Re: Pre Season : Thu Dec 16, 2021 9:39 am  

Thanks, great news l like Bowden

Re: Pre Season : Fri Dec 17, 2021 10:58 am  

Touchdowner wrote:

Thanks, great news l like Bowden

So do I, if the year was 2016

Re: Pre Season : Sat Jan 01, 2022 11:02 am  

Touchdowner, about Josh Reynolds wrote:

Where is he?

Departure gate at SYD, en route to Hull with his partner. Looks trim.

Re: Pre Season : Tue Jan 04, 2022 9:52 pm  

Massive season for Josh Could be his swansong

Re: Pre Season : Tue Jan 04, 2022 9:59 pm  

very happy they’re looking at Shaul on the wing

i’ve written at least twice about this in last 2-3 years

Re: Pre Season : Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:35 pm  

Is Jamie’s defence good enough to play on the wing?High kicks to the corners could be a problem

Re: Pre Season : Wed Jan 05, 2022 2:36 am  

Look at the tries FC conceded in 16-19 and you’ll Jamie was basically ineffective and not fit for purpose as a defender

not hard to see then you watch

try and remember one amazing tackle he made to save a certain fry

add to that the terrible
concussion he had - i feel so bad for players with concussion

he could certainly hide on the wing defensively and would be great under a high ball and coming in to scoot etc

great idea and may help him
continue his career and not get another terrible concussion

Re: Pre Season : Wed Jan 05, 2022 6:44 am  

I think Shaul will be a good back up winger, but never first choice in front of Mac and Swift, both of whom have also played at full back at some point in their careers and I doubt at 29 that Shaul will be happy with that, who knows?
This season really doesn't excite me, yet, I feel as though, with the current squad, we can only hope to finish 5th or 6th at the very highest and I am struggling to get enthused at that prospect, but I will doubtless get more enthusiastic as we approach the first round of SL, and to be honest, with covid and other issues, we are lucky to still have a club to support, as if this season gets disrupted badly and fans are barred from attending, there'll be a few clubs who will struggle to survive, so lets hope that we can get through relatively unscathed and build the game back up from that.
I think Saints, Cats and Leeds will be the teams to beat and then it could be a toss up from the rest of the division as to who finishes where, so injuries will be crucial and that is where I am most fearful, but if our luck does hold, with Reynolds and Gale in particular, we may exceed expectations, even mine!

[Chris71]

Re: Pre Season : Wed Jan 05, 2022 8:50 am  

GrahamBray wrote:

I think Shaul will be a good back up winger, but never first choice in front of Mac and Swift, both of whom have also played at full back at some point in their careers and I doubt at 29 that Shaul will be happy with that, who knows?
This season really doesn't excite me, yet, I feel as though, with the current squad, we can only hope to finish 5th or 6th at the very highest and I am struggling to get enthused at that prospect, but I will doubtless get more enthusiastic as we approach the first round of SL, and to be honest, with covid and other issues, we are lucky to still have a club to support, as if this season gets disrupted badly and fans are barred from attending, there'll be a few clubs who will struggle to survive, so lets hope that we can get through relatively unscathed and build the game back up from that.
I think Saints, Cats and Leeds will be the teams to beat and then it could be a toss up from the rest of the division as to who finishes where, so injuries will be crucial and that is where I am most fearful, but if our luck does hold, with Reynolds and Gale in particular, we may exceed expectations, even mine!

I get what your saying as the past few seasons have been very disappointing for a number of reasons especially considering the money AP spent on the team. However for me ever since the successes of 2016 & 2017 we never kicked on and really the cup wins papered over the issues.

For me this season I have no real expectations for the team but feel fairly optimistic that the club at least made changes that were needed. If Gale and Reynolds stay fit for the majority of the season then I think we have a very good chance of doing well. Even if they miss a few I still think we will be better than last season but then cant really be any worse.

I think we have a more balanced squad and at least have some pace on the edges and in general. With Satae, Sao, Taylor, Evans, Brown and Bowden we should certainly have a pack that is capable of gaining metres and providing our halfbacks the platform to create. I'm also hopeful that with Gale in the squad we can finally get the best out of Mau. I think Lovodua will make a difference for us down the middle and give teams something else to think about which has been an issue that we have been far too predictable in the past.


Roll on the start of the season.

Re: Pre Season : Wed Jan 05, 2022 10:08 am  

I agree Chris.

Moving out Sneyd and bringing in Gayle and Lovodua certainly fills me with optimism that Brett is trying to alter our attacking structure and make us less predictable.
So excited for the start of the season and just hope my renewed optimism does not result in the usual false dawns we seem to suffer from.