Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun May 12, 2024 10:23 am  

I think right now our squad needs a lot of alterations.

For me, O’Connor would be signed to supplement a quota Hooker. Not instead. We’ll need at least 2 new hookers next year.

Abdul has the talent, it’s down to whether the club think they can get the best out of him. Catalans & St Helens are interested and they don’t often get things wrong. Definitely a risk but non quota & salary cap deductions make it worth the risk for me.

Satae is a shock to me but wouldn’t complain at a front row of Ese’ese, Ashworth, Pele & Satae.

If true Okunbor & Sao are leaving then the club have a quota spot for a 9 or back row/3/4

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun May 12, 2024 10:25 am  

I’d happily take back Satae for Sao, if his fireman claims are true.

Ese, Ashworth, Pele, Satae, Fash. Decent.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun May 12, 2024 10:27 am  

Offy86 wrote:

Don't see why Satae would come back after 1 season.
If I remember rightly, he also went on big money.
If he has upped his fitness, can do longer minutes and we have another one maybe be two quota players leave. Then yes, I'd have him. Just don't see it.

Then some strike centres (2) and back rower (1 possible 2) we will be looking much better and more like a play off side

Isn’t a huge part of the appeal of playing in France some kind of tax incentive for staying longer then 2 years? Could be wrong but think this rumour is just another case of people believing and spreading something completely made up without even thinking about it.

Centres maybe they’ll take a punt on a young player or from the lower leagues but any kind of established centre after signing Hardaker on a two year deal just isn’t going to happen.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun May 12, 2024 10:38 am  

DSJ1983 wrote:

Isn’t a huge part of the appeal of playing in France some kind of tax incentive for staying longer then 2 years? Could be wrong but think this rumour is just another case of people believing and spreading something completely made up without even thinking about it.

Centres maybe they’ll take a punt on a young player or from the lower leagues but any kind of established centre after signing Hardaker on a two year deal just isn’t going to happen.

Kind of agree on the Hardaker point. I think that there's the possibility they could bring in an Ed Chamberlain type player to provide cover and rotation. The Myler interview earlier in the week made mention of the fact that we have two upcoming centres so it feels like the goal is for them to develop and take over from Sutcliffe and Hardaker in a few years.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun May 12, 2024 10:44 am  

Roam Ranger wrote:

I agree. However, we are maybe seeing signs at the moment that our present reality is not proving to be a great draw for overseas recruitment. We might have money coming in and we might have ambition but we may find that we have to bide our time in certain areas. Whilst I don't agree with giddyup's proposal yesterday to play Cator as our 9 next year, we may find that these are the kind of scenarios we face in the short term so we can target better in the long term. As long as we don't panic buy and sign players for the sake of it or just because we have quota spots, that's the important bit.

We will definitely use all our quota spots, just hope we don't use 5 on middle forwards.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun May 12, 2024 11:16 am  

Roam Ranger wrote:

Kind of agree on the Hardaker point. I think that there's the possibility they could bring in an Ed Chamberlain type player to provide cover and rotation. The Myler interview earlier in the week made mention of the fact that we have two upcoming centres so it feels like the goal is for them to develop and take over from Sutcliffe and Hardaker in a few years.

It wouldn’t have been my choice, I’d have looked to use one of the quota places on a centre but the club have gone down the Hardaker route. In a salary cap sport there’s absolutely no way that a club will have 3 or 4 established centres on the books like some are suggesting, maybe like you say they might bring someone in as a utility like Chamberlain to cover a few positions but looks like the first choice back line is sorted now.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun May 12, 2024 11:40 am  

I don't think Hardraker will be on that much, don't think Leigh offered him a deal, so they won't have been SL clubs queueing up for him and he options are limited due to the fact he can't drive and has to rely on someone to bring him to training etc

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun May 12, 2024 12:02 pm  

I think Hardaker will be on a decent wage for us. If it’s true that Scott is getting 100k at Wakey, I can’t imagine Hardaker getting that much.

The two young centres mentioned are I presume Dawson and Westerman, one is out with a serious injury and the other is yet to be part of the first team. I’d be surprised if either are ready to be first choice in 2 years.

We definitely need a top strike centre. I wonder if Sutcliffe could leave?

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun May 12, 2024 12:28 pm  

On theory he should be cheap based on

32
off field issues
can't drive
no one else wanted him in SL.

But this Hull FC we are talking about.

I could handle 1 year, hopefully 1with an option in our favour.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun May 12, 2024 3:49 pm  

Offy86 wrote:

Don't see why Satae would come back after 1 season.
If I remember rightly, he also went on big money.
If he has upped his fitness, can do longer minutes and we have another one maybe be two quota players leave. Then yes, I'd have him. Just don't see it.
O'Conner, not for me. I'd like someone a little more of an attacking style, leader and organiser.
Abdull, whilst he's a good player, again, l for me. I'm wanting someone more with speed and who can and will take the line on.
For me, we need to be going and getting a specialised 7 and 9, spend big. Whether it be overseas or closer to home.
Get an exciting 7 and 9, we have a really good start.
Then some strike centres (2) and back rower (1 possible 2) we will be looking much better and more like a play off side

even if we get a decent 7 and 9 the team will still go nowhwere with a backline of Briscoe,Hardaker and Sutcliffe.
Like you say we need 2 strike centres and those two are nothing like that