Re: Preview of 2013 squad - who's left plus rumours : Fri Dec 14, 2012 8:26 pm  

I think atm Hull FC are looking like a serious contender now;

Wigan have lost some decent players and not replaced them
Hudds have strengthened but will most likely crumble come the end of the season
Leeds dont seem to have improved their pack a great deal but they are always around come the playoffs
Saints havent done much as of yet but usually come good
Wire dont need to get any more players they have keep the same squad and still look the strongest
KR are similar to us getting the odd player here and there

The season may be a long old slog but maybe thats what we need a hard fought campaign that shows we can battle the best. (keep injuries to a minimum of course)

Table prediction (i know its early)

1. Warrington
2. Hull FC
3. Catalan
4. Wigan
5. Leeds
6. Saints
7. Bradford
8. Huddersfield
9. Wakefield
10. Hull Kr
11. Widnes
12. Castleford
13. London
14. Salford

Re: Preview of 2013 squad - who's left plus rumours : Fri Dec 14, 2012 8:42 pm  

Dream on mystic dream on.

Re: Preview of 2013 squad - who's left plus rumours : Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:40 pm  

BOYD2 wrote:

Dream on mystic dream on.

It's hardly an unlikely prediction now is it?

Re: Preview of 2013 squad - who's left plus rumours : Sat Dec 15, 2012 5:06 am  

Our squad isn't a whole lot worse than it was last year and without the 6 point deduction we would have finished above all the aforementioned teams and Huddersfield to boot. Finishing in a similar position is by no means unattainable. If we finally learn to close out games we'll win more than we did last season too.

Re: Preview of 2013 squad - who's left plus rumours : Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:59 am  

cieranblonde wrote:

Our squad isn't a whole lot worse than it was last year and without the 6 point deduction we would have finished above all the aforementioned teams and Huddersfield to boot. Finishing in a similar position is by no means unattainable. If we finally learn to close out games we'll win more than we did last season too.

Agreed. Our back line looks better with Foster coming in and Blythe who can play centre. Purtell is back from a long time out. Gale and Sammut are more settled. Foster offers a kicking alternative. Whitehead is not starting with a five match ban. Evans and Sidlow offer more than Kopczak and Burgess IMO. Bateman another year older and Donaldson at full fitness is like a whole new signing. We won't concede as many penalties too now that Elima is away.

Add to the fact that the uncertainty is over then I would argue we are a bit stronger. Scruton returning also seems to have been overlooked too.

Re: Preview of 2013 squad - who's left plus rumours : Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:26 am  

mystic eddie wrote:

Agreed. Our back line looks better with Foster coming in and Blythe who can play centre. Purtell is back from a long time out. Gale and Sammut are more settled. Foster offers a kicking alternative. Whitehead is not starting with a five match ban. Evans and Sidlow offer more than Kopczak and Burgess IMO. Bateman another year older and Donaldson at full fitness is like a whole new signing. We won't concede as many penalties too now that Elima is away.

Add to the fact that the uncertainty is over then I would argue we are a bit stronger. Scruton returning also seems to have been overlooked too.

I wasn't too worried about the forthcoming season, but your unbounded optimism is a cause for concern, I put it down to your burgeoning friendships with TT &FA!

Re: Preview of 2013 squad - who's left plus rumours : Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:42 am  

We're considerably weaker in the forwards. We lost 3 out of our best 4 props plus our biggest and best second rower.

We've recruited a kid who hasn't played Super League plus a lad they're happy to release at Salford. There are positives - Blythe and Purtell is potentially very strong on the right side but the pack is a shadow of last year.

Re: Preview of 2013 squad - who's left plus rumours : Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:14 am  

mat wrote:

15 tries in 87 appearances (AS) against 8 tries in 203 appearances (KM)
Slightly less average mtrs gain last year but set against 2 errors, 12 penalties and 29 offloads (AS) as opposed to 13 errors,25 penalties and only 2 offloads (KM) for virtually same number of appearances
On his day mason can be great but we need a solid grafter and can't afford to be on back foot from errors and penalties so IMO sidlows the better fit for where we are as a team. If we could have got mason too then great but if its one or the other then the stats speak for themselves.

you missed from your analysis the superior tackle and missed tackle rates of Sidlow compared to Mason, another reason for preferring him given the pack does look weak but FC commenting in the tna article about Sidlows offloads may be an indicator of his priorities, offence the best form of defence. His tackle bust rate is much much higher than Mason too.

Re: Preview of 2013 squad - who's left plus rumours : Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:22 am  

Blotto wrote:

I wasn't too worried about the forthcoming season, but your unbounded optimism is a cause for concern, I put it down to your burgeoning friendships with TT &FA!

Blotto, I have never waivered. I say it as I see it. Some agree, some don't. It is all about opinions TBF.

Re: Preview of 2013 squad - who's left plus rumours : Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:26 am  

M@islebugs wrote:

We're considerably weaker in the forwards. We lost 3 out of our best 4 props plus our biggest and best second rower.

We have lost Burgess, Hargreaves and Kopczak, not Fielden, Peacock and Anderson in all fairness. Hardly irreplaceable. More game time from Scruton will more than make up for Kopczak, Sidlow should offer more than Burgess and we also have the addition of Evans too.

As for Elima best second row? Matter of opinion of course but I cannot agree. Penalty machine cost us more yards than he made last season. Bateman is a more than capable replacement.