Hadley. Taylor is 32, so reflects on our academy of ~15 years ago. The RoI has been pretty abysmal, overall.

Whereas, you have Fash and Lane, and Danny Houghton who is 34. Many at elsewhere in SL, beyond the city boundaries? We could have the Watts and Briscoe argument for old times sake? Time is running out!

Not good.

[Mild Rover]

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Wed Jun 14, 2023 9:02 am  

Irregular Hoops wrote:

Wasn’t Lewis COH Academy?

Didn’t we choose Wynne instead?

He was. And that reflects the futility of the argument.

It’s not where you’re from, it’s where you’re at - as Ian Brown once said.