This Off Season : Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:58 pm  

Is this the biggest off season the club has since the switch to summer rugby IMO.

It is now the perfect opportunity to show that we still have ambition to be challenger for silverware. The club needs to show that it can still attract big name payers and it must have some serious salary cap space available to play with.

Re: This Off Season : Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:13 pm  

redeverready wrote:

Is this the biggest off season the club has since the switch to summer rugby IMO.

It is now the perfect opportunity to show that we still have ambition to be challenger for silverware. The club needs to show that it can still attract big name payers and it must have some serious salary cap space available to play with.

I agree with all this. The club really needs to signal it's intentions (if it has them) to challenge for all silverware :- League leaders, GF and CC.

We really need to sign quality, and possibly big name players to show this.

A half and someone to strengthen the three-quarters are top priority and I wouldn't mind an impact prop as some have said. Come on Macca & Mr. Hood, show us that the club wants to win as much as we want it to win.

: Fri Jul 24, 2009 7:17 am  

As always in this situation, there are many 'ifs'. However, if (as assumed), Jeffries & Tadulala are going, we at least need to replace them just to get back to the standards of this season ( ). That's before we start to address the deficiencies of the current season, which are - at least - a half back and a centre.

As I haven't seen enough of Hall or l'Estrange to be able to judge, I'll take it on trust for now that they are adequate replacements for Morrison and Newton, but that still leaves us needing 2 new half backs and 2 outside backs just to be competitive. And to be real contenders, we could probably (as mentioned elsewhere) do with another winger and an impact prop - not to mention a serious upgrade to the coaching staff.

Given that we have just 2 quota spots available, that there appear to be few quality OOC British players knocking about and that we're unlikely to have a warchest for more than the odd major signing (if that), this off season does indeed look like a major challenge.

Re: This Off Season : Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:28 am  

Ewwenorfolk wrote:

I agree with all this. The club really needs to signal it's intentions (if it has them) to challenge for all silverware :- League leaders, GF and CC.

We really need to sign quality, and possibly big name players to show this.

A half and someone to strengthen the three-quarters are top priority and I wouldn't mind an impact prop as some have said. Come on Macca & Mr. Hood, show us that the club wants to win as much as we want it to win.

You've been saying all this for the last month and a half. At least

: Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:53 am  

I think we've fallen too far to expect to challenge for silverware next season IMO. A few of the poor performers will be there next season which won't help. Not to bring it up again but when it comes to the big games i still don't think McNarama is up to it.

: Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:56 am  

dixie wrote:

I think we've fallen too far to expect to challenge for silverware next season IMO. A few of the poor performers will be there next season which won't help. Not to bring it up again but when it comes to the big games i still don't think McNarama is up to it.

Yet we've still beaten Leeds and Saints this year.

Hmm.

: Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:57 am  

dixie wrote:

Not to bring it up again but when it comes to the big games i still don't think McNarama is up to it.

I dunno he can kick as well as Deacon and he still warrants a place

: Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:58 am  

cieranblonde wrote:

Yet we've still beaten Leeds and Saints this year.

Hmm.

Do you think Leeds and Saints thought they were big games? Only 2 points on offer just as when we lost to Celtic

: Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:00 am  

cieranblonde wrote:

Yet we've still beaten Leeds and Saints this year.

Hmm.

Oh yeah.. sorry.. That proves he's a big game coach. 2 sodding league games. Salford have done same.

: Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:24 am  

I'd say it is a big pre season yes.
And I'm sure the team at Odsal will be working very hard to bring in some quality and big names next year.

Ensuring the promising youngsters are also adequatley tied down must also not be forgotton.

The competition as it stands means (IMO) a turn around from bottom 3 to top three isn't that unlikely anymore. Leeds and St.Helens will obviously the ones still to watch, although I don't think they will have it all quite their own way in seasons to come (nor will any team come to that)