: Sun Mar 15, 2009 6:07 pm
Sibbs Rhinos wrote:
I don't really see the point in rushing out to buy someone. We have won 5 from 5 so far and the squad certainly has enough depth.
Our squad most certainly does not have enough depth, especially in the pack. We are effectively running with a first team squad of 24 (including McShane but excluding Eastwood) when we used 31 players last season. Within that 24 we are well covered in some positions - 3 full backs and 3 hookers - but light in others such as front/second row. Last season we had ten first-team players to cover prop and second row (Leuluai, Bailey, Scruton, Burgess, Peacock, JJB, Ellis, Lauitiiti, Kirke, Ablett). So, in the Grand Final we could have a big, four-forwards bench, plus Ablett in the centres and still leave out Burgess. From those ten we've lost Scruton and Ellis and replaced them with Buderus (who doesn't cover those positions) and Eastwood (who hasn't arrived/isn't coming) leaving us with 8 players to cover 7 positions in the team (2 props, 2 second rowers, 3 on the bench along with an interchange hooker). If more than one of those is missing then we are short. Bear in mind that Ablett has been called on to play centre sometimes, Sinfield covers the half backs meaning a second rower has to play loose forward in his place, and it's no surprise that our squad's depth has been tested so far and, at times, our bench has been rather light. The club obviously thought/still think we need another forward or we wouldn't have gone in for Eastwood in the first place. I think that without another forward or a big slice of luck with injuries we could struggle at times.
