Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Sep 24, 2024 10:38 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

Byrne's drop-off has been quite drastic. He bossed the start of the WCC but since getting sent off on Good Friday he's been way off. Not sure if it's mental or physical (know he was carrying injuries last year) but it's a shame.

It can’t be that drastic, Peet is still selecting him.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Sep 24, 2024 10:40 pm  

[quote="Itchy Arsenal"]Chan the project doesn’t seem to be working so extremely hard at this point to see him as a long term prospect.
Eseh loaned out twice and couldn’t get a game at Hull. I had high hopes of him but maybe he’s been found out? Hopefully he can and will kick on in 2025 but he will need another prop to exit to open the door for him.
I heard from a source that is usually pretty reliable that Byrne was going to Huddersfield.
Don’t get me wrong as we are still in a very enviable position but that can change quickly due to injury or monetary pressures from clubs actively seeking rare resources i.e. quality prop

Eseh is only a kid.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Sep 24, 2024 10:43 pm  

What has got us to where we are is being stocked with forwards, although I do agree with NK that we do need a backrow forward. What we don’t want to do is regress by letting our forwards move to other clubs and therefore reducing the competition for places.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 25, 2024 3:32 am  

[quote="Zig"]

I think people forget this.

Prior to this year he’s had one full season in SL.

He’s still growing and developing.

He’s got all the raw materials to be an excellent prop but we need to be patient with him.

I’d expect him to step up the pecking order with the departures we will see in the offseason and be looking to be getting game time in our 17 in 2025 with a view to him being part of the regular 17 in 2026.

When he joined Wigan he had a great frame physically on which to build and we have added a good bit of weight on him in one off season which takes a bit of time for him to get used to, which wasn’t helped with him missing the most important part of the preseason through injury.

A good offseason from 24-25 I think will see him make significant strides. There is a reason he was sought after by all the big clubs, he has bags of raw talent and physicality he just needs a bit of time to perfect them.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 25, 2024 11:08 am  

[quote="jonh"]
I want Eseh to succeed but found it a little odd that he couldn’t get any decent game time with one of the worst full time professional teams that ive ever seen. Maybe he was injured during his time at Hull? Like yourself I have great hopes for the lad but perhaps I’m being a little impatient in seeing him deliver his obvious potential.

My original analysis of the “fringe props” was to dilute the general assumption that we have massive strength in depth with Chan and Eseh obviously not considered ready right now and that with another long term injury to a first team regular prop we’ve only got Hill to come in with Byrne being linked with other clubs.
We have still got the best set of props in the competition and I’m more than happy with how the club have significantly improved the team in this critical area but i don’t envy KR in having to be super vigilant even in areas where we are currently blessed.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 25, 2024 11:20 am  

I feel a bit for Eseh and also Sam Walters. They both looked to have big pre seasons but then picked up injuries and have since struggled to get things going. It's tough to come in to a new club and claim a place in such a competitive squad at the best of times but to try and do it after injury is even harder.

It'll be a big pre season for both in 2025 IMO. I think Peet will want to see both really try and smash it and lay a marker down for a place going in to the season. If they can do that without injury trouble, who knows what can happen. Sometimes things are about luck and timing and a spot may open up via another injury or whatever and then those lads might be able to build some momentum.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 25, 2024 12:41 pm  

[quote="Itchy Arsenal"]
it wont let me quote your last post

i get the point you were making, but we still have lots of depth at prop even accounting for Eseh and Chan

Thompson
Havard
Cooper
Byrne
Mago
Dupree
Ellis
Hill

that rotation is the best in the league by some distance as we have already commented. I included Hill as he has performed in big games when called upon, and Ellis even though he's played 13 all season

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 25, 2024 1:24 pm  

[quote="jonh"]
Does he have the right mentality Jonh? You look at Nsemba who is of a similar age and standing at the start of the season and he just looks like he can run through brick walls. Sam has similar size but does he have the same attitude? I'm not saying he doesn't, btw. I don't really know and I think I'm right in saying you've worked with him?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 25, 2024 1:36 pm  

[quote="Phuzzy"]

Yes he has the mentality.

Do think he’s using this as a development season too? Yes, but I’m confident the club are comfortable with that plan too.

He’s a very tough lad and has an excellent work ethic which is what attracted us to him in the first place.

If anyone remembers him absolutely manhandling Isa when he played at the JJB for Trinity when he was still a teenager you have a glimpse of what he is capable of. I’m certain Isa was instructed to give him an “interview” that day and he passed with flying colours.

He’s not the athlete Nsemba is, he’s worked very hard in the offseason to get a couple of stone of muscle on but missed much of the match conditioning sessions later in preseason due to injury at exactly the wrong time.

His main attribute as he is a point of difference to the other props on our books with his ability to stand in the tackle and offload.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Sep 25, 2024 5:04 pm  

No concerns over Eseh. He will be here next season training and playing in around a better group with a whole different mentality to the clubs he has been at. He has had to go out and do it tough at struggling clubs and is probably grateful to be back. Hill will step into Coopers spot next season and Eseh will step into Hill's. My advice would be to trust in the process brcause the club can hardly put a foot wrong at the minute. Plus he has a certain Sean O'Loughlin coaching him. If he can't learn from him then he never will.