Post subject: Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2024 8:08 pm
YosemiteSam
Fringe Player
Joined: Feb 20 2022 Posts: 596
Loiner at large wrote:Nsemba signed a new 6 year contract presumably a significant upgrade so Wigan may need to sell to ease cap pressure. Agree with Arthur in that a squad is the sum of its parts. Byrne may be down the pecking order at Wigan but on this year's form he's better than any of our props bar Oledski! Could do a job at Leeds in the way Harrison who we passed on has done at Wire
I'm not saying Byrne isn't what we need - he may very well be - but we really need to move away from signing someone simply because he's better than what we currently have. Every signing must be either a starting game changer or a very high quality squad player. We have a good crop of juniors coming through so projects and cheap as chips squad fillers must become a thing of the past.
Post subject: Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2024 11:22 pm
Once were Loiners
First Team Player
Joined: Dec 15 2021 Posts: 1261
I think we're all agreed on that, but we do need numbers as well as quality in the front row. We've got four out and out props, which is probably two shy of what's needed even if all four were good enough. But they're not good enough, and as all four should be picked every week in the 17, one injury and we're down to the even worse option of 'middles.'
Aside from maybe Ruan, who is currently a second row but is big enough to move up to prop, and TNW, who is on the small side and more like an NRL 13, do we have any junior props coming through who will be ready next season? I'm happy for them to be backing up a rotation of four props if the four are quality.
Post subject: Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 9:20 am
Mark_P1973
Junior Player
Joined: Nov 28 2023 Posts: 162
What most fans forget (including many Wigan fans) is that Byrne played virtually all last season and carried the pack by himself due to injuries, whilst carrying an injury himself
this season he hasnt been as good, but i think thats because 1. change in tackle laws, and he hasnt quite adjusted hence the harsh 5 game ban he got for the tackle v Saints and 2. he missed a good part of this season, and has fallen to bench prop, but struggled to make a big impact when he's come on, playing in short bursts (thats for Mago). What we have seen in the last couple of games is more game time, and far better performances from him
At Wigan he is the prop we feel is most likely to move on as he needs to be playing (starting) more regularly. He's not a world beater, but equally he is too good to be bench warming each week. He can play good minutes but he's not going to displace Thompson / Havard as our starting prop
so for Byrne, he's probably got a decision to make. Does he want to stay at Wigan, be a good solid squad player or move on, more regular starter, and possibly earn a bit more but perhaps not the same success
i think he would add to / improve most squads in SL, and is just timing that he's not 1st choice at Wigan
Post subject: Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 9:55 am
ArthurClues
Club Captain
Joined: Jan 24 2020 Posts: 2669
Mark_P1973 wrote:What most fans forget (including many Wigan fans) is that Byrne played virtually all last season and carried the pack by himself due to injuries, whilst carrying an injury himself
this season he hasnt been as good, but i think thats because 1. change in tackle laws, and he hasnt quite adjusted hence the harsh 5 game ban he got for the tackle v Saints and 2. he missed a good part of this season, and has fallen to bench prop, but struggled to make a big impact when he's come on, playing in short bursts (thats for Mago). What we have seen in the last couple of games is more game time, and far better performances from him
At Wigan he is the prop we feel is most likely to move on as he needs to be playing (starting) more regularly. He's not a world beater, but equally he is too good to be bench warming each week. He can playH good minutes but he's not going to displace Thompson / Havard as our starting prop
so for Byrne, he's probably got a decision to make. Does he want to stay at Wigan, be a good solid squad player or move on, more regular starter, and possibly earn a bit more but perhaps not the same success
i think he would add to / improve most squads in SL, and is just timing that he's not 1st choice at Wigan
Hard to disagree with that assessment. From a Leeds point of view beggars cannot be chosers at present.
Post subject: Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 11:36 am
Mark_P1973
Junior Player
Joined: Nov 28 2023 Posts: 162
ArthurClues wrote:Hard to disagree with that assessment. From a Leeds point of view beggars cannot be chosers at present.
IMO he could be a starting prop at most SL clubs and wouldnt let you down. He is better when starting as he can get into the pace of the game more easily. He would go well with Oledski for the 1st 20-30 minutes, but as other posters have commented, you would need further additions at prop to make it a proper rotation
however i have a hunch that he will stay at Wigan (no information) unless the club are happy to offload as we have Hill ready to make his claim for a1st team spot, and may need to release someone with the recent contract extensions announced this week
Post subject: Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 11:59 am
LeedsLurch
International Star
Joined: Aug 17 2014 Posts: 762
Very quite on here for a rumours thread. Other than those stating the obvious in that we need props, the club are rubbish and do everything wrong comments there is very little in the way of actual rumours. The odd NRL name popping up now and then, mostly wishfull thinking like RCG. Nothing to even get us salivatiing like we had with Croft last year. The best I have seen elswhere is Cleary coming to SL to be with his GF who apparently is coming to play football. Now that is a proper rumour
Post subject: Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 12:04 pm
Lprhino
Club Captain
Joined: Sep 12 2018 Posts: 309
I like the idea of Byrne coming in. I can see a scenario of him and Mik starting and going reasonably well for an initial 25-30 min spell.
I would be focusing more on moving players out, with that in mind I would let Goudemand and Sangare go, I imagine both would consider other options if told they won’t be in the first team squad next season. I would also move on Lisone, he was a smith choice, his partner is back in the nrl and again I can’t imagine he will stick around if told he won’t be involved. I appreciate that is a lot of possible and things need to align for it come off.
With that cleared out you gain an extra quota spot, I’d go after two NRL props, potentially mat Croker at the knights, Ogden from the eels or Taupau for a year.
That gives you mik, Byrne, Croker, Ogden/taupau and Holroyd with TNW as sixth prop. I’d use the other quota spot in the second row on somebody like Chee-kam from south’s or alick-wiencke from Gold Coast. Basically a much bigger body than Martin.
Last move is mom to leave and replace with a bigger body more rugged centre from NRL who is also a kicker to replace Martin.
Fair few moves to sort there but that’s the kind of thing we should be aiming for in my opinion
Post subject: Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 12:53 pm
Loiner at large
Club Captain
Joined: Oct 30 2019 Posts: 558
Of course he would if the opportunity existed chance to manage one of the big 4 teams in the Nrl after a year when they have underperformed. The way walters has gone I would suspect the next man is already lined up!
Post subject: Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 1:07 pm
Once were Loiners
First Team Player
Joined: Dec 15 2021 Posts: 1261
Its also ridiculously high pressure. Walters got the gig thanks to very public agitation against the previous coach (Seibold) by a bunch of former players who wanted 'Kevvie' to get the job. I reckon they will be waiting to do the same to whoever takes over if its not one of their mates.
Looking on the positive, if I was Arthur I'd prefer the Perth gig. Money to spend, and a good 2-3 years before he's likely to face real pressure on results. Not to mention a place in history if he makes it a success on the field.
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