Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Wed Oct 23, 2019 1:31 pm  

Great news about Merrin. Leader and our best player last year by a mile. We must bring in a 9 and a good prop though especially if Singo going. Squad still short of top 5 imo

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Wed Oct 23, 2019 2:20 pm  

Trebor1 wrote:

Great news about Merrin. Leader and our best player last year by a mile. We must bring in a 9 and a good prop though especially if Singo going. Squad still short of top 5 imo

If Crosby stays fit I reckon he’s actually an improvement on Singleton, but your point still stands, unfortunately I don’t think we’ll see many more added to the squad before the season starts

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Wed Oct 23, 2019 2:29 pm  

christopher wrote:

If Crosby stays fit I reckon he’s actually an improvement on Singleton, but your point still stands, unfortunately I don’t think we’ll see many more added to the squad before the season starts

Yes agree with that. But it's a big if with Crosby.. surely theres one more signing to come.. pretty please;)

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Wed Oct 23, 2019 3:00 pm  

If Singleton goes we should be looking at a Hooker, if Singleton and Ferres go we should be looking at a prop and a hooker.

I expect us to sign Davies from Wigan on a year's loan with an option to make it permanent.

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Wed Oct 23, 2019 4:03 pm  

I’m going to be controversial here - I think Davies could be a sensible addition if that comes off, but I don’t see any point in signing a 9 or 10 unless they’re exceptional.

Who is there available?

We don’t need to spend up to the cap excluding the Marquees. It can often be really handy to have some in reserve in case a mid-season bolter appears.

I’d rather the money was put into youth development, infrastructure or towards a sexier Marquee down the line than yet more not-quite-good-enough squad players.

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Wed Oct 23, 2019 4:07 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

I’m going to be controversial here - I think Davies could be a sensible addition if that comes off, but I don’t see any point in signing a 9 or 10 unless they’re exceptional.

Who is there available?

We don’t need to spend up to the cap excluding the Marquees. It can often be really handy to have some in reserve in case a mid-season bolter appears.

I’d rather the money was put into youth development, infrastructure or towards a sexier Marquee down the line than yet more not-quite-good-enough squad players.

I actually agree with you it’s pointless just signing any hooker just cos were light in that area, we’ve got into a mess squad wise by signing too many mediocre players it’s pointless continuing that.

Keeping some cap space free for mid season signing might be mire preferable than just signing some players now, it’s a risk but id prefer that to being stuck with another average signing.

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Wed Oct 23, 2019 4:55 pm  

I wouldn’t advocate just signing anyone, like any signing it should be someone that would make the 17 every week if they are fit.

I’d say we’ve got one good prop in Ava, one unknown in Crosby, one coming to the end of his career in Cuthbertson, 2 not good enough in Singleton and Petaru, and then we’re into kids.

We need a solid metre making 10, or a good starting 9 for 2 years until Johnson is ready to be the starter.

If we can’t find them now because we can’t pay due to cap reasons, we shouldn’t just sign anyone...

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Wed Oct 23, 2019 5:48 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

I’m going to be controversial here - I think Davies could be a sensible addition if that comes off, but I don’t see any point in signing a 9 or 10 unless they’re exceptional.

Who is there available?

We don’t need to spend up to the cap excluding the Marquees. It can often be really handy to have some in reserve in case a mid-season bolter appears.

I’d rather the money was put into youth development, infrastructure or towards a sexier Marquee down the line than yet more not-quite-good-enough squad players.

Totally agree I can't see where we will find a decent 9 and prop who are none quota.I hope we sign Davies but I think that could well be it.

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Wed Oct 23, 2019 6:22 pm  

batleyrhino wrote:

I wouldn’t advocate just signing anyone, like any signing it should be someone that would make the 17 every week if they are fit.

I’d say we’ve got one good prop in Ava, one unknown in Crosby, one coming to the end of his career in Cuthbertson, 2 not good enough in Singleton and Petaru, and then we’re into kids.

We need a solid metre making 10, or a good starting 9 for 2 years until Johnson is ready to be the starter.

If we can’t find them now because we can’t pay due to cap reasons, we shouldn’t just sign anyone...

We are massively short up front. We also looked so much better when Dwyer came off the bench. Why let Lunt go if we aren't bringing anyone in? Corey isnt ready yet to play big mins. Why also let singo go if not bringing in another prop unless they are promting Muzz?

Re: 2020 | Squad talk : Wed Oct 23, 2019 7:21 pm  

I’d just rather play kids who aren’t quite ready yet, within reason and without getting relegated (!), rather than get tied up with more deals with sub standard players.

I just can’t see where the quality is going to come from with our marquee and quota spots as they are.

There’s no English 9 I’d take other than maybe Clark. Props-wise I’d only be looking NRL realistically - like Ava but different type of player to him.

If we need to take some more medicine next year so be it but we’ve been mired up in way too many long-term deals for sub-Leeds-standard players and it’s got to stop sometime.