Merrin absolutely needs to be playing BR and not prop. We would have been better playing JJB at prop with Merrin in for Sutcliffe. Smith should be in the 17 and Holroyd against the lesser teams although at the minute that`s us, Huddersfield and Wakefield! We used Hurrel more of a prop than any of our chosen props on Saturday which is a concern. Hall last year now Hurrel this year
Warrington will do what they did to us and by more to a few teams this season at home, they look like a quality outfit again this year.
I think it will take 6-8 games in before we can realistically see how we are faring as a team and squad. As well as the new players it will take Furner time to adapt to coaching in SL. Throwing kids in at this point is knee jerk and will do more harm than good.
For me though we need to play Merrin either at Loose or Back Row, flogging him at prop does him and the team no favours, he can play 80 minutes but not at prop. I hope Crosby is fit for next week.
Walker looks to have bulked up a fair bit and look strong in collision! And it will take Watkins a bit of time to get back into full swing
We are definitely light in the pack as everyone knows but I think we will need to play around them like saints did on Thursday
To suggest giving the kids a chance isn't knee jerk its purely thinking longer term & reward for their Form. Smith Trout & Holroyd have ALL produced consistently & deserve a chance. Completely agree re-Merrin mate.
Agree the young lads need some game time but from a developmental POV not sure how much they gain from playing in that kind of game. We were well beaten by a side who have a coach in place big players all over the pitch and have been building even before that coach arrived.
I think as the season goes in the young lads will get some games and be phased in, I just worry we don’t pin all the hopes ok them as it isn’t fair to expect an 18/19/20 year old or group of them to step into a beaten pack and suddenly turn it around.
This has always been a rebuild and it will take 2-4 years. Everybody talks about getting two big meter making props and a wrecking ball back rower. I agree we need those but where or who do people think we should have signed who we didn’t? Those players were not available this off season, if they were I think we would have signed them.
Next year we have the following players off contract (I think): Walters Parcell Ormondroyd Mullally JJB Ferres Donaldson Dwyer
Out of those I would only retain Dwyer.
We should also shed the following:
Ablett Cuthbertson Lilley Peteru Sutcliffe
That gives you cap to get 2 big props and a gain line breaking back rower, probably a decent winger as well.
some real knee jerk overreactions on here, anyone would think we lost by 50 not 26-6, they won the game with a 20 minute hot spell, we were not far off in the other 50-60 mins. I was disappointed was expecting it to be closer.
But we need to get out of the mentality that we can just offload 5-10 players, firstly its not the 1980s you cannot just say in the offs season sorry your not wanted next year clear your locker, and secondly you have to replace the players you get rid off, yes some will come through academy but only 2-3 a year at best not 5-6. then you have to either pay transfer fees or get out off contact players, and if the quality we want is not available were a bit stuck. recruitment and retention policy has bee poor for last 2-3 years and it will take 2-3 years to put right. we have essentially brought in 6 players since bask end of last season/offs season and 5-6 have gone, i would expect 4-5 more to come and go for next season then maybe 2-3 for 2021 season.
But everyone calm down its one moderate loss against the favorites in the first game of the season, see where we are after 10-12 games and i bet we are on an upward trajectory.
Agree some, disagree some. Hurrell won't last the season if he's used the way he was the other night. JJB was dog rough talking on sky on the thursday, he sounded like Denis Betts. I'd have been amazed had he been picked at prop or anywhere else. Not sure where Peteru was - injured? Maybe Merrin will be relieved of propping duties if/when one or both are available. Youngsters - Furner may wish to get his first choice squad functioning properly before embarking on projects. This is, to me, understandable.
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I've not seen much comment about Lolohea. I've not seen him before & wondered what Jordan Tansey was doing back at 6. I thought he was poor defensively first half & was pretty anonymous otherwise.
Well for Ablett he was looking at retiring last year and moving to aus. If he isn’t playing this year and we have early notice I think he would retire. Cuthbo will be 34, one year left. Offer retirement with a coaching paythway as he is already doing the ladies team. Lilley - he walks or he sits and doesn’t play, strikes me he would walk and pick up a championship team. L Sutcliffe is the most difficult but I think somebody would take him if he was available and we weren’t seeking a fee or swap. Peteru- if he stayed wouldn’t be end of the world but you offer him out and see if you get any interest.
Even without the above we have enough cap for what I mentioned in earlier post.
some real knee jerk overreactions on here, anyone would think we lost by 50 not 26-6, they won the game with a 20 minute hot spell, we were not far off in the other 50-60 mins. I was disappointed was expecting it to be closer.
But we need to get out of the mentality that we can just offload 5-10 players, firstly its not the 1980s you cannot just say in the offs season sorry your not wanted next year clear your locker, and secondly you have to replace the players you get rid off, yes some will come through academy but only 2-3 a year at best not 5-6. then you have to either pay transfer fees or get out off contact players, and if the quality we want is not available were a bit stuck. recruitment and retention policy has bee poor for last 2-3 years and it will take 2-3 years to put right. we have essentially brought in 6 players since bask end of last season/offs season and 5-6 have gone, i would expect 4-5 more to come and go for next season then maybe 2-3 for 2021 season.
But everyone calm down its one moderate loss against the favorites in the first game of the season, see where we are after 10-12 games and i bet we are on an upward trajectory.
I can’t see any knee jerk? I am not suggesting we get rid now, not even suggesting we change the team. Suggesting it’s a 2-3 year project, we know what we need but they weren’t available this summer. We can offload 7 players next summer as they are OOC. I am well aware how a contract works and you can’t just rip them up. However, we will be thinking now who might we want to let go at the end of the year and having convos with people we might want to being in.
I don’t expect much from the season as it’s obvious we have limitations, everybody can see them. We go as best we can with what we have and we recruit well for the following season.
The original point was dropping 3-4 young lads in might harm more than help them. I would argue that is more of a knee jerk.
The original point was dropping 3-4 young lads in might harm more than help them. I would argue that is more of a knee jerk.
It is knee jerk after 1 game! As I say 6-8 games in maybe time to look at blooding the youngsters if Furner's first choice aren't pulling up any trees.
On another point, it was my first time at the HJ stadium and TBH for £31 for a seat I wasn't overly impressed, I was sat in a corner and my view was pretty terrible, I think it highlights how well designed our new stands are (and the carnegie or whatever its called). The HJ is a nice small stadium but I thought expensive for a prettmuch restricted view, I had to watch the screen to have any clue what was going on at the other end of the pitch!
Its not after just 1 game we all know Ferres isnt good enough he hasnt been since he arrived ,Sutcliffe hasnt performed any better whatsoever than Cam Smith in pre-season. Trout & Holroyd are the 2 in form & next in line so when should they get a chance?
It is knee jerk after 1 game! As I say 6-8 games in maybe time to look at blooding the youngsters if Furner's first choice aren't pulling up any trees.
On another point, it was my first time at the HJ stadium and TBH for £31 for a seat I wasn't overly impressed, I was sat in a corner and my view was pretty terrible, I think it highlights how well designed our new stands are (and the carnegie or whatever its called). The HJ is a nice small stadium but I thought expensive for a prettmuch restricted view, I had to watch the screen to have any clue what was going on at the other end of the pitch!
which row/block were you sat in?
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