Next year : Thu Nov 01, 2018 6:18 pm  

Right then. Cards on table. What are we aiming for. Automatic promotion. No pissing about with play offs. We need to win this league.weve got a good base to build on but we are 5/6 short. We shouldn't be looking at squad players now. 2 props. 3 backs. My opinion.

Re: Next year : Thu Nov 01, 2018 7:21 pm  

The club has gone as quiet as a church mouse....
No doubt they are up to stuff and working towards having a good side, but signing the same bunch, although the first sensible thing to do, revs nobody up.
Plus a couple of the signings don't make a lot of sense to my feeble mind.
No names, no pack drill!

To think that just because there are two strong sides fewer allows us some more wriggle room is a risky game to play. It will still be a very hard division.
Being coupled to a very average Rovers side sort of sets the level for our spending power.
I know the two financial set ups are separate, but the overarching Steptoe and Son impression is hard to put to the back of my thoughts.

I think Leon Pryce will be quietly confident ...

Re: Next year : Fri Nov 02, 2018 1:16 pm  

Also at present I think we are weaker than last season with departures. We need to be making waves to have any chance. Hunslet and Newcastle have made some decent signings and Workington will no doubt be strong again

Re: Next year : Fri Nov 02, 2018 2:44 pm  

Hunslet have just signed a Bradford hooker Vila Halafihi ...
And we have just signed ... Whatshisface?
Personally I think that if we don't go out and buy some class, then we don't really deserve promotion do we?
I know you don't have to BUY success and it comes with no guarantee, but it helps.
It also puts a few bums on seats and shows willing and intent.
But que sera sera ...

Re: Next year : Fri Nov 02, 2018 8:31 pm  

It’s still early days but a few clubs in our league especially Newcastle, Hunslet and Workington look like they will be much stronger than last year.

For me we’re still 6 quality players short of having a squad capable of promotion. We still need a full back, outside back and halfback. Then we need 3 big quality forwards. We need 95% of our squad this year to be ours as last year showed we cannot rely on players from Hull when it really matters. DR should only be used to cover injury’s in the short term. Time for Mr Hall and Horne to deliver and bring these quality players in. So far we’ve only signed 2 haven’t we.

Re: Next year : Sat Nov 03, 2018 11:01 am  

I'd like to think that there's much going on behind the scenes with the club keeping their cards close to their chest. In view of what happened last year with the Albert brothers, I can see why putting stuff into the public domain early can be problematical.

It would be a mistake to have any levels of complacency for 2019 based on the fact that we finished third last year. We certainly shouldn't assume that we are now the best side in the league.

The play-offs are a bit of a lottery. You only need a few players out injured or suspended and you're up against it. Aiming to win the league has got to be the objective - leaving nothing to chance. Even though this league looks 'weaker' than it has done for some time, that shouldn't be a reason to assume winning it will be easy. Workington, Hunslet, and Newcastle will certainly have their say.

As far as Hull goes, might we get Liam Harris on a season-long loan? Have we seen the last of Hakim Miloudi and Jez Litten? Whichever way we look at it, players from Hull must be seen as a bonus and not an integral part of our promotion push. We couldn't rely on Hull in last season's play-offs and the same may apply this season. We have to take control of our own destiny and not be reliant on anyone else.

Re: Next year : Sat Nov 03, 2018 4:21 pm  

I don't think there would be anything wrong in saying that they are after a player or two ... if they are.
It's better than nowt ... which is what we currently have.
2 reasonable, but not seismic, new signings is all we have.
As tepid as last year at this time.

Re: Next year : Sat Nov 03, 2018 5:51 pm  

I agree. Decent signings both. I stand by my assessment of 5 quality players needed. Not filler. Quality now. I understand we're looking at an excellent young full back but he's probably more of a long term prospect.

[Jemmo]

Re: Next year : Mon Nov 05, 2018 11:40 am  

I think we have done well, in the most part, to retain the better players from last season. But as suggested I would now hope the remaining handful of signings would all be better than what has gone and all be starting players compared to what we have as opposed to back up for what we already have.

Workington ended the season strong and will be looknig to improve for 2019, Oldham finished aruably one of the form sides of the division and we can expect them to be up there. Newcastle and Hunslet seem to be spending a lot too and will be better than than this year. We need to be better than this year

Re: Next year : Mon Nov 05, 2018 12:23 pm  

London Broncos are reported as being interested in Jack Logan.