Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 03, 2021 11:48 am  

nathan_rugby wrote:

Why do you think his heart isn't in it?

He's being sarcastic.

"His heart isn't in it" is the usual line many put forward, but without any proof or examples - hence EG's response of "so would I".

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 03, 2021 12:12 pm  

Few potential interesting possible ramifications from a few things this week.

Most obviously we have long been rumoured to be recruiting a prop should salary cap measures allow.

Looking at the statement from the club reading between the lines I would say it looks likely there has been a financial agreement reached between Burgess and club. This figure I believe will count towards the cap, however that being said it is unlikely to be anywhere near the salary he would be drawing so we must clearly have some money now to play with.

The other more random development seems to be Hastings bulking up.

Whilst I fully expect him to play mostly in the halves next year and we know he has played 9 at times and it is a position Lam believes he can play just speculation on mu part but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the 13 role at times this year.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 03, 2021 12:25 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

Fair play to Rogues Gallery - he called this one three months ago.

One down one to go

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 03, 2021 1:19 pm  

If we are trailing in a game and need to score points I’d expect to see something like this for the final 20 minutes

1.) French

6.)Field
7.) Tommy/Smith

9.) Powell

13.) Hastings

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:13 pm  

jonh wrote:

Few potential interesting possible ramifications from a few things this week.

Most obviously we have long been rumoured to be recruiting a prop should salary cap measures allow.

Looking at the statement from the club reading between the lines I would say it looks likely there has been a financial agreement reached between Burgess and club. This figure I believe will count towards the cap, however that being said it is unlikely to be anywhere near the salary he would be drawing so we must clearly have some money now to play with.

The other more random development seems to be Hastings bulking up.

Whilst I fully expect him to play mostly in the halves next year and we know he has played 9 at times and it is a position Lam believes he can play just speculation on mu part but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the 13 role at times this year.

Is he bulking up? Where have you seen that?

Probably just gained weight from not playing rugby and on his jollies for over a month in Australia.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:14 pm  

NSW wrote:

If we are trailing in a game and need to score points I’d expect to see something like this for the final 20 minutes

1.) French

6.)Field
7.) Tommy/Smith

9.) Powell

13.) Hastings

lol

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:17 pm  

nathan_rugby wrote:

Is he bulking up? Where have you seen that?

Probably just gained weight from not playing rugby and on his jollies for over a month in Australia.

I don’t follow any of them on social media but from what I have been told he is posting quite deliberately about his weight gain.

I appreciate he is on an extended break but I’m not sure the club will be condoning him living life too well and certainly not him promoting bad weight gain it being the case.

I was under the impression he and French were in training just in Australia not England at the moment.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:27 pm  

nathan_rugby wrote:

Are you joking? Smith isn't quite ready and Field, how many times have you seen him play?

He was one of our best and most consistent players last year.

Smith does deserve a good run and has great potential. He looked great in some games last year and lost/average in others. If he gets some opportunity this year and improves more then he could be in the starting 13 for 2022 but I cannot imagine him being anywhere near Hastings level yet.

Field could turn out to be amazing or could flopp. Nobody really knows yet.

I can’t recall seeing Field play, which is why I haven’t commented on how good (or not) he is. As you say he could be amazing or he could be sh1t3. Time will tell!

Sam Tomkins, in the eyes of many, wasn’t quite ready but it worked out fine for him. That won’t go for everyone granted but the point is that you never know if a player is ready until he’s given that chance. I do agree with your assessment though FWIW.

Don’t get me wrong I definitely am not calling for Hastings to go, if it was up to me he’d be signed for the rest of his career. I just don’t believe that if he were to go suddenly now it would be as bad as some think. It would harm us short term but ultimately someone takes over the mantle and carries it on.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:29 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

I'm hoping that if we bring another prop in, we're looking for a British one.

By far and away, the best props of the SL era have mostly been GB ones. Obviously there's been some very good imports, but it's also very hit and miss. For every Kylie Leuluai there's a Roy Asotasi.

I’d be seriously looking at Liam Watts to be honest. He’d immeasurably improve our pack

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 03, 2021 3:53 pm  

NSW wrote:

If we are trailing in a game and need to score points I’d expect to see something like this for the final 20 minutes

1.) French

6.)Field
7.) Tommy/Smith

9.) Powell

13.) Hastings

im hoping Isa plays 13 or Havard, if I see Bateman there I wont be happy as hes probably the worlds best right second rower so to not use him there is crazy, sorry to derail