westdock boy in oz wrote:
It sure does - been away for a few weeks, came back expecting some positivity on the recruitment front, but reading that list even 10th in the league looks a bit ambitious!. Really disappointed.
Why are we still hanging on to our 4 tiny tots ?
Why are we hanging on to our clueless/tackle shy RH edge?
A new hooker ? (obviously in the too hard basket).
Scrum half ? What happened?
No real quality, no leader, it really looks like poor/ lazy/easy option recruitment. Hope i'm wrong & Adam announces two or three gems before the pass sales are announced or he'll have hell of a job moving them.
After the positivity generated last close season - recruiting Smith -2 good halves (at last) - huge clearout (at last). But this close season retention & recruitment wise is turning into a real dogs breakfast.
Have to say there not much that can be argued about many of your points.
Think it was and has been said by the majority of fans that after the last 4 years it was more important than ever that the club got the retention and recruitment right and they have to.
Looking at the comparative lists, the 2024 squad certainly looks weaker overall so far but there is still time before the squad is completed for pre season but think its fair to say patience has worn very thin with the fanbase.
We've addressed the lack of size in the front row releasing Griffin and Savelio gone even with Okunbor coming in we have very little in terms of 2nd row, hooker or the halves and still a lack of a player or players that have leadership qualities. I'd also say there are some question marks with centre and wing spots as Swift is and will be a big loss and Carlos starting to miss more games. For me there's a lot more questions than answers.
Admittedly its a big rebuild and not an overnight one but considering the length of the time the club have known who and how many players we had OOC at the end of the season if the club don't manage to add another 3 or 4 quality players it will be disappointing. So its to be hoped that AP & TS have planned well and pull a few rabbits out the hat or it will certainly be a failure and disappointing in terms of recruitment if we end up weaker moving in to next season.
With the way that yet again the team gave up the season weeks ago its hardly inspiring fans to once again dig deep other than out of habit or blind loyalty. Right now I feel very little affinity to the club I have followed and supported for 44yrs due to the succession of poor performances/seasons/end of seasons and the lack of any real communication/interaction from the club to its fanbase, it actually feels as though the only time the club is interested in the fans is at renewal time.
