one or two people have already commented about the imbalance of our forwards and backs for 2016.
On paper our forwards look really good but with one or two exceptions our backs are bang average.
We are short of a class centre,but the wing positions if we are looking at Naughton,Lancaster and Michaels are poor.Michaels all round is probably the best of the bunch
My other concern is if we have line breaking/offloading forwards we only have Shaul who seems to back up the runner as our half backs don't seem to have that in their game.

It's not just an imbalance in backs v forwards it's also an imbalance back row v front row.

taylor
watts
feka
green
bowden

v

mini
ellis
pritchard
manu
westy

I know ellis may well play at prop which will improve it a bit but we're still a prop short of where we need to be IMO. Maybe they'll use manu as a 3rd prop at 13 and westerman will leave as rumoured

Backs are no better than this year IMO and probably worse. pryce has been poor for much of the season IMO and won't be better next plus the 3/4's, other than fonua, look average or inexperienced.

Getting into the 8 may be more of a challenge next season anyway

How full is your glass?

Not based on anything but I think Westerman may go, and Ellis will go to prop.

I think the halves are OK if Pryce stays fit. He was playing injured for a while but before that had some very good games.

Backs look flaky. I give up on us ever prioritising getting a centre.

we will finish top 6 maybe higher,on paper we have one if not the best pack in sl, backs maybe could do with another winger but imo not to bad

We really miss having a class half back and have done for years. McGuire at Leeds might not RIP defences apart with amazing passes or amazing footwork, but he reads the game so well, he's alwYs around the rook sniffing for offloads, at every break who's sat on the players shoulder supporting the break giving an option.

I dont agree that Pryce has been poor all season and cannot believe how one minute we are praising the likes of Lancaster and Naughton then next saying how poor they are? Its ok screaming we need more backs but were do we get them from? Sneyd is still learning his trade and I have no doubt he will get better.Although he has not been consistent enough he has shown he has the skill.Lets face it not many of the squad have been really consistent this season apart from Watts and Mini but even then not every game.

I haven't been to any away games so only seen the home ones and the SKY away ones but I'm struggling to think of many games where pryce has been much good. He did OK in a few early season games but faded IMO and has obviously missed a chunk through injury. His game was all about running but his legs have gone and we're not a team who back up so even if he does poke his head through teh defensive line we rarely make the most of it

The half backs will be more settled next season which will be a big plus. Looking at clubs that have been successful they nearly always have a settled hb pairing. I don't want ours to be necessarily flamboyant but I do hope they can improve playing alongside each other

I also think the back line is too thin but we've clearly blown the budget on Pritchard, manu etc

I commented on the contract extensions thread last week about the depth in our backs & perhaps this is a reason the club are looking at retaining Yeaman.

Next season we currently have 8 players covering the back 5 positions (Shaul, Naughton, Lancaster, Logan, Michaels, Fonua, Tuimavave, Talanoa).

Is that enough? This season there has been occasions where we've had a number of backs out (this past weekend for example where we had to chuck Whiting in).

I think we need at least one more. Before Bumpy starts frothing at the mouth again - I don't give a damn if this is Yeaman or an external signing, I just think we need one more in the squad.


Forwards I'm not too concerned. Ellis I expect will move up to prop with Taylor, Watts & Feka. Bowden, Green & BTW as cover. Back row we're well stocked.

Halfbacks & hooker I think we have enough in terms of cover (Sneyd, Pryce, Abdull, Dean, HTW - Houghton, Washy), but I don't think we have the quality.