Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Oct 29, 2023 10:44 am  

Simmo71 wrote:

Yeh Newman did OK yesterday, without trying too much.
Showed he can actually do a centres job and put his winger in at the corner.
But for me, he is way off NRL standard.
Their 3/4's are all bigger, stronger and more athletic.
Fair play if he wants a crack, but like many backs before him, he won't make it.

And agree with Jim on Burgess.
He's just so big and strong, really difficult to handle.

I still worry about our pack next year if we don't have any more incomings.
On paper, the pack is weaker than this year and we got rolled in the majority of games.
Not much the new backs are going to be able to do about that.

Our starting pack is good. I actually think Holroyd is potentially our best prop, if he can get his conditioning right (and be used right), he’s a potential England prop next 1-2 years.

Him, Oledski, Sangare, Lisone is a big set of props we just need them fit and in form. Ackers will make a difference and Smith has a superb season last year. Plenty of competition in the back row and hopefully Martin back in there.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Oct 29, 2023 11:02 am  

While I agree Oledski and Holroyd will be better I still think we are too light,especially with any kind of injury.

I know we have no chance of Burgess but his performance yesterday is what we need. A big lump that bends the line and mostly gets on his front for a quick ish PTB.
I'd Hudson or Goudemand can do that ( even to a lesser degree) then awesome. If not then we are just adding more workhorses to a pack full of them.

Some are reporting we are now after an outside back with olpherts leaving because of how injury prone Newman/ fusi are so I doubt we are looking at the type of forward we need.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Oct 29, 2023 11:05 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

Our starting pack is good. I actually think Holroyd is potentially our best prop, if he can get his conditioning right (and be used right), he’s a potential England prop next 1-2 years.

Him, Oledski, Sangare, Lisone is a big set of props we just need them fit and in form. Ackers will make a difference and Smith has a superb season last year. Plenty of competition in the back row and hopefully Martin back in there.

Admire your optimism Jim, but they're the same forwards that got rolled most games this year, minus Tetevano and Walters, arguably our best forward in the second half of last season.
They've only been replaced with a french 'middle' who has struggled for game time.
Oldeski and Sangare are going to have to massively improve.
And a couple of injuries and we are in trouble.

I'm still hopeful for another incoming prop.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Oct 29, 2023 11:09 am  

all depends how smith wants the side to play. he doesn't seem to be a coach, on the evidence of his tenure so far, to want a side involved in forward battles. maybe he wants a more mobile pack? only time will tell

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Oct 29, 2023 11:15 am  

You can play wide a bit when you have the ball, but you can't stop a big pack rolling downfield if you're lightweight. It would be a crying shame to have the best backs we've had in years only to get flattened up the middle when it matters.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Oct 29, 2023 11:35 am  

couldn't agree more. just smith doesn't seem to want to do the obvious.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Oct 29, 2023 12:14 pm  

I think the backs and the halves can make a significant difference to the forwards. If your halves can put you in the right part of the field, stretch the line wider as they have the ability to pass around you and your backs can keep hold of the ball, not make silly mistakes and score points to apply pressure. If you do that then you aren’t defending as often, you aren’t always defending from a poor position, you force the opposition to play in a way to try and score points and make more mistakes etc.

Yeah we need a big line bending prop (how many times I have heard that phrase on here is crazy) but we needed new half backs, some pace at full back and a high skill centre more in my opinion.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Oct 29, 2023 12:24 pm  

Lprhino wrote:

I think the backs and the halves can make a significant difference to the forwards. If your halves can put you in the right part of the field, stretch the line wider as they have the ability to pass around you and your backs can keep hold of the ball, not make silly mistakes and score points to apply pressure. If you do that then you aren’t defending as often, you aren’t always defending from a poor position, you force the opposition to play in a way to try and score points and make more mistakes etc.

Yeah we need a big line bending prop (how many times I have heard that phrase on here is crazy) but we needed new half backs, some pace at full back and a high skill centre more in my opinion.

Yep, the obvious was sorting out the spine. Box emphatically ticked. They've got Goudemand, apparently Hudson, and now appear to be in the process of clearing some cap to bring in another prop. Strategy looks bang on to me.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Oct 29, 2023 12:56 pm  

it will become clearer in time I guess

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Oct 29, 2023 1:04 pm  

tad rhino wrote:

couldn't agree more. just smith doesn't seem to want to do the obvious.

He's sorted the halves and added pace to fullback with was greatly needed.Recruitment isn't finished yet so let's see if we can add one maybe two props.