2016 Squad Requirements : Sun Oct 04, 2015 7:57 am  

So this season we have fallen agonisingly short at the very last hurdle of many put in front of us to regain a spot in SL.

So assuming for now that none of our star players move on and we're remaining FT despite Lowes unhelpful post match comments where do we need to strengthen?

I'd say we need two strong sizeable Props and a scrum half as an absolute must. Thoughts?

Re: 2016 Squad Requirements : Sun Oct 04, 2015 8:06 am  

We need a new coach before we go any further. Lowes' decisions over the season combined with his negative, petulant attitude proves that he's not up to the job.

Re: 2016 Squad Requirements : Sun Oct 04, 2015 8:08 am  

bullsonfire wrote:

We need a new coach before we go any further. Lowes' decisions over the season combined with his negative, petulant attitude proves that he's not up to the job.

Oh you should have said...on every thread. We might well need a new direction but I think that's another thread.

Re: 2016 Squad Requirements : Sun Oct 04, 2015 8:10 am  

All of the above

Re: 2016 Squad Requirements : Sun Oct 04, 2015 8:53 am  

Regardless of what may or may not happen with Lowes or FT/PT or who is under contract next year, next year we definitely need a defence coach, far too much shirt grabbing recently and leaking points, a complete defensive structure overhaul is needed.

I'd say a 28 man squad including 2 or 3 U-19s should be fine.

1. Lee Smith* / James Mendeika
2. James Clare / Omari Caro
3. Dane Nielsen / Matty Blythe
4. Adrian Purtell / Kris Welham*
5. Danny Williams / U-19s (Ethan Ryan?)
6. Lee Gaskell / Oscar Thomas
7. Jake Mullaney / Danny Addy
8. Paul Clough / Dan Fleming
9. Adam O'Brien / Vila Halafihi
10. Adam Sidlow / Steve Crossley
11. Tom Olbison / Matt Ryan
12. Dale Ferguson / Lucas Walshaw
13. Jay Pitts / Alex Mellor
14. Samir Tahraoui / U-19s (Jack Georgiou?)

*Smith and Welham = heavily rumoured.

Re: 2016 Squad Requirements : Sun Oct 04, 2015 9:17 am  

hindle xiii wrote:

Regardless of what may or may not happen with Lowes or FT/PT or who is under contract next year, next year we definitely need a defence coach, far too much shirt grabbing recently and leaking points, a complete defensive structure overhaul is needed.

I'd say a 28 man squad including 2 or 3 U-19s should be fine.

1. Lee Smith* / James Mendeika
2. James Clare / Omari Caro
3. Dane Nielsen / Matty Blythe
4. Adrian Purtell / Kris Welham*
5. Danny Williams / U-19s (Ethan Ryan?)
6. Lee Gaskell / Oscar Thomas
7. Jake Mullaney / Danny Addy
8. Paul Clough / Dan Fleming
9. Adam O'Brien / Vila Halafihi
10. Adam Sidlow / Steve Crossley
11. Tom Olbison / Matt Ryan
12. Dale Ferguson / Lucas Walshaw
13. Jay Pitts / Alex Mellor
14. Samir Tahraoui / U-19s (Jack Georgiou?)

*Smith and Welham = heavily rumoured.

That's not a bad side, but I have to agree that we need a better coach to get the best out of it.

Re: 2016 Squad Requirements : Sun Oct 04, 2015 9:24 am  

Two big aggressive props and a scrum half. Hopefully we won't see an exodus. A lot of key players have actually signed deals for next year recently (Mullaney, Sidlow etc)

The ones I think we are vulnerable of losing are (Gaskell, Ferguson and O'brien) priority is try to keep these 3. Rest I expect to stay. Trim the squad down and bring in 3 quality players where we fell short and we go again next year.

Re: 2016 Squad Requirements : Sun Oct 04, 2015 9:30 am  

2 brutish props and a scrum half please.

Re: 2016 Squad Requirements : Sun Oct 04, 2015 9:40 am  

[quote="hindle xiii"]Regardless of what may or may not happen with Lowes or FT/PT or who is under contract next year, next year we definitely need a defence coach, far too much shirt grabbing recently and leaking points, a complete defensive structure overhaul is needed.

I'd say a 28 man squad including 2 or 3 U-19s should be fine.

1. Lee Smith* / James Mendeika
2. James Clare / Omari Caro
3. Dane Nielsen / Matty Blythe
4. Adrian Purtell / Kris Welham*
5. Danny Williams / U-19s (Ethan Ryan?)
6. Lee Gaskell / Oscar Thomas
7. Jake Mullaney / Danny Addy
8. Paul Clough / Dan Fleming
9. Adam O'Brien / Vila Halafihi
10. Adam Sidlow / Steve Crossley
11. Tom Olbison / Matt Ryan
12. Dale Ferguson / Lucas Walshaw
13. Jay Pitts / Alex Mellor
14. Samir Tahraoui / U-19s (Jack Georgiou?)

*Smith and Welham = heavily rumoured.[/quote]


Mendeika not good enough IMO, sign a scrum half and play Mullaney at 1 with Thomas as cover along with Clare. Thomas /Mullany/Addy cover at halfback.
2 Props are required as well.

Re: 2016 Squad Requirements : Sun Oct 04, 2015 10:00 am  

An experienced hooker and a scrum half.

I'd like to see Brian Noble or John Kear get a grip of the props that we've already got before showing them the door.