Re: Doom and Gloom! : Mon May 20, 2013 2:17 pm  

markrammond wrote:

The likes of Mark Bryant, Michael Channing, Liam Colbon, Matthew Cook, Luke Dorn, David Howell, Alex Hurst, Will Lovell, Chris Melling and Chad Randall are very likely to face uncertain futures and the older players are probably finished in terms of top-level Rugby.

Is this list true or just supposition? In either case I am not sure it is fair to post it. I would find it extraordinary if Cook was on the list, as he appears to have been just about our only forward to consistently put in.

Re: Doom and Gloom! : Mon May 20, 2013 2:24 pm  

What was really disturbing on Saturday was not so much being thrashed but the way London were, and the term is correct, bullied. I forget who it was scored a try, carrying a London defender over the line while waving the ball around as if to pass it. It was like he was carrying a toddler on a walk in the park. I've rarely seen that level of difference between two teams in the same league.

Re: Doom and Gloom! : Mon May 20, 2013 2:35 pm  

The lists of off-contract players are common knowledge: http://www.zerotackle.com/super-league/ ... ract-2013/ It is also common knowledge of the anti-tamper deadline by which time clubs notify players of their thinking The letters have definitely been sent out within our club and all these named players are out of contract at the end of the season, alongside Bailey who is believed to have signed for the Giants and Sarginson who is believed to have signed for Wigan. The club has not announced a contract extension for any of these players as yet, so we can assume that many will be leaving. Whether this will be externally communicated or we will see them at the last game on the pitch is a different thing. Obviously a promised conditional contract is still not job security and be unsettling still perhaps. Especially if your destiny is likely to be part-time when you are a young professional or you are on big money and in your early 30s but have not played well consistently since 2009. I believe our best seven players are Gower, Dixon, Bailey, Clubb, Cook, Lee and a fully fit and healthy Kaufusi and I wish we could build the team around them

The lists of off-contract players are common knowledge: http://www.zerotackle.com/super-league/ ... ract-2013/ It is also common knowledge of the anti-tamper deadline by which time clubs notify players of their thinking The letters have definitely been sent out within our club and all these named players are out of contract at the end of the season, alongside Bailey who is believed to have signed for the Giants and Sarginson who is believed to have signed for Wigan. The club has not announced a contract extension for any of these players as yet, so we can assume that many will be leaving. Whether this will be externally communicated or we will see them at the last game on the pitch is a different thing. Obviously a promised conditional contract is still not job security and be unsettling still perhaps. Especially if your destiny is likely to be part-time when you are a young professional or you are on big money and in your early 30s but have not played well consistently since 2009. I believe our best seven players are Gower, Dixon, Bailey, Clubb, Cook, Lee and a fully fit and healthy Kaufusi and I wish we could build the team around them

Re: Doom and Gloom! : Mon May 20, 2013 3:18 pm  

markrammond wrote:

I believe our best seven players are Gower, Dixon, Bailey, Clubb, Cook, Lee and a fully fit and healthy Kaufusi and I wish we could build the team around them

Totally agree. Cook and Clubb are about the only forwards who seem to give us any momentum going forward.

As for non OOC players, I just can’t get my head round players like Rodney and Robertson, Grand Final winners and yet ....

Wheeldon goes ok and I guess we are stuck with lightweights like Krasniqi and Dollapi.

OOC players I wouldn’t shed a tear over any of them leaving, in fact Colborn has been so anonymous, he might as well have left.

The problem is, looking at other teams OOC players who would we really want ? Who would want to come here ? Donaldson ? Lulia ? Whitehead ? Henderson ? Faiumu ? Bailey (Ryan ) ? Carvell ? Flower ? Taylor ?

Re: Doom and Gloom! : Mon May 20, 2013 3:28 pm  

'You'd have to imagine that this would have a very negative effect in the short-term in morale across the whole squad, especially when you look at the fact that three of the Australians on this list believed to be leaving were signed by Tony Rea in his first spell here and thus have been with the club for about 20 years, so they will be massively influential/vocal'

If I understand what you are saying - who has been with the club for 20 years? no one I can remember has been around that long not even Tony Rae. If this is the reason for the weekends debacle what was the reason for the last four years poor performances. Bit puzzled - maybe I misunderstand your post

Re: Doom and Gloom! : Mon May 20, 2013 4:21 pm  

Sorry, that was poor communication.

The Australians signed by Tony Rea have played for the club for a combined 20 years between them all.

Randall has been here since around 2005/2006, Howell since 2008, Dorn has been here for two spells with his first in 2005-2006 and second since 2009.

I think Melling is the longest serving English player from another club.
That is pretty much a clear out of all your longest serving players in one go if all go as I believe is going to be the case.

That is going to have a big impact, after all, these guys were the playing foundation in the past and probably the social foundation for new starters.

Re: Doom and Gloom! : Mon May 20, 2013 4:54 pm  

markrammond wrote:

Sarginson who is believed to have signed for Wigan.

Dan denied this at the weekend, he said he has had offers from several clubs as well as of course from our club, he loves London but is honoured that other clubs would like to sign him, he said his Management will be at the Magic Weekend and he will have discussions with them and they will have discussions with London.

I feel that Dan is not the finished product yet and one more season in London will do no harm, yes going to another club you can say he will have better players around him, but would he get regular matches?

Re: Doom and Gloom! : Mon May 20, 2013 6:32 pm  

The thing is, if you were to move to any club you have to honestly ask yourself - Am I better than the starting 13 in any position? Them, am I better than the starting 17 in any position? And if not, when will I be? Otherwise you will be out on loan unless luck falls your way.

I couldn't see Dan dislodging anyone at Wigan that is for sure.

Re: Doom and Gloom! : Mon May 20, 2013 6:56 pm  

Agree Rammo...no disrespect to Sargi but it would be surprising if Wigan don't have anyone as good as him amongst their young'uns.

He would be better served sticking around here for another year (and hope he can stay fit...he's either injury prone or a bit unlucky, take your pick).

Re: Doom and Gloom! : Mon May 20, 2013 7:49 pm  

Whilst I'd agree a year of regular first team action would be best the length of contract comes into play. It would seem likely we will be offering one year contracts given the uncertainty about our future. The potential financial security of, say, a three year deal elsewhere will surely be rather attractive.