Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 09, 2022 11:14 am  

100% Warrior wrote:

I disagree. He had players at Cas who had a point to prove for a reason. He turned them around, brought through Trueman. At Wire he has used academy prospects which have yielded better results. I don’t think he’s afraid to utilise youth nor do I think he’s a small club man. If he can get rid of the dead wood and bring in players who actually fit into a good culture and not money sucking vultures, they will be a force to be reckoned with. If he gets the bullet before that, they’ll be for a long time a ‘big club’ who wins nothing.

His record of bringing youth through is pretty dire. Trueman was brought in from Bradford to form part of the first team squad. I’m trying to think of any other young players he’s brought through and helped them forge a career and it’s tough to come up with anything from his Cas days. If he’s a small club coach or not I can’t really prove either way but he’s certainly struggling to get a tune out of his big names at Wire. Maybe he just needs his men in but the ones he’s brought in for this season have been pretty poor so far.

I’d stick by an assessment that I don’t see him bringing long term success to them because I don’t think he will ever invest properly in his juniors and a long term successful club needs that. The signs are already there IMO that they’ll move on from Thewlis next season, Riley Dean doesn’t have a deal and was dropped at the first opportunity. Wrench looks a class act but will be accommodated on the wing when Matautia and King are fit and available. Wire might not have thought the rugby would be sparkling but Shaun Wane would’ve been a great fit for them IMO. Powell might nail a trophy as a one off in the next few seasons (if he’s there) but he won’t set them up for the longer term (signings like Dudson and Kasiano sort of sum that up).

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 09, 2022 11:33 am  

Not a rumour as such more an observation.

Was reading yesterday an article saying that over 100 players from Premiership Rugby Union clubs are not being offered contracts for next year due to financial pressures post Covid.
I’d hope us and other league clubs are scouring those lads as I’m certain there will be one or 2 gems in there who are suited to the 13 man code.

I’d be putting particular emphasis on outside backs and flankers/number 8’s. With the cap dispensation still in place I believe I think it could be a risk free (almost) strategy to give a lifeline to a lad with a bit of potential.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 09, 2022 12:31 pm  

jonh wrote:

Not a rumour as such more an observation.

Was reading yesterday an article saying that over 100 players from Premiership Rugby Union clubs are not being offered contracts for next year due to financial pressures post Covid.
I’d hope us and other league clubs are scouring those lads as I’m certain there will be one or 2 gems in there who are suited to the 13 man code.

I’d be putting particular emphasis on outside backs and flankers/number 8’s. With the cap dispensation still in place I believe I think it could be a risk free (almost) strategy to give a lifeline to a lad with a bit of potential.

Outside of wingers I’m not sure and I’m not sure there will be any better than what we already have? When was the last Union player to come over and have much success? Burrell was a success in Union but was awful at Warrington and the players being tossed aside won’t be of his status or likely ability. It was forever said that Powell was a Rugby League player all over and he had the perfect skill set to cross over but he just couldn’t handle the physical/fitness side of things.
I agree we should be looking but I wouldn’t hold my breath that we get anyone decent.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 09, 2022 12:37 pm  

CobraCraig wrote:

Outside of wingers I’m not sure and I’m not sure there will be any better than what we already have? When was the last Union player to come over and have much success? Burrell was a success in Union but was awful at Warrington and the players being tossed aside won’t be of his status or likely ability. It was forever said that Powell was a Rugby League player all over and he had the perfect skill set to cross over but he just couldn’t handle the physical/fitness side of things.
I agree we should be looking but I wouldn’t hold my breath that we get anyone decent.

to be fair Burrell was 30 when he came over and went back to Union and hasnt scored there since either

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 09, 2022 12:52 pm  

jonh wrote:

Not a rumour as such more an observation.

Was reading yesterday an article saying that over 100 players from Premiership Rugby Union clubs are not being offered contracts for next year due to financial pressures post Covid.
I’d hope us and other league clubs are scouring those lads as I’m certain there will be one or 2 gems in there who are suited to the 13 man code.

I’d be putting particular emphasis on outside backs and flankers/number 8’s. With the cap dispensation still in place I believe I think it could be a risk free (almost) strategy to give a lifeline to a lad with a bit of potential.

Rumours Regan Grace going the other way.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 09, 2022 1:27 pm  

CobraCraig wrote:

Outside of wingers I’m not sure and I’m not sure there will be any better than what we already have? When was the last Union player to come over and have much success? Burrell was a success in Union but was awful at Warrington and the players being tossed aside won’t be of his status or likely ability. It was forever said that Powell was a Rugby League player all over and he had the perfect skill set to cross over but he just couldn’t handle the physical/fitness side of things.
I agree we should be looking but I wouldn’t hold my breath that we get anyone decent.

Ben Flower, Gil Dudson both Union converts.

There are plenty of lads running round in Union who have a skill set that suits league better.

Just got to find them as we are not talking about household names here. Talking project signings.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 09, 2022 2:13 pm  

jonh wrote:

Ben Flower, Gil Dudson both Union converts.

There are plenty of lads running round in Union who have a skill set that suits league better.

Just got to find them as we are not talking about household names here. Talking project signings.

I don’t think either played professional Union and both converted to league early and worked their way up through the Welsh sides. I just think winger aside it’s going to be tough for a Union player to come across and have an impact at Superleague level but I do agree there is no harm looking.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 09, 2022 2:15 pm  

MattyB wrote:

Rumours Regan Grace going the other way.

Think that’s been on the cards for a bit, certainly the Saints fans seem to think so with him only signing a year deal. Being Welsh and playing Union is such a big thing so you can’t blame him for going (plus more money) but he might struggle to get in the side, Wales are pretty stacked on the wing.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 09, 2022 2:28 pm  

Pemps wrote:

Barrow or Canberra?

Oulton

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Jun 09, 2022 3:29 pm  

jonh wrote:

Not a rumour as such more an observation.

Was reading yesterday an article saying that over 100 players from Premiership Rugby Union clubs are not being offered contracts for next year due to financial pressures post Covid.
I’d hope us and other league clubs are scouring those lads as I’m certain there will be one or 2 gems in there who are suited to the 13 man code.

I’d be putting particular emphasis on outside backs and flankers/number 8’s. With the cap dispensation still in place I believe I think it could be a risk free (almost) strategy to give a lifeline to a lad with a bit of potential.

I'd never object to having a look. Many great players have come over from Union.

The only issue these days seems to be that even their lesser men want big money, and in the age of the salary cap is that something we can risk?

That said, did I hear something about a cap dispensation of some sort for ex-Union players?