Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun Aug 04, 2024 9:25 am  

It's easy to get negative again after displays like yesterday but I think it's important to remember the overall standard in SL is as low as it has even been and we've lost a few games by a try or two which could have easily have gone the other way.

Although I have big question marks over signing Abdull even just his kicking game, conversions and game management might have turned a couple of those losses into wins.

I don't think we'll be in the 6 next year but I'd be happy to reach July/August and still be in the running.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun Aug 04, 2024 9:35 am  

Steve0 wrote:

I wonder if our poor strength/ conditioning / physio teams puts players off signing for us, it can't just be bad luck that we end up with what feels like the team with most injuries almost every season.It's a short playing career and maybe it makes players think twice about coming to us.

It's no coincidence that when we were winning things and had a really good team in 16/17 we had very few injuries and a full backroom team and now since covid we've massively had to cut back we seem to be in double figures nearly every week with absentees it needs addressing now we've got some money behind us. I don't blame Pearson if the moneys not there there's nothing he can do and him cutting back so much probably saved the club from doing a Bradford or worse.

Hopefully now players can see we're spending again we'll get the resources in place to get back to the upper end of the table and back in finals which makes recruitment easier.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun Aug 04, 2024 9:40 am  

Yippee try yay wrote:

It's no coincidence that when we were winning things and had a really good team in 16/17 we had very few injuries and a full backroom team and now since covid we've massively had to cut back we seem to be in double figures nearly every week with absentees it needs addressing now we've got some money behind us. I don't blame Pearson if the moneys not there there's nothing he can do and him cutting back so much probably saved the club from doing a Bradford or worse.

Hopefully now players can see we're spending again we'll get the resources in place to get back to the upper end of the table and back in finals which makes recruitment easier.

You also increase the risk signing injured players, the club knew Trueman had big injuries and still went ahead (though had already signed when he limped off a final time for Cas) Sutcliffe also looks somewhat fragile as does Ashworth.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun Aug 04, 2024 9:44 am  

UllFC wrote:

It's easy to get negative again after displays like yesterday but I think it's important to remember the overall standard in SL is as low as it has even been and we've lost a few games by a try or two which could have easily have gone the other way.

Although I have big question marks over signing Abdull even just his kicking game, conversions and game management might have turned a couple of those losses into wins.

I don't think we'll be in the 6 next year but I'd be happy to reach July/August and still be in the running.

Exactly doesn't take alot to catch the teams who will finish 5th to 8th. Even with the current set up, we have beaten Wigan, come close to beating Salford and Warrington. Small improvements on and off the field can really swing things around.

As it stands we should be aiming to finish around 8th and hopefully slightly higher if we sign 2/3 more top (SL) level players.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun Aug 04, 2024 11:57 am  

Dave K. wrote:

Definitely need at least 3 more quality signings.

I am OK with our domestic signings as they improve us and not much out there, but we need better out of quota (don't understand Cust, but Cartwright rates him), the last two spots are key for a half and strike centre, I'd look at Hastings if we fail to get Lam.

Go on Wigans board and read what they think of Hastings….trouble wherever he goes..maybe a strong coach could handle him but is it worth the risk,personally I’d stay well clear.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun Aug 04, 2024 12:01 pm  

The games afoot wrote:

Go on Wigans board and read what they think of Hastings….trouble wherever he goes..maybe a strong coach could handle him but is it worth the risk,personally I’d stay well clear.

Watson had to get him to move in with his family to get good form out of him. He's an odd character thats for sure.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun Aug 04, 2024 2:36 pm  

Looking at that pack yesterday we will have a completely new one next year. Ese Bourgh.Soa.Cartwright.Holmes.Anastia. Also have Ashworth Staverly Aydin.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun Aug 04, 2024 3:24 pm  

Steve0 wrote:

We were in a similar spot last year when people kept saying we need to make good use of the last couple of quota spots, we were linked with Clune ,Watson, Blore amongst others and ended up with Okunbor and Brown, hopefully we don't end up with two more duds next season

Duds are our middle name
At least we can say we are top of the league in something.

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun Aug 04, 2024 3:28 pm  

mwindass wrote:

If we can get a half, Lam or someone of a similar ilk then I can see us getting top 6.

We need some more strike out wide, I'd be amazed if we didn't use a quota player on.

I'd like another middle too, we lack size against the better teams.

The biggest variable is the coach, if he's as good as we hope then play offs shouldn't be beyond us. Look at Peters at Rovers last year, got them top 4 and no one saw that coming plus Rowley at Salford this year. Hopefully Cartwright isn't a dud

You forgot to mention Sam Burgess
He got a lot of Stick on here when it was announced he had the Warrington job

Re: Shopping list for 2025 : Sun Aug 04, 2024 3:50 pm  

UllFC wrote:

You also increase the risk signing injured players, the club knew Trueman had big injuries and still went ahead (though had already signed when he limped off a final time for Cas) Sutcliffe also looks somewhat fragile as does Ashworth.

Add walker to that and abdul and cist next season. Holmes also been out a long time but was pretty robust before that