Re: Where do we need to Strengthen the Squad for 2013 and Be : Sun Mar 25, 2012 8:45 am  

Our greatest need will be to strengthen up at prop in my book. It's an unusual role in that the better exponents tend to peak later than other positions. In other words we can feed in academy lads for most positions but to do this with props we might need to retain them for far longer before they start earning their corn in the first team. The decision to give Peacock two further years isn't necessarily a bad one but suggests we don't have too many waiting in the wings.

Re: Where do we need to Strengthen the Squad for 2013 and Be : Sun Mar 25, 2012 5:59 pm  

Watching the game, (granted only first 20minutes!!) our most desperate need is a full back if Webb goes!!!!

Re: Where do we need to Strengthen the Squad for 2013 and Be : Sun Mar 25, 2012 6:28 pm  

Without throwing the baby out with the bathwater, on tonight's performance so far, Peacock won't last another two years. We have been completely overrun in the forwards, and have a turnstyle in the 9 jersey.

You don't win anything in March, and this might only make October more sweet, but we have been very poor tonight, missing far two many tackles, and our last tackle options have been very very poor. Sinfield should not be putting himself in a position to be caught in possession on tackle 5....

Re: Where do we need to Strengthen the Squad for 2013 and Be : Sun Mar 25, 2012 10:35 pm  

Ferdy wrote:

Watching the game, (granted only first 20minutes!!) our most desperate need is a full back if Webb goes!!!!

We were very dissapointing tonight and I think it showed up a few areas that probably need strenghtining for next year if we want to continue as world champions. Since his retrn from RU Smith has been poor and I don't think he will be with us next year. BJB should be OK but then we need a quality player on the wing. Also maybe suppoort at half-back and in the props. I want us to stay at the top and the way to do it is have our quality youngsters plus a few quality signings. I don't know who Gh has lined up but I trust he will have something up his sleeve!

Re: Where do we need to Strengthen the Squad for 2013 and Be : Sun Mar 25, 2012 11:25 pm  

Lots of reasons for a poor performance and evey team has them. So we lost to Wigan and Saints away.......
no big deal as far as the season most people will be happy with our postion of of this evening. This game really identified some interesting weaknesses going forward and how we need to start looking at our recruitment for next year. Firstly we need to ensure that we rotate our forwards more for the rest of the season as we do have plently of flexibility, If Peacock is to play two more years than we cant hammer him every week For next year we need to get rid of Lee Smith, lazy, slow, no urgency in his play and simply offers nothing other than average utiliy value in the backs.

Assuming Kylie is to retire we need a big name, tough no nonesense prop. I am not sure about Ben Jones Bishop moving to full back and would leave him on the wing instead of bringing in new winger. I would look at signing a top quality Centre to replace Hardaker and move Hardaker to full back as I think he would simply be a revalation from the back and has the potential to make a world class full back. The hooking postion may also be a problem that needs addressing, I think at the moment we need to stick with Burrow and keep trying mcshane and hood and see how thinks progress this season.

Saints were up for todays game and we were not at the races from the kick off. The loss of Mcquire left too many changes and Burrow looked out of sorts behind a beaten pack and back playing at scrum half. We were poor in defence and we were not hitting hard in the tackle and were allowing Saints to play the ball to quick by not controlling then ruck. For most of the first half we were running backwards looking towards are own posts as Roby and Co swept up field.

While I would congratulate Saints on their performance Leeds were a shadow of the team we have seen this year and at times the defence was simply awful and at least 5 of the Saints trys were down the diabolical defence.

Its just one game and proberbly the kick up the booty we needed. Hudds at home, Bradford away and London at home are all fixtures we are capable of winning so we can soon get them back on the horse.

Re: Where do we need to Strengthen the Squad for 2013 and Be : Sun Mar 25, 2012 11:40 pm  

Tingley Rhino wrote:

Its just one game and proberbly the kick up the booty we needed.

Correct! Now we have no excuses.

Re: Where do we need to Strengthen the Squad for 2013 and Be : Sun Mar 25, 2012 11:49 pm  

Leeds were awful indeed. Not sure about moving Hardaker to fullback - that would just open another problem in the centres wouldn't it?

Re: Where do we need to Strengthen the Squad for 2013 and Be : Sun Mar 25, 2012 11:53 pm  

No my thoughts are for next season and beyond. New centre next year to fill the gap.

Re: Where do we need to Strengthen the Squad for 2013 and Be : Mon Mar 26, 2012 12:13 am  

...but we possibly have a good fullback in BJB and a good backup winger. Moving Hardaker creates a hole that may not need to exist at all.

Re: Where do we need to Strengthen the Squad for 2013 and Be : Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:22 am  

From the very little I watched last year of BJB at Full Back he looks to have potential there. I have had me my moments slating Webb, but I really think he has a good effect on those in front of him. Bring through a good winger/bring in a world class winger.
Didn't see enough of Ward to comment on his creative side, but having seen what the halves offer without Mcguire and with Kev not firing it was a big concern.