Re: Where will we finish : Mon Jan 28, 2013 9:22 am  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

1. Warrington
2. St Helens
3. Leeds
4. Catalans.
5. Hull FC
6. London (if Gower fit all season)
7. Wigan
8. ?

Wigan will sorely miss Finch and Leuluai.

If Gower remains fit London will be in close contention with Catalans and Hull FC for 4th spot.

Fortunately the club has key spots well covered except scrum half and prop. Only Gower is irreplaceable.

FB Dorn, Robertson, Dixon
WG Robertson, Dixon, Colbon, Melling
CE Howell, Sarginson, O'Callaghan, Channing
SO Witt, Dorn, Sargison
HB Gower

LF Clubb, Bailey, Grady
SR Bailey, Rodney, Cook, McMeeken
PR Kaufusi, Wheeldon, Bryant, Krasniqi, Clubb
HK Randall, Lee

IMO the club must get a reserve scrum half on loan, maybe even one from France! Otherwise the coaches only option if Gower is injured is to move Dorn to SH, which is not his best and most effective position, (though he does have experience there from his younger days).

Bishay and Thomas are coming on well, Dorn has been coming on in the friendlies in place of Gower. But you are right Craig (GOD) Gower is irreplaceable. Now to finish above Wigan that would be remarkable, if farfetched! Catalans finishing fourth! now I know this is an early April fool!

Re: Where will we finish : Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:40 am  

Wigan will miss not only Leulai and Finch, but also Hock and Carmont. So 7th is not too far fetched.

Catalans are still very strong. The only question mark is the coach. They came 4th in 2012, so why not in 2013?

Re: Where will we finish : Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:50 am  

If we can stay resonably injury free, seventh is more than possible. I also agree that Wigan could have a tricky season (or is that just wishful thinking?).

[brian2]

Re: Where will we finish : Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:24 am  

Any position better than the last 2 years will do. We ought to be targeting 8 - we need to review after first 6 games - if we have won the winnable games, then things looking up.

Agree re Gower - but would have thought Witt or even Bailey a better option than Dorn, Dorn either full back or SO

Re: Where will we finish : Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:08 pm  

8th for me

Re: Where will we finish : Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:22 pm  

Has to be top 8 or something's wrong.

Re: Where will we finish : Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:40 pm  

poplar panther wrote:

Bishay and Thomas are coming on well, Dorn has been coming on in the friendlies in place of Gower. But you are right Craig (GOD) Gower is irreplaceable. Now to finish above Wigan that would be remarkable, if farfetched! Catalans finishing fourth! now I know this is an early April fool!

I would think we would be hard pushed to get a better SH at this stage than Thomas is alleged to be. He is training with the first team squad so i take this to mean thats the intention. If he does a good job when he has to cover - job done! If not, try for a loan signing. Better to keep our options open for when injuries bite us.