Now that Gower is gone, securing talent is primary. : Sun Jun 09, 2013 10:07 pm  

The tragic departure of Craig Gower has freed up a chunk of money previously committed, and left a gap below the salary cap maximum spending that can be filled.

First, there are now no excuses for London to lose its scarce remaining talent, especially Chris Bailey, in 2014. If there is to be any rebuilding of the club's player roster, Bailey should be part of it.

The same applies to Tony Clubb, especially if the rumours of the predatory St. Helens advances on him are true.

To a lesser extent this point applies to Sarginson as well, though I agree with those who have pointed out his failings in defence and his failure to pass the ball to his wingers.

London can survive the loss of Sarginson, but it will not stop the on field free fall if it doesn't have Bailey and Clubb.

Kieran Dixon needs to be secured beyond 2014, assuming that the club continues in Super League beyond 2014.

However the most important and urgent problem in terms of the player roster that has to be addressed is finding a new and capable scrum half. How that can be realized is hard to fathom, because there is such a scarcity of good scrum halves (Luke Walsh, just purchased by St Helens, is a mediocrity except for his field and goal kicking).

One possibility: if Scott Dureau returns to good health, might there be a chance of snaring Thomas Bosc?

Re: Now that Gower is gone, securing talent is primary. : Sun Jun 09, 2013 10:17 pm  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

One possibility: if Scott Dureau returns to good health, might there be a chance of snaring Thomas Bosc?

With the state this club is in at the present we'd have trouble snaring Shane Grady for another season.

Re: Now that Gower is gone, securing talent is primary. : Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:05 am  

I'd settle for some centres who can tackle.

Re: Now that Gower is gone, securing talent is primary. : Mon Jun 10, 2013 1:52 pm  

I wouldn't be surprised if we haven't signed a single new player yet for next season.

Re: Now that Gower is gone, securing talent is primary. : Mon Jun 10, 2013 2:40 pm  

Or any players, for that matter.

How can we realistically sign or keep anyone, when our future is so uncertain?

This is Deja Vu 2010 season...remember when DH threatened to pull the plug unless the RFL took some responsibilty for the development of the youngsters in the south and also, help with PR/Marketing.

Everything was up in the air until he finally got assurances at the end of the season (DH came on the pitch at the last home game..v wire...to address the fans, iirc).

Thanks to the powers that be dragging their feet, we couldn't sign anyone decent, because most players had already been signed by other clubs (we ended up with a weak side of loan and championship standard players).

Who would have imagined that things were actually going to get worse?!

Re: Now that Gower is gone, securing talent is primary. : Mon Jun 10, 2013 2:51 pm  

jbuzza wrote:

I wouldn't be surprised if we haven't signed a single new player yet for next season.

This is what im expecting. A pointless exercise. DH knows theres no posibillity of an investor stepping forward and will avoid pouring a record loss of millions being lost next season by pulling the plug now.

All those that have said that the future of RL in London is Skolars (who they say have always been doing it right and will soon be ready for SL) must be hoping they're going to be right.

Re: Now that Gower is gone, securing talent is primary. : Mon Jun 10, 2013 3:47 pm  

First! The Club needs to decide first who is going to be Head Coach next season and this needs quick thought! Tony releases to the BBC today that he has warned his players that their futures in Super League are at stake, I think he needs to realise his is as well! the Indian Summer of a few wins at the end of last season got us carried away!

With the future of Super League's future in the balance how do you offer more than 1 year contracts?

Re: Now that Gower is gone, securing talent is primary. : Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:56 pm  

Well its unlikely that Rea won't be there unless the ownership changes. Given the clear out of players you'd think there is a strategy for their replacement. Contracts could be on basis of an option depending on future structure.

The alternative is rather unpalatable.