Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 14, 2023 4:38 pm  

Exeter Rhino wrote:

He meets BatleyRhino's criteria of being good enough for one of Wigan, Saints or Catalans (well, this season at least).

Lets look at other big teams hooking options for next year.

Wigan - Brad ONeil & Leeming
Saints - Daryl Clarke and Mbye
Warrington - Walker and Dwyer (:-))
Catslans not sure who they have but Mucky mac has resigned

Leeds, OConner, Powell and Johnson

I wouldn’t say were that much behind any of those with those 3

Powell has olayed 250 games for wigan olayed in 5 grand finals and won 2, he can’t be that much of a plodder

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 14, 2023 4:48 pm  

https://twitter.com/jamesobyp/status/17 ... 20644?s=46 Interesting article in the Yorkshire post, the bit that stood out was the below quote "Everybody knows the players that are available – the key is knowing the players that may be available or could become available. "For that, you've got to have personal relationships, quality information and ultimately you've got to have a brand that players are prepared to join. I think we tick a lot of those boxes." So we may get a surprise signing or two

https://twitter.com/jamesobyp/status/17 ... 20644?s=46 Interesting article in the Yorkshire post, the bit that stood out was the below quote "Everybody knows the players that are available – the key is knowing the players that may be available or could become available. "For that, you've got to have personal relationships, quality information and ultimately you've got to have a brand that players are prepared to join. I think we tick a lot of those boxes." So we may get a surprise signing or two

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 14, 2023 5:09 pm  

Also of note though, the slim pickings at this time of year remark that suggests we’ve left it too late….again….in terms of overseas and are now instead having to work through contacts to see who might be available that isn’t on the ‘advertised’ list of available NRL players.

Let’s hope they find a gem or two.

YEP also suggesting we will use all 3 marquee spots for 2024 so you’d think/hope they must have something’s up their sleeves to announce as soon as the season ends next Friday and before the season ticket renewals come out

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 14, 2023 5:10 pm  

Just read it too, best piece I've read in a while. GH is completely clear that all rugby decisions rest with RS, there's more than one way that you can read that...

In terms of signings, I take from that piece that we don't have anyone else already signed, that we started late and that we are expecting to make some big surprise coups. All in all, seems a risky strategy for next year.

The Peter Smith article today also makes it clear that RS is expecting many changes for next season, I wonder if they are going to dust the cheque book off?

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 14, 2023 5:15 pm  

GH also saying that it’s always been the coaches doing the recruitment not him

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 14, 2023 5:16 pm  

go all out for Croft please!

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 14, 2023 5:17 pm  

batleyrhino wrote:

Just read it too, best piece I've read in a while. GH is completely clear that all rugby decisions rest with RS, there's more than one way that you can read that...

In terms of signings, I take from that piece that we don't have anyone else already signed, that we started late and that we are expecting to make some big surprise coups. All in all, seems a risky strategy for next year.

The Peter Smith article today also makes it clear that RS is expecting many changes for next season, I wonder if they are going to dust the cheque book off?

To be fair a lot of people on here wanted GH to explain the strategy going forward and I think that’s what he’s done there, and slso admitting they have made dome bad calls regarding recruiting and retention in the past few years

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 14, 2023 5:17 pm  

Yes, I picked up on the emphasis made a couple of times about how all player retentions, new signings etc rest with Smith (but note he says that has always been the case whilst he’s been CEO)

One could see that as him sort of throwing Rohan under the bus so that if it all goes tits up again next season, GH has a ready made scapegoat as I suspect he is feeling/hearing some fan unrest against him and is trying to distance himself from culpability if it doesn’t improve.

Let’s see what happens.

The club must know they have to pull off some pretty big/exciting new player signings for next season

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 14, 2023 5:24 pm  

cheekydiddles wrote:

Yes, I picked up on the emphasis made a couple of times about how all player retentions, new signings etc rest with Smith (but note he says that has always been the case whilst he’s been CEO)

One could see that as him sort of throwing Rohan under the bus so that if it all goes tits up again next season, GH has a ready made scapegoat as I suspect he is feeling/hearing some fan unrest against him and is trying to distance himself from culpability if it doesn’t improve.

Let’s see what happens.

The club must know they have to pull off some pretty big/exciting new player signings for next season

GH has definitely backed both horses with that article. He's giving RS complete freedom, so he's the main man, and GH is just there to negotiate. Also that if it goes wrong it's on RS not GH because he was only signing players that RS wanted. Very smart leaving the back door open like that...

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Sep 14, 2023 5:30 pm  

ploinerrhino wrote:

If you lot would be happy with Powell , well we really are down in the depths !

People need to get real we are not eating at the top table anymore as the saying goes you get what you pay for in life, if this rumour is true then the recruitment drive is what most people expected most underwhelming!