Re: How d'you think the team is shaping up for next season? : Mon Oct 19, 2015 11:40 am  

The best thing about the strategy if signing players this year is that there's a lack of dual reg/loan players which I'm over the moon about.

That wasn't the plan last year unless I'm mistaken. We signed an agreement with Wakey during the season when we suffered a number of injuries to our senior players plus we had the couple who walked out.

Hendo will be measured next year as it's his team not one he has picked up mid season.

Leigh look strong and are probably the benchmark.

Re: How d'you think the team is shaping up for next season? : Mon Oct 19, 2015 11:48 am  

CrusaderPete wrote:

We still look worryingly lightweight, however we do have a good three months for that to be remedied and I live in eternal hope that one day, London will have a coach who realises that 'nippy' wingers, 'brave' fullbacks and 'smart' half backs are irrelivent without a platform on which to perform.

Both the RFL and the NRL have been looking jointly at changes to the rules and specifically around interchanges. The NRL have already announced the rule changes for 2016 including a reduction in interchanges from 10 to 8. It's likely to make skill and fitness as important if not more important than just bulk and power. It is probable that the RFL will follow suit. Whether they are waiting until post the NZ games I'm not sure but it would seem silly not to try and co-ordinate the rules across the board. They did state that a decision on the recommendations would be made in time for 2016.

If the clubs have already been told (or just banking on its introduction) then perhaps the signings being made are more appropriate to the future rather than just the present rules in place.

Re: How d'you think the team is shaping up for next season? : Mon Oct 19, 2015 12:01 pm  

It's interesting the rule change thing, we were already halfway there Anyhow with only 10 interchanges so not convinced the RFL will follow the lead this year. It is a pretty major rule change and you would like to think that they would have announced it before now. If it did come in then it certainly would change the dynamics of teams, the big lads would have to do longer on the pitch so who knows it may play into our hands

Re: How d'you think the team is shaping up for next season? : Mon Oct 19, 2015 12:07 pm  

apols. I've amende my post NRL were also on 10 interchanges last year

Re: How d'you think the team is shaping up for next season? : Mon Oct 19, 2015 1:36 pm  

With all this talk about needing props, it may of gone unnoticed we only have 10 backs currently signed up for 2016, compared to 16 forwards.

Re: How d'you think the team is shaping up for next season? : Mon Oct 19, 2015 5:06 pm  

Makes me laugh.
Back in the day, in the UK we had a maximum of 6 interchanges from 4 subs, with the ref. able to blood bin players, who could be temporarily sub'd for up to 10 minutes while they received attention. Whereas in Australia they had unlimited interchanges from 4 subs (roll on, roll off).

When it was suggested that the rule should be harmonised there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth down under. The compromise reached was 12 interchanges, including blood binnings by the ref. (i.e. the ref. could use up one of your interchanges if a player needed extended attention for a bleeding injury).

So it is somewhat ironic that it's the Australians are leading the reduction in interchanges when it was they who complained about reducing interchanges.

Re: How d'you think the team is shaping up for next season? : Tue Oct 20, 2015 7:13 pm  

Rugby League has never been one to not change things, be that new or just repeated.

Re: How d'you think the team is shaping up for next season? : Tue Oct 20, 2015 10:14 pm  

The NRL has been constantly tinkering and tampering with rules to make Rugby League a better product for television audiences.

Bear that in mind when you hear of any changes.

Re: How d'you think the team is shaping up for next season? : Tue Oct 20, 2015 11:56 pm  

Not many seasons pass without at least one rule change