Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:12 am  

Grimmy wrote:

Does that work when you have the weaker pack though, as we generally seem to? I think Lam is playing to our strengths, which are that we generally have a faster, fitter and more skilful side.

I was thinking more about stopping Hastings getting caught with the ball on the 4th (a consequence of him having the freedom to play), or absolutely dreadful kicks on the 5th.

One of our strengths is our defence. I'd happily see us forgo the usual bomb to the corner in favour of a kick that turns the FB/winger and lets us hunt the error in defence.

Let's also not skirt over the issue of the weaker pack too. It's been a glaring issue for quite a while and we've signed three props during Lam's time with us. Only Singleton has improved us, but even then he's not making massive yards.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:17 am  

jonh wrote:

......

Think he is a great coach and perfect for the GB/England job and I’d be disappointed if he walked away after the World Cup as I don’t think we stand a snowballs chance in hell this time around but could do in 4 years time under his leadership.

I agree with this, especially f he could get time to work face to face with the players (especially over a 3 match series) and get them to buy into how he expects his teams to play and, more importantly, to win

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:44 pm  

jonh wrote:

Think he is a great coach and perfect for the GB/England job and I’d be disappointed if he walked away after the World Cup as I don’t think we stand a snowballs chance in hell this time around but could do in 4 years time under his leadership.

Bang on the money there, though I am struggling with his 35 man squad (Manfredi?!?!). We won’t win the WC this year but if he can remain as England then GB coach I think we have a far better chance.

On Lam’s “style” honestly I struggle to see what it is most of the time other than ‘Give it Hastings/French’ like when we played as kids and just gave it the biggest lad to score. Our kicking tactics are poor and when it’s not going well we run quickly out of ideas. But when it clicks, it really clicks and it looks slick and sublime. That being said we don’t have the strongest pack so perhaps, as someone has already suggested, Lam is playing to our clear strength in the back line.

Part of me would have Wane back in a shot, his success whilst here is irrefutable but a large part of me thinks it’s been and gone and bringing him back in would be a step back. I don’t think Lam will be here in 2022 in all honesty and that’s not me saying I want him gone but realistically he’s been here for 3 years now and he only intended to be here 1 and his family are back in Australia. If we don’t win a GF or CC it’s relatively easy for him to walk away with dignity.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 07, 2021 3:58 pm  

Salty wrote:

No thank you! I like to be entertained. After watching Wigan for over 60 years I was thinking of packing it in when Wane was coach.
I was buzzing after watching the Wakefield match last Thursday. Some of the tries were enthralling!

Yeah i got sick of going to Old Trafford and winning games myself. Its much better turning up now not knowing if the players will be up for it or not? This fallacy of boring negative rugby is the very same brand both Holbrook and Woolf have brought to saints last 2 years, its very easily confused for winning big games and trophies.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Apr 07, 2021 4:48 pm  

JonnyBroad wrote:

Yeah i got sick of going to Old Trafford and winning games myself. Its much better turning up now not knowing if the players will be up for it or not? This fallacy of boring negative rugby is the very same brand both Holbrook and Woolf have brought to saints last 2 years, its very easily confused for winning big games and trophies.

I had issues with Wane but as I said I would take winning every game 6-0 with a barge over try and winning a trophy over 40 point wins, bottling the big games and coming away with the hubcap/dinner plate/shield

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Apr 08, 2021 12:57 pm  

Going back to Lam only getting a one year deal, it was interesting to read comments from Aaron Woods about how not knowing who the coach will be, hinders contract negotiations; https://www.sportingnews.com/au/amp/league/news/nrl-2021-cronulla-sharks-john-morris-coaching-saga-aaron-woods-rugby-league/13dpi7hlcdvhlzrqf9mczg9rm “I went through it at the Tigers. If you don’t know who your coach is going to be, players don’t want to come and sign, or re-sign as well. "If you don’t know who your coach is going to be, are players going to re-sign or are they going to come? They just want to know who is going to be here." As a side note, Woods would be a great pick up for 2022. I also wouldn't Mind Morris as a Head Coach if Lam leaves too.

Going back to Lam only getting a one year deal, it was interesting to read comments from Aaron Woods about how not knowing who the coach will be, hinders contract negotiations; https://www.sportingnews.com/au/amp/league/news/nrl-2021-cronulla-sharks-john-morris-coaching-saga-aaron-woods-rugby-league/13dpi7hlcdvhlzrqf9mczg9rm “I went through it at the Tigers. If you don’t know who your coach is going to be, players don’t want to come and sign, or re-sign as well. "If you don’t know who your coach is going to be, are players going to re-sign or are they going to come? They just want to know who is going to be here." As a side note, Woods would be a great pick up for 2022. I also wouldn't Mind Morris as a Head Coach if Lam leaves too.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Apr 10, 2021 7:52 am  

sergeant pepper wrote: Going back to Lam only getting a one year deal, it was interesting to read comments from Aaron Woods about how not knowing who the coach will be, hinders contract negotiations; https://www.sportingnews.com/au/amp/league/news/nrl-2021-cronulla-sharks-john-morris-coaching-saga-aaron-woods-rugby-league/13dpi7hlcdvhlzrqf9mczg9rm As a side note, Woods would be a great pick up for 2022. I also wouldn't Mind Morris as a Head Coach if Lam leaves too. Woods would be a good acquisition but he wouldn’t be the ‘barn storming’ prop we desperately need. He would undoubtedly improve our pack though it has to be said. I don’t know a lot about Morris but from that article he is highly thought of in the NRL which is usually a good indication.

sergeant pepper wrote: Going back to Lam only getting a one year deal, it was interesting to read comments from Aaron Woods about how not knowing who the coach will be, hinders contract negotiations; https://www.sportingnews.com/au/amp/league/news/nrl-2021-cronulla-sharks-john-morris-coaching-saga-aaron-woods-rugby-league/13dpi7hlcdvhlzrqf9mczg9rm As a side note, Woods would be a great pick up for 2022. I also wouldn't Mind Morris as a Head Coach if Lam leaves too. Woods would be a good acquisition but he wouldn’t be the ‘barn storming’ prop we desperately need. He would undoubtedly improve our pack though it has to be said. I don’t know a lot about Morris but from that article he is highly thought of in the NRL which is usually a good indication.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Apr 11, 2021 5:32 pm  

Andrew Fafita signing for Trinity.

Not saying we should be in for him but it shows that NRL players are starting to become available now things are settling down with their squads.

Might be someone on our radar hopefully in the not too distant.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Apr 11, 2021 5:38 pm  

Patrick Ah Van signed for North Wales, we've missed out again !!!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Apr 11, 2021 5:41 pm  

jonh wrote:

Andrew Fafita signing for Trinity.

Not saying we should be in for him but it shows that NRL players are starting to become available now things are settling down with their squads.

Might be someone on our radar hopefully in the not too distant.

That's a big signing for Wakey.

He looked shot last season, so a risky one too.