Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Dec 27, 2020 5:34 pm  

Tricky Dicky wrote:

Jones Bishop would be a good 12 month deal however we wont sign anyone as we have enough cover for wing with Bibby, Field, French, Hallsall or Hanley who could cover there.

I don’t see it as a position that is a priority but if we could secure a good prop and have cap space left then wing is the area id be hoping we would be looking to recruit in.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Dec 27, 2020 6:17 pm  

jonh wrote:

I don’t see it as a position that is a priority but if we could secure a good prop and have cap space left then wing is the area id be hoping we would be looking to recruit in.

We wont be bringing any more props in we have

Bullock
Singlton
Havard
Partington
Clubb
Byrne
Burgess
Kilner

Thats 8 players in the squad who can line up at prop if needed.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Dec 27, 2020 6:26 pm  

Tricky Dicky wrote:

We wont be bringing any more props in we have

Bullock
Singlton
Havard
Partington
Clubb
Byrne
Burgess
Kilner

Thats 8 players in the squad who can line up at prop if needed.

Exactly what I thought. We need another quality prop in there for my money at the expense of Clubb and A N Other probably. On the right money Ben Jones Bishop might be a shrewd signing. He’s no slouch and whilst he won’t set the world alight, he isn’t a poor player either.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Dec 27, 2020 7:21 pm  

Tricky Dicky wrote:

We wont be bringing any more props in we have

Bullock
Singlton
Havard
Partington
Clubb
Byrne
Burgess
Kilner

Thats 8 players in the squad who can line up at prop if needed.

I think we will probably run with 5 middles in the 17 most weeks next year.

The Burgess situation realistically puts us at 7 props, and Clubb seems incapable of either big minutes or stringing a run of games together.

Partington I think will rotate around 13 so that leaves us with - Bullock, Singleton, Havard & maybe Byrne as Props most weeks. Kilner is very promising but he shouldn’t be playing week in week out.

It is very difficult to consistently get on top week in week out with 2 junior props.

If Burgess was fit then I would agree no need for another prop but as it is I think we absolutely need another experienced prop on the books much more than we need anybody in any other positions.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:26 pm  

Tricky Dicky wrote:

We wont be bringing any more props in we have

Bullock
Singlton
Havard
Partington
Clubb
Byrne
Burgess
Kilner

Thats 8 players in the squad who can line up at prop if needed.

One that’s obviously gone
One that can’t do more than 15 minutes even in a GF
One that has 1 first team appearance
That effectively leaves 5.

A high number but low in quality and effectiveness

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Dec 28, 2020 12:27 am  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

One that’s obviously gone
One that can’t do more than 15 minutes even in a GF
One that has 1 first team appearance
That effectively leaves 5.

A high number but low in quality and effectiveness

How will it compare to the Saints pack next season? Have they brought anybody in?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Dec 28, 2020 12:36 am  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

One that’s obviously gone
One that can’t do more than 15 minutes even in a GF
One that has 1 first team appearance
That effectively leaves 5.

A high number but low in quality and effectiveness

I don’t think it’s low quality but I do think 1 more prop in his prime would be a big boost to the team.

Singleton transformed our pack last year because he came in as a genuine battle hardened prop in his prime. In my opinion 1 more of a similar age/quality puts us as clear favourites next year.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Dec 28, 2020 12:56 am  

jonh wrote:

I don’t think it’s low quality but I do think 1 more prop in his prime would be a big boost to the team.

Singleton transformed our pack last year because he came in as a genuine battle hardened prop in his prime. In my opinion 1 more of a similar age/quality puts us as clear favourites next year.

Partington isn’t a prop so for me we have
Havard Bullock and Singleton out and out props
Not good enough to win a GF for me.
Burgess is the noisey elephant in the room
Clubb the waste of cap in the room

Genuinely think we are being over optimistic for next year
Several clubs are investing in new players we’ve resigned Bateman
Personally if possible I’d have let Hastings go and sign a proper prop
Let’s see what happens

Good to see Huddersfield and Leeds sign some on paper decent lads

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Dec 28, 2020 5:45 am  

There definitely needs to be some reshaping done in the prop department but that may have to wait for 2022 by the looks of things. There’s enough to work with in 2021 to challenge for trophies but if only we had an effective George Burgess (the one in his pomp) then we’d be pretty heavy favourites for trophies IMO. The Burgess situation will decide how we shape up in that department going forward. I’m hopeful Havard, Byrne and Kilner can really push on next season and if they do you never know how we’ll go and how that could impact on future recruitment needs. It’s been easy to forget about Liam Byrnes talents. His season got ruined by covid but up until the point of him getting it, he was going really well.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Dec 28, 2020 11:50 am  

Tricky Dicky wrote:

We wont be bringing any more props in we have

Bullock
Singlton
Havard
Partington
Clubb
Byrne
Burgess
Kilner

Thats 8 players in the squad who can line up at prop if needed.

Ah we also have Mitch Clarke who as yet is still at the club.