fcimp wrote:
Rovers fans knocking our signings, yet none of their players would get in our starting 13 for next year.
Welham is a better player than Yeaman (who may well get found out this season now he hasn't got Manu to spoon feed him)
Gleeson is a better player than Arundel
Caro is a better prospect than Ben Crookes
Burns has more to his game than Holdsworth (even though I think he's probably you're best signing all things considered)
Paea would easily get in your team as would Josh Hodgson IMO.
Briscoe is obviously a better player than David Hodgson and whilst I'm one of the few Rovers fans who rate McDonnell but I don't necessarily see Hall making many more gaffs than McDonnell did last year.
Scott Prince is one of my favourite all time players and a player desperately I hoped we would sign back in 2008 before we signed Dobson (I was deflated when Dobson was announced for this reason), but signing him on a 3 year deal at this stage in his career with injuries he's sustained in the last few years is a massive risk; two broken legs, a broken arm (twice) but more worryingly a bicep tear last year - if that goes again he's finished. That said I'm looking forward to him coming to Super League (even if it is for you lot) but I'm glad it's not us that is making such a gamble and I'm happy we've got a 26 year old proven scrum-half with a long kicking game and a running game - 2 things that seems to have disappeared from Prince's repertoire over the last couple of years..
Ellis was one of the best second-rowers in the world up until the year before last but he wasn't as effective last year and regardless of what anyone says he does not pose the same type of consistent threat that Manu does.
Galea has a re-occuring knee problem and really struggled for fitness last year so I'm glad we've replaced him with Cory Paterson.
I agree Rovers have less depth than FC but I still think that on the whole, Rovers have a marginally better three-quarter line, marginally better half-back pairing; in particularly running and long kicking game (Prince has one of the best short kicking games I have ever seen), and a stronger middle now you've lost Moa.
The only clear advantage FC have got over Rovers would be the back-row but I'd say there's a fair chance Ellis, Galea and Tickle may miss games because of their age and the injuries all three players suffered with last year.