Relegation Battle : Wed Jan 12, 2022 10:36 pm  

I just went through all the squads posted on super league site (yes vasty i have internet here in Sydney ) and unless something goes horribly wrong it has to be Toulouse for relegation closely followed by Salford.

How tough do you think Toulouse will be at home ,thought that might be a factor for them but they have not got a super league squad .

Obviously though like very year injuries will pay a part - for us i think we have a very vey tough draw to start with and could be looking up rather thank down quickly if we cant sneak a few wins early ,

Re: Relegation Battle : Wed Jan 12, 2022 10:45 pm  

Always easy to bag the team coming up but Toulouse have a fairly seasoned squad and IMO are lacking any real SL standard, they'll probably shut me right up and give us a right trashing.

Re: Relegation Battle : Wed Jan 12, 2022 11:13 pm  

TimmySmith wrote:

Always easy to bag the team coming up but Toulouse have a fairly seasoned squad and IMO are lacking any real SL standard, they'll probably shut me right up and give us a right trashing.

No so far they haven’t recruited much. So far as I can see home advantage there biggest asset, that and enthusiasm but we shall see.

Re: Relegation Battle : Wed Jan 12, 2022 11:58 pm  

vastman wrote:

No so far they haven’t recruited much. So far as I can see home advantage there biggest asset, that and enthusiasm but we shall see.

Maybe they are expecting a league re structure to save them and keeping their cash safe ?
There certainly doesn't seem to have been sufficient effort on the recruitment side.

Re: Relegation Battle : Thu Jan 13, 2022 9:09 am  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Maybe they are expecting a league re structure to save them and keeping their cash safe ?
There certainly doesn't seem to have been sufficient effort on the recruitment side.

Doesn’t seem to have been any TBH.

It’s been even more glaring because Catalan have spent so big in comparison.

Makes you wonder if Toulouse actually had a plan and never really expected to be where they are. I’m really surprised by their inactivity, so yeah you may be right.

Re: Relegation Battle : Thu Jan 13, 2022 9:55 am  

I think they are relying on settled squad with a few "money ball" type signings.

I do think they have to be favourites to go down but I think they will make a better fist of it than Leigh did.

There are some quality experienced heads in that squad players like Vavai, Peyroux, Garbut, Paulo despite being past their prime still have a good bit to offer as SL players.

Johnathan Ford I am very much looking forward to seeing in SL. I think he will go very well but he is untested at that level so hard to say.

Russell, Springer and Hankinson are the money ball signings. Russell gives you the odd brainfart but he is a good meter maker on the edge, Springer knows what SL is about and off the bench always makes an impact and I think Hankinson is a very good signing. I believe we were in for him and I would have loved to see us secure him. He is a very good kicker and quality centre I wouldn't at all be shocked to see him pushing for international honours at the end of the season if he gets an injury free run.

Pelisier and Gigot are rocks or diamonds, both can be quality or absolute liabilities.

I don't think they will be consistent. I think they will pull off a few shock results, particularly at home, but then also be on the receiving end of some tonkings too.

If they pick up injuries (which they will) the rest of the squad looks thin on quality/experience.

I think a key signing for them is Cunningham at 9. I think he is potentially a really good hooker however he seems to have lost his way a little. A bit like Hood with us, how he settles in and performs could have a major influence over how they perform.

We could very well get dragged into a relegation scrap if we don't pick up some wins early doors, but to be fair you could probably say the say about 4/5 other teams too.

I just hope we can get some confidence up early doors and if we do I think 10th-7th is a good return in 2022.

Re: Relegation Battle : Thu Jan 13, 2022 10:09 am  

vastman wrote:

Doesn’t seem to have been any TBH.

It’s been even more glaring because Catalan have spent so big in comparison.

Makes you wonder if Toulouse actually had a plan and never really expected to be where they are. I’m really surprised by their inactivity, so yeah you may be right.

They have some good players but, they dont look any better than Leigh last season (mind you, at times, we weren't as good as Leigh either).

Re: Relegation Battle : Thu Jan 13, 2022 10:09 am  

Salford have plenty of quality on there roster IMO, I don`t rate the coach but I think they will go okay this season.

Toulouse, its always hard to judge but I don`t think they were a million miles away from been a SL playing squad last year, (I may be totally wrong!, but that`s how I see it) going with a settle side with a few more quality additions is probably the best chance they will get at competing this year.

I`m picking Hudds and both Hull sides to really struggle this year.

[PopTart]

Re: Relegation Battle : Thu Jan 13, 2022 10:36 am  

Talk of other teams is fine but you have to be realistic and accept we will be on all their lists.

Re: Relegation Battle : Thu Jan 13, 2022 11:00 am  

Wildcat26 wrote:

Salford have plenty of quality on there roster IMO, I don`t rate the coach but I think they will go okay this season.

Toulouse, its always hard to judge but I don`t think they were a million miles away from been a SL playing squad last year, (I may be totally wrong!, but that`s how I see it) going with a settle side with a few more quality additions is probably the best chance they will get at competing this year.

I`m picking Hudds and both Hull sides to really struggle this year.

No they don’t have plenty of quality, I don’t know where people are getting this from!

Sorry mate but it’s not true. They have some quality no doubt but after the first 15 they have wry little and absolute nothing after that, no reserves at all. This by the way is not just my opinion but I’m reliably informed the opinion of their coach.

It wouldn’t take much of an injury crisis to totally derail them.

They have 27 players of greatly varying quality, that’s it, 27 players for a season. We have 33 and some consider that thin.

So yeah they will do ok if they have no more than one injury at a time, good luck on that one.