Re: Message from GH : Mon May 13, 2019 3:32 am  

The main plan has to be to sort out key positions. We've got more than enough props now, and some decent kids coming through in the back row as well.

The focus has to be on the spine. Whilst 'getting rid' of players on the cap is hard, if we've learned anything over the past three seasons its that whilst you can be competitive with even one decent halfback, you'll struggle to win anything at all without one. Even if it means losing one or more of our players with some kind of value from elsewhere, we've just got to sort out a halfback. I tend to think we need a 1 and 9 as well, but first things first.

The other thing that is an absolute must is ditching any bad dressing room influences. I'm 100% sure we've got at least a few rotten apples in our squad. They need to be got rid of almost regardless of cap impact.

Re: Message from GH : Mon May 13, 2019 5:38 am  

Yep good post is that and agree

Re: Message from GH : Mon May 13, 2019 5:58 am  

BrisbaneRhino wrote:

The main plan has to be to sort out key positions. We've got more than enough props now, and some decent kids coming through in the back row as well.

The focus has to be on the spine. Whilst 'getting rid' of players on the cap is hard, if we've learned anything over the past three seasons its that whilst you can be competitive with even one decent halfback, you'll struggle to win anything at all without one. Even if it means losing one or more of our players with some kind of value from elsewhere, we've just got to sort out a halfback. I tend to think we need a 1 and 9 as well, but first things first.

The other thing that is an absolute must is ditching any bad dressing room influences. I'm 100% sure we've got at least a few rotten apples in our squad. They need to be got rid of almost regardless of cap impact.

This hits the spot for me too.

Re: Message from GH : Mon May 13, 2019 1:23 pm  

I really cant get making a big show off occasion of opening the Northstand especially when the team is in such a mess.

Re: Message from GH : Mon May 13, 2019 3:14 pm  

Hello everyone....sometime since I've posted....I'm transferring to North Stand from
South Stand on Thursday, got a feeling the evening will be quite restrained, the natives will be rather subdued...at least I hope so, lots and lots of critical eyes....
The irony of the situation will be of course beating Castleford, believe it!!

Re: Message from GH : Mon May 13, 2019 3:20 pm  

Barley Mow wrote:

Hello everyone....sometime since I've posted....I'm transferring to North Stand from
South Stand on Thursday, got a feeling the evening will be quite restrained, the natives will be rather subdued...at least I hope so, lots and lots of critical eyes....
The irony of the situation will be of course beating Castleford, believe it!!

Maybe it should be billed as the team that can no longer attack versus the team that can no longer defend?

Re: Message from GH : Tue May 14, 2019 6:18 am  

Biff Tannen wrote:

Take out our marquee players and the squad as a whole on paper is absolute tripe.yes there are a few prospects like Walker, Oledski, Smith and Newman who in time likely top SL players.Ward is good but never fit but the rest are either way past it or simply not good enough/ destined to be journeymen scraps picked up by the basement boys every season.

Next coach has to be given the complete 100 percent backing to rip all this up and make his own choices or we will be going round in circles for a long time to come.

Sadly there is the issues of contracts - my understanding was Ablett was given a two year contract so he will be here next year regardless of the coach - same goes for a number in the squad. Lolohea & Crosby has two years left after this one seldom plays - and the other doesn't appear to be either fit or good enough - what can a new coach do in a salary cap sport.

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: Message from GH : Tue May 14, 2019 6:47 am  

Have to ask, this not moving contracted players on, its not impossible. Warrington refreshed our squad in 2015/16 and moved a number of players out that werent in smiths plans.

Jonas went to cas with 12 month left on a contract, chris bridge was shown the door with 2 years left and both james laithwaite and gary wheeler went before their deals expired.

Re: Message from GH : Tue May 14, 2019 7:00 am  

Fantastic Mr Catpiss wrote:

Have to ask, this not moving contracted players on, its not impossible. Warrington refreshed our squad in 2015/16 and moved a number of players out that werent in smiths plans.

Jonas went to cas with 12 month left on a contract, chris bridge was shown the door with 2 years left and both james laithwaite and gary wheeler went before their deals expired.

Requires owners with deep pockets. Leeds I think must now realise they need to do the same

Re: Message from GH : Tue May 14, 2019 7:06 am  

I think we have to be imaginative. Also when push comes to shove in some cases we just need these guys away from the club. If we have to pay their salary but they are either a bad dressing room influence or just comically bad then we may as well pay them to play for someone on loan and put a kid in the team instead.

Whilst some of the older players (e.g. Cuthbertson) might be happy to just take the coin and run out their contracts, some younger players might decide that the long-term impact of dropping into the Championship (or lower) after being deemed surplus in a dreadful SL side might be worse than trying to move whilst they still retain some market value. Not to mention self respect and some kind of urge to be seen to be good players.