mwindass wrote:Looks like we are going to freshen the squad up next year which is great to hear. Hopefully we'll be doing the majority of the recruitment in the pack, which needs beefing up.
We had a big pack 2016 - 2017 which gave our spine a good platform to work from. It appears Radford and Pearson has realised this and its something we are going to revert back to, and hopefully bring us some more success.....
I don't think the outside backs need too much attention, if we can keep Faraimo (which i think we will) then we just need another winger, I'm hoping we could pick up a decent British winger but the OOC list in that position doesn't look great. Joe Burgess is the name that sticks out, but think he'll stay at Wigan. Other options are possibly Minikin, but he's iffy under the high ball and not fantastic in defence, Caton-Brown could be another option, but looks like he'll stay at Wakfield.
If you believe the rumours in the HDM, looks like we've lined up Alex Glenn, who I dont know too much about TBF as I don't watch that much NRL but he looks like an athletic back rower. A one club man with the Broncos, would he want to leave anyway?
Evans is a rumour I like, he came over with the Roosters for their WCC game with Saints a few years back (I think he did his shoulder though). Looks a big raw boned prop. Think he'd definately help Taylor out, and still only 27 so a decent age.
Would love us to sign Josh Jones. A real dynamic backrower who never stops, but I don't think he'll be short of an offer or two. The metres he makes every week are bonkers, low error count and has an offload too.
Maybe I'm just playing fantasty Rugby League here, but I'd also like us to sign another prop to replace Green. Preferably an older head who could give us some impact off the bench. If we go next year with Taylor, Bowden and Evans (?), If one of them are out for some time we'd essentially be using two 'kids', Masi being one and one of Bienek, Brown or Nzongou. Signing another prop would also give us the option of rotating our middles against 'easier' opposition.
The last piece in the jigsaw would be to sign a utility player to cover off the bench. A player I'd like us to make a play for is Samisoni Langi at Catalans, he's comfortable in the backrow and centre , he can also cover in the halves too if needed. Plus hes OOC.
Shaul
Faraimo
Griffin/Connor
Carlos
New Winger/Minikn/Caton-Brown/ANother
Kelly/Connor
Sneyd
Taylor
Houghton
New Prop / Kane Evans
New SR / Alex Glenn
New SR / Josh Jones
Westerman
Bowden
New Prop
Savelio
New Utility/Langi
Masi
Bienek
Brown
Nzongou
Hadley
Lane
Wynne
Ratu
Dawson-Jones
Scott
Buchanan
Harris
Litten
Ins:
Evans
Glenn
Jones
New Prop
New Winger
Utility
Outs:
Talanoa
Paea
Mini
Manu
Thompson
Green
Washy
Ellis
Logan
Fash
Really good post and highlights challenges we have this off season (although I'd expect us to get most deals done well before then).
Fullback, ie Shaul, is a concern with his ongoing concussion issues. I really hope there are no long term issues here. At 18 Wynne is a talent but not ready to take on the role full time..
Wing - we have good options but as already said Ratu's situation is problematic. I would sign up Faraimo and Ratu if possible - we still have the rumour of Mahe returning but would take that with a pinch of salt. Greg Minikin is not the answer if the question is "Do we want to improve?" Flaky defensively and get the impression he'd be out of a struggling Cas side if Powell had other bodies available. Caton-Brown doesn't strike me as a Radford winger.
I don't think Kelly will be here unfortunately with AP trailing his wish to go back to Aus. In which case we also need a half back, decent ones being very rare - imagine there'd be a big queue and price tag for someone like Hastings.
I agree on props - this is a priority for me. We need one top quality import at least. In the back row like you I'd be delighted to get Jones, I did wonder also if we were one of several SL clubs interested in Manly's "cult hero forward" Joel Thompson which the Mole reported a few weeks back.
Some big changes coming up - potentially exciting times. Feels like we need a Pritchard style signing to really make a statement of intent to the fanbase because as well as losing some fringe players we could be facing the loss of several core, experienced leaders in the likes of Manu, Mini, Kelly.
