Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Nov 14, 2021 3:48 pm  

I think is a big mistake and one we'll look back on as being another Tony Clubb type deal error.

It's time for Smithies to really step into the role Isa has & likewise, there's a couple of lads who need to move into the role that Smithies currently occupies too

Add in that he takes a quota spot and it's even more baffling.

I'm sure that won't be a popular opinion tho.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Nov 14, 2021 4:17 pm  

Tough one with Isa. I don't have a problem with him as a player and he certainly seems to have a very professional attitude. However 2 years is too long at his age, we have plenty 2nd rowers already and he takes up that all important quota spot which could hinder recruitment next year.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Nov 14, 2021 4:38 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

Tough one with Isa. I don't have a problem with him as a player and he certainly seems to have a very professional attitude. However 2 years is too long at his age, we have plenty 2nd rowers already and he takes up that all important quota spot which could hinder recruitment next year.

Yet you where over the moon when your 35 year old hero carried on for another 2 seasons, just saying like

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Nov 14, 2021 4:51 pm  

The Whiffy Kipper wrote:

Yet you where over the moon when your 35 year old hero carried on for another 2 seasons, just saying like

With all due respect to Isa, Lockers was in a different class. That's before we get to the fact that we were hardly over run with ball playing loose forward options. Oh, and just to make it a full house, he didn't take up a quota spot.

Other than that, the two are indeed identical

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Nov 14, 2021 4:56 pm  

Happy enough with the news. I do get the concerns that he takes up a quota spot but we need to try and get together a more settled squad. You would have to think it will be Tommy’s last year and then you have Field and French off contract,so there will potentially be a few spots open. Ideally French and Field play out of their skins in 2022 and we’re happy to keep them on.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Nov 14, 2021 5:04 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Happy enough with the news. I do get the concerns that he takes up a quota spot but we need to try and get together a more settled squad. You would have to think it will be Tommy’s last year and then you have Field and French off contract,so there will potentially be a few spots open. Ideally French and Field play out of their skins in 2022 and we’re happy to keep them on.

I am pretty confident that French will extend his deal providing family issues do not prevent him from doing so.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Nov 14, 2021 5:07 pm  

Sweaty Betty's wrote:

I am pretty confident that French will extend his deal providing family issues do not prevent him from doing so.

Would love to think so

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Nov 14, 2021 5:12 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Happy enough with the news. I do get the concerns that he takes up a quota spot but we need to try and get together a more settled squad. You would have to think it will be Tommy’s last year and then you have Field and French off contract,so there will potentially be a few spots open. Ideally French and Field play out of their skins in 2022 and we’re happy to keep them on.

We're still not sure if Tommy takes a quota spot as we currently have 8 if he does. Depending on that, we MAY have 1 space next year if one of French or Field don't stay or none if they do. I know that's a lot of ifs and buts, however taking a quota spot on a 2nd row next year when we have so many options already and more coming through doesn't strike me as the best forward planning. A 1 year deal then reassess next year would have been preferable in my opinion. No problem with him staying this year (or even next depending on where we are regarding quota spots). I just think 2 years is perhaps not the best option for the club.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Nov 14, 2021 5:26 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

We're still not sure if Tommy takes a quota spot as we currently have 8 if he does. Depending on that, we MAY have 1 space next year if one of French or Field don't stay or none if they do. I know that's a lot of ifs and buts, however taking a quota spot on a 2nd row next year when we have so many options already and more coming through doesn't strike me as the best forward planning. A 1 year deal then reassess next year would have been preferable in my opinion. No problem with him staying this year (or even next depending on where we are regarding quota spots). I just think 2 years is perhaps not the best option for the club.

That’s true. I’m hoping we’ll be happy enough this year to finally keep a settled squad and we don’t feel the need to bring 5 or 6 new lads in again. We’re going to need to be proactive on moving for any targets here as well. It’s probably going to be the centre position we’ll need a player in to replace Hardaker and then other than that the quota spots may be needed if French and/or Field go.

I’d probably have gone with the year and a years option as well but I sense they really rate Isa as a man who sets standards in training and we do need more stability. It’s certainly not the craziest decision we’ve made and I can’t see it being another Tony Clubb style mistake.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Nov 14, 2021 5:49 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

That’s true. I’m hoping we’ll be happy enough this year to finally keep a settled squad and we don’t feel the need to bring 5 or 6 new lads in again. We’re going to need to be proactive on moving for any targets here as well. It’s probably going to be the centre position we’ll need a player in to replace Hardaker and then other than that the quota spots may be needed if French and/or Field go.

I’d probably have gone with the year and a years option as well but I sense they really rate Isa as a man who sets standards in training and we do need more stability. It’s certainly not the craziest decision we’ve made and I can’t see it being another Tony Clubb style mistake.

No, I can't see it being a Clubb style extension either. Isa is a model pro and seems as fit as the proverbial butcher's dog. He certainly has been durable up to now. As you say, he's probably a good man to have around the club too with regards to setting standards etc. If he wasn't taking up a quota spot I probably wouldn't be questioning it.