Re: 2017 Squad : Mon Oct 10, 2016 8:16 am  

martinwildbull wrote:

Thanks, thats easier to find.

No worries. If people want this to be the pinned thread for next season, I'm happy to keep it up to date as and when things comes out by the way.

(I've edited original post with some extra info now)

Re: 2017 Squad : Mon Oct 10, 2016 1:15 pm  

roofaldo2 wrote:

The pack, however, is worryingly light in terms of LF and 2nd rowers.

Still, there's time enough before next season

I really don't know why we aren't getting Tom Olbison signed up straight away. He obviously wants to stay, isn't getting any better offers, frankly, and is better than most of what is going to be around at this point.

Re: 2017 Squad : Mon Oct 10, 2016 1:37 pm  

paulwalker71 wrote:

I really don't know why we aren't getting Tom Olbison signed up straight away. He obviously wants to stay, isn't getting any better offers, frankly, and is better than most of what is going to be around at this point.

It's difficult to know without being "on the inside" really. There's every chance he's asking for more money than the club / Rohan think he's worth. Or Rohan may just not rate him. Or Olbison may have told the club he actually doesn't want to be here any more. All total guesswork, but without knowing the reasons, it's difficult to understand why he's likely on his way out.

Re: 2017 Squad : Mon Oct 10, 2016 3:34 pm  

paulwalker71 wrote:

I really don't know why we aren't getting Tom Olbison signed up straight away. He obviously wants to stay, isn't getting any better offers, frankly, and is better than most of what is going to be around at this point.

No, I don't get it either. The lad's a work horse who doesn't get the praise he deserves.
He was always slightly overshadowed because he came through at the same time as Bateman and Whitehead, but he's kept on and been a steady player

Re: 2017 Squad : Mon Oct 10, 2016 4:33 pm  

suspect in olbisons case we're working to a very tight budget and giving him a deal might not leave us with enough in the pot for someone higher up coaches priority list. Also think theres still 4 or 5 on books that arent really in our plans and we'd like to move them on or get them on season long loans which might free up enough extra to sign olbison on.

Re: 2017 Squad : Mon Oct 10, 2016 5:08 pm  

HamsterChops wrote:

It's difficult to know without being "on the inside" really. There's every chance he's asking for more money than the club / Rohan think he's worth. Or Rohan may just not rate him. Or Olbison may have told the club he actually doesn't want to be here any more. All total guesswork, but without knowing the reasons, it's difficult to understand why he's likely on his way out.

He supposed had a offer from Wakey on the table which they have backtracked on. So because he was wiling to leave we are playing hardball now.

Re: 2017 Squad : Tue Oct 11, 2016 8:00 am  

redeverready wrote:

He supposed had a offer from Wakey on the table which they have backtracked on. So because he was wiling to leave we are playing hardball now.

I know hes homegrown etc but if im honest I like this attitude if its the case. Smith obviously wants players in who want to be at the club. If Olbison was prepared to leave its understandable Smiths hesitance in giving him a new deal

[Bullseye]

Re: 2017 Squad : Tue Oct 11, 2016 10:01 am  

For me Olbison has to be on absolutely top form to get in my 17 and he’s had a bit of a year to forget. 2015 was his best season when he made more impact in attack than I’d seen before. This season he’s not showed any of that form. We’re currently lacking some big aggressive lads in the second row and if Olbison has to make way to bring them in then so be it. He’s a steady player who could still do us a job but the need to include some power in the pack is more important. We got bullied a lot last year and that can’t happen again or all the flair at halfback and backs will be to waste.

Re: 2017 Squad : Tue Oct 11, 2016 11:27 am  

roofaldo2 wrote:

The pack, however, is worryingly light in terms of LF and 2nd rowers.

something I thought I'd never see typed on this forum

Re: 2017 Squad : Tue Oct 11, 2016 11:29 am  

Bullseye wrote:

For me Olbison has to be on absolutely top form to get in my 17 and he’s had a bit of a year to forget. 2015 was his best season when he made more impact in attack than I’d seen before. This season he’s not showed any of that form. We’re currently lacking some big aggressive lads in the second row and if Olbison has to make way to bring them in then so be it. He’s a steady player who could still do us a job but the need to include some power in the pack is more important. We got bullied a lot last year and that can’t happen again or all the flair at halfback and backs will be to waste.

I think that's a bit harsh. Right now we hardly have anyone on our books who can play 13, and not many that can cover the back row forward positions like Tom can.
He's not been grabbing the headlines this season but can you pinpoint any specific instances of him having a particularly bad game? Perhaps those where he was (imo wrongly) used as a prop.
You only have to look at the try he scored against Sheffield as a display of what Tom is capable of. I hope we keep him.