Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:40 pm  

nathan_rugby wrote:

Not solely down to success of props.

It’s our attacking structure and inability to create space. We’ve had ample opportunities in a lot of games and never looked like scoring.

That’s the really worrying thing with Lam (not that we need to worry much longer). We’ve spoken for ages about our issues all being down to a lack of go forward trough the middle and losing that battle but we’ve had games over recent months where we’ve at least broken even and we’ve still not looked like scoring points. The Leeds game at home was an absolute prime example. That night Singleton was excellent and overall we had a good share of that battle in the middle and we scored zero points. It’s why I didn’t get too excited with the Cas win. I’ve not seen Cas play that poorly at their place in many many years and we got 22 points (which I make sound like a mountain of points) but it was all through scrappy try’s and on the back of Cas errors.

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a team this lost in attack and when you have Hastings, Hardaker, Marshall, Gildart, Faz, Bateman etc that is appalling.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Sep 07, 2021 9:53 pm  

jonh wrote:

A lot does ride on the new props.

Our season rides on it realistically. I’m not confident it is enough of a turn around in one off seasons recruitment and retentions to correct issues which are probably 3 years old.

Miller plays his best rugby as an off the cuff runner who has a controlling half partnered with him.

Smith at the moment is massively struggling, he clearly has talent and new coaches and props may get the best out of him, and the partnership could work.

If Smith continues to perform like he has this year however, Miller will be a massive failure at Wigan should he sign.

I said on a previous post the 2 new props are punts. No more no less.
The chances of both of them being an instant success I would suggest are quite low.

With a half decent coach and another proven experienced prop we might make the top 6. The experience in the current 2022 squad will not improve upon the experience of the current squad.

I’m totally non plussed with Miller. KR seems to think he will be a great acquisition but then again he thought Clark was one of the most explosive forwards in SL.

With regards to Clark I’m assuming he will still be here next year. I’d love to hear the first one to one conversation between Clark and Wane.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Sep 07, 2021 10:01 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

That’s the really worrying thing with Lam (not that we need to worry much longer). We’ve spoken for ages about our issues all being down to a lack of go forward trough the middle and losing that battle but we’ve had games over recent months where we’ve at least broken even and we’ve still not looked like scoring points. The Leeds game at home was an absolute prime example. That night Singleton was excellent and overall we had a good share of that battle in the middle and we scored zero points. It’s why I didn’t get too excited with the Cas win. I’ve not seen Cas play that poorly at their place in many many years and we got 22 points (which I make sound like a mountain of points) but it was all through scrappy try’s and on the back of Cas errors.

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a team this lost in attack and when you have Hastings, Hardaker, Marshall, Gildart, Faz, Bateman etc that is appalling.

Statistically we have the worst attack in SL.
The last time that our attack was so poor we got relegated.
Our form in recent months is at relegation levels.
We have mountains to move to get back to being even closely competitive next season. The new signings are no were near good enough.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 08, 2021 1:45 am  

I quite like Miller, but I agree that even if he turns out to be the guy, he faces an uphill struggle. Itchy is not wrong when he says what a poor side we look. What would any newcomer to rugby league think after watching the Magic Weekend? That Wigan looked one of the poorest sides in the comp? They wouldn't be wrong.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 08, 2021 6:58 am  

I noticed Sam Williams is looking for a move to SL.

He would be a great signing but again not if he were to be paired with Smith.

Willians is a real midfield general who guides his team round the field very well.

He would complement a strike half very nicely, I think though if he were to be paired with Smith you would struggle with your running option and lose significant go forward.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 08, 2021 7:54 am  

jonh wrote:

I noticed Sam Williams is looking for a move to SL.

He would be a great signing but again not if he were to be paired with Smith.

Willians is a real midfield general who guides his team round the field very well.

He would complement a strike half very nicely, I think though if he were to be paired with Smith you would struggle with your running option and lose significant go forward.

Sam Williams from Canberra? I'd have him.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 08, 2021 8:30 am  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

Statistically we have the worst attack in SL.
The last time that our attack was so poor we got relegated.
Our form in recent months is at relegation levels.
We have mountains to move to get back to being even closely competitive next season. The new signings are no were near good enough.

A coach can make a massive difference and we’ll have to pin our hopes on that, alongside the signings we have made to turn it around. It’s hard to quantify just how bad Lam has been because as bad as it’s been, he’s still got the excuse of not having a proper front row. I agree the two prop signings are punts and we’re pinning a lot of hopes on two lads nobody knows a great deal about. They’ll have to work out for us because if not, I don’t see any coach taking us back to where we want to be (winning things) in the short term. The recruitment overall feels very much done on a basis of saving money. It doesn’t mean it can’t work if they have done some really good homework on these guys but it doesn’t fill you with the confidence that the signings of more established players would’ve done.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:45 am  

Unless Toulouse mess things up in the next couple of weeks next season is going to be brutal in the bottom half of the table and let's be honest our current form has us right down there.
Hopefully the new front row lads can give us the boost we need and French and Field need big seasons too.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 08, 2021 12:35 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

A coach can make a massive difference and we’ll have to pin our hopes on that, alongside the signings we have made to turn it around. It’s hard to quantify just how bad Lam has been because as bad as it’s been, he’s still got the excuse of not having a proper front row. I agree the two prop signings are punts and we’re pinning a lot of hopes on two lads nobody knows a great deal about. They’ll have to work out for us because if not, I don’t see any coach taking us back to where we want to be (winning things) in the short term. The recruitment overall feels very much done on a basis of saving money. It doesn’t mean it can’t work if they have done some really good homework on these guys but it doesn’t fill you with the confidence that the signings of more established players would’ve done.

I hope it works too however, our squad on paper is not as strong as the original 2021 squad.

The recruitment, some ridiculous contract extensions and an overall squad imbalance over last few years are coming home to roost. The blame for this sits solely with IL & KR.
Even with a decent coach I genuinely fear for us again next season.
We have too many props of whom we have 1 guy who has potential the rest are unknowns or generally not good enough

We are slow. God how we are slow. Slow in every single aspect of the game. I always think that we seem to be "saving ourselves" I'm not sure what for but I just struggle comprehend how slow we are.

In 2022 at the moment we don't appear to have fixed anything on the pitch. Everything will rely on the new coach and the 2 rookie Aussie forwards.

Unless some decent signings not yet disclosed suddenly appear I anticipate finishing somewhere in the bottom half next season if the 2 new Aussies "work". If we've signed 2 duds then relegation could be a distinct possibility.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 08, 2021 12:56 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

I hope it works too however, our squad on paper is not as strong as the original 2021 squad.

The recruitment, some ridiculous contract extensions and an overall squad imbalance over last few years are coming home to roost. The blame for this sits solely with IL & KR.
Even with a decent coach I genuinely fear for us again next season.
We have too many props of whom we have 1 guy who has potential the rest are unknowns or generally not good enough

We are slow. God how we are slow. Slow in every single aspect of the game. I always think that we seem to be "saving ourselves" I'm not sure what for but I just struggle comprehend how slow we are.

In 2022 at the moment we don't appear to have fixed anything on the pitch. Everything will rely on the new coach and the 2 rookie Aussie forwards.

Unless some decent signings not yet disclosed suddenly appear I anticipate finishing somewhere in the bottom half next season if the 2 new Aussies "work". If we've signed 2 duds then relegation could be a distinct possibility.

Is there a list of who will be here next season? And who's going?

Has Bullock signed for next season? What about Powell? Mitch Clarke? Leulaui?