Re: Squad 2024 : Sat Nov 04, 2023 10:03 am  

Tony Fax wrote:

The 3 new signings have made quite a difference I suppose. First choice pack imo would be: Calcott, AOB, Douglas, Kav, Gee, Fairbank ........ with Inman, Tangatta, Olly and Lannon on the bench., leaving Larroyer, Murray and Moore as cover. Strong pack that!

Depends how you view it.IMO Calcott,Kav, Fairbank,Tangata,Larroyer,Murray and Moore are all questionable and I wouldn’t have kept more than 2 of that 7.Basically the poor pack of the last 2 years that are all perceived to be good players.

Re: Squad 2024 : Sat Nov 04, 2023 11:33 am  

Miserybusiness wrote:

Depends how you view it.IMO Calcott,Kav, Fairbank,Tangata,Larroyer,Murray and Moore are all questionable and I wouldn’t have kept more than 2 of that 7.Basically the poor pack of the last 2 years that are all perceived to be good players.

I would argue that Calcott should not be in that group, I think he has improved loads and been our best prop last season. I'm a big Murray fan but thought he was below par last season but the rest I would take some convincing that if we could get someone cheaper that we shouldn't do that. I guess value for money comes in to it as well with Larroyer on pennies and Moore in the top 3 earners.

Re: Squad 2024 : Sat Nov 04, 2023 1:17 pm  

Tony Fax wrote:

The 3 new signings have made quite a difference I suppose. First choice pack imo would be: Calcott, AOB, Douglas, Kav, Gee, Fairbank ........ with Inman, Tangatta, Olly and Lannon on the bench., leaving Larroyer, Murray and Moore as cover. Strong pack that!

On paper definitely a strong pack, think at prop now, especially if Murray can recapture his 2022 form we're fairly well covered, my concerns would be the back 3. Think Gee was injured for back end of the season making him much less effective than usual, hopefully if fit we'll again see the 2022 version next year. Kavanagh is another year older - he plays big minutes but unless Keyes is putting him into gaps is often totally anonymous for large parts of the game. Fairbank has been a fantastic servant to the club, bit I think his all action style of play combined with his age means injuries may well come into play more. I definitely feel we need one more strong second row - and a couple of outside backs.

Re: Squad 2024 : Sun Nov 05, 2023 3:09 pm  

Whitehaven announcing a new signing this evening which very disappointingly is likely to finally confirm Maizens departure. I've not really seen any speculation about new backs - Hankinson not yet confirmed by Fev would be a fantastic signing but unfortunately likely to be well outside our price range.

Re: Squad 2024 : Sun Nov 05, 2023 8:45 pm  

Ilkley Fax wrote:

Whitehaven announcing a new signing this evening which very disappointingly is likely to finally confirm Maizens departure. I've not really seen any speculation about new backs - Hankinson not yet confirmed by Fev would be a fantastic signing but unfortunately likely to be well outside our price range.

Not Maizen, it's Owen McCarron (never heard of him!). On the subject of Maizen, not sure why some are so desperate for him to stay. For me he showed nothing in his few appearances. Probably the second most disappointing signing after Maher.

Re: Squad 2024 : Sun Nov 05, 2023 11:08 pm  

Tony Fax wrote:

Not Maizen, it's Owen McCarron (never heard of him!). On the subject of Maizen, not sure why some are so desperate for him to stay. For me he showed nothing in his few appearances. Probably the second most disappointing signing after Maher.

I think as a winger he could have been very good for us but seemed like madness to sign him with the intention of him replacing Arundel and Worthington. He's not a centre at this level in a million years, I would say the same for McComb as well, a good squad player but if he starts a lot of games for us this coming season at centre it will be a struggle.

Re: Squad 2024 : Mon Nov 06, 2023 9:25 am  

Just my opinion on a couple of names mentioned regarding the squad.

Calcott is one of the better up and coming props in the division and is worth either a regular starting spot or certainly in our 17 as he is now and with loads of room for improvement the best is yet to come so defo worth hanging on to.

I always look beyond just the individual to job you want then to do and the role you want them to play and hoped Maizen would be staying and be played on the wing outside of Crookes who has the pass and Jakes got the speed to form a dangerous partnership.

So far the overall the quality and commitment of the incomings are all in the right direction.

Re: Squad 2024 : Mon Nov 06, 2023 7:14 pm  

https://x.com/m_shaw1/status/1721604706 ... KKcNIJrHDA

https://x.com/m_shaw1/status/1721604706 ... KKcNIJrHDA

[Nat (Rugby_Aholic)]

Re: Squad 2024 : Mon Nov 06, 2023 10:59 pm  

Listenup94 wrote:

https://x.com/m_shaw1/status/1721604706269528399?s=46&t=nplSLf6kdXO-KKcNIJrHDA

Could be talking about the Damien Clayton appointment? Which could be more important than any signing tbh.

Re: Squad 2024 : Tue Nov 07, 2023 5:49 am  

Nat (Rugby_Aholic) wrote:

Could be talking about the Damien Clayton appointment? Which could be more important than any signing tbh.

That’s already been announced but I’m not sure if it’s a player signing announcement or something else .