Quote ="Bulliac"It's also pretty much what the T&A were saying earlier on, though to be fair when there are squad numbers not filled, you have to assume there is a plan to fill them. Maybe the plan is to promote some of the young guns into starters after the 'friendlies' have sorted them out a bit? To be fair, I would normally worry about putting too much pressure on the kids but I feel safe with the current ">management.'" We assumed there was a plan to fill those empty squad numbers last year, and yet some weren't filled until half way through the season and the number 12 was never filled.

Quote ="Bulliac"It's also pretty much what the T&A were saying earlier on, though to be fair when there are squad numbers not filled, you have to assume there is a plan to fill them. Maybe the plan is to promote some of the young guns into starters after the 'friendlies' have sorted them out a bit? To be fair, I would normally worry about putting too much pressure on the kids but I feel safe with the current ">management.'" We assumed there was a plan to fill those empty squad numbers last year, and yet some weren't filled until half way through the season and the number 12 was never filled.

True enough Hamster, though I think we all realised that last season, for all the many reasons, was always going to be just a 'one-off'. I think this season is a bit more 'steady as we go' and not driven by the season long grabbing of loanees which killed all plans in 2017, so to be honest I'd expect the gaps to be filled. It really suggests things I don't really want to contemplate if we don't fill the gaps (ie, the owners don't have a clue..).

You would certainly hope the differing situation means those free numbers will be filled, but I struggle to have hope these days when we're inevitably let down so many times! Here's hoping the numbers are filled, and preferably with a couple of quality experienced front rowers!



I notice Kieren Moss was given a shirt number by Hull KR in their squad number announcement last night. Hopefully people will stop unrealistically speculating on that one now.

I don't think they will fill the numbers.

Quote ="tackler thommo"On 30/12/17 Frank Whitcombe said “ New player coming in this week, not a loan I’m told” - see Strongest 17 thread. Looks as though both he and Mick could be in ">error.'" Frank has been trying to rebuild his name after last years predictions and he is trying very hard and some are back to believing him. It will take a long time with me and quite a few of his predictions coming true. I am sure his heart is in the right place but I still have a large bowl of salt by the computer when I read what Frank says is about to happen. Please prove me wrong Frank.

Quote ="tackler thommo"On 30/12/17 Frank Whitcombe said “ New player coming in this week, not a loan I’m told” - see Strongest 17 thread. Looks as though both he and Mick could be in ">error.'" Frank has been trying to rebuild his name after last years predictions and he is trying very hard and some are back to believing him. It will take a long time with me and quite a few of his predictions coming true. I am sure his heart is in the right place but I still have a large bowl of salt by the computer when I read what Frank says is about to happen. Please prove me wrong Frank.

There's always the odd problem for those who like to be 'in the know'.



Firstly, they may be spot on with their assertion that the club is hoping "to sign A.N. Other", but that attempt to sign a player may well fall through, for various reasons. Also, depending on the actual relationship our resident 'in the knows' have with the club ( I'm assuming Mr Chalmers isn't one of them..), the person feeding them the news may well, in the club's interest, take the opportunity to put misleading info into the public domain. Either way round it leads to the informant looking a bit of a pillock.

Watched some of the video player highlights this morning....time to get up to speed with our squad !!

Can we have the lost in numerical order please. It will be good to see then.



Plus McNally was wearing 14 last night so looks like his number

mentioned by Chalmers in a couple of interviews that we have a 30 man squad. I can only see 27 on squad list. So that suggests the three trialists on show on Friday have signed up. King was already likely and Andrade looked useful on Friday. How's Burnett gone? can't say I've noticed him. Chalmers also mentioned possibility of maybe one more incoming.

Quote ="mat"mentioned by Chalmers in a couple of interviews that we have a 30 man squad. I can only see 27 on squad list. So that suggests the three trialists on show on Friday have signed up. King was already likely and Andrade looked useful on Friday. How's Burnett gone? can't say I've noticed him. Chalmers also mentioned possibility of maybe one more ">incoming.'" John Kear will make a decision on the trialists this week mate.

Quote ="mat"mentioned by Chalmers in a couple of interviews that we have a 30 man squad. I can only see 27 on squad list. So that suggests the three trialists on show on Friday have signed up. King was already likely and Andrade looked useful on Friday. How's Burnett gone? can't say I've noticed him. Chalmers also mentioned possibility of maybe one more ">incoming.'" John Kear will make a decision on the trialists this week mate.

I expect King has signed given he's got a space in the dressing room at Tong.



Andrade looks more promising than Burnett IMO. But both look short of fitness which is to be expected in the circumstances.

Quote ="Bullseye"I expect King has signed given he's got a space in the dressing room at Tong. Andrade looks more promising than Burnett IMO. But both look short of fitness which is to be expected in the ">circumstances.'" Indeed. I'd expect Andrade to lose some timber if he's signed and given some sort of delayed 'pre-season', which may mitigate some of his effectiveness but hopefully not by too much.

Quote ="Bullseye"I expect King has signed given he's got a space in the dressing room at Tong. Andrade looks more promising than Burnett IMO. But both look short of fitness which is to be expected in the ">circumstances.'" Indeed. I'd expect Andrade to lose some timber if he's signed and given some sort of delayed 'pre-season', which may mitigate some of his effectiveness but hopefully not by too much.

Quote ="Bulliac" I'd expect Andrade to lose some timber if he's signed and given some sort of delayed 'pre-season', which may mitigate some of his effectiveness but hopefully not by too ">much.'" He’s a brave lad judging by the way he took the ball up versus Toronto as he got absolutely smashed a couple of times. There’s potential for sure. If he can get some more fitness and learn from the coaches he could be worth a punt.

Quote ="Bulliac" I'd expect Andrade to lose some timber if he's signed and given some sort of delayed 'pre-season', which may mitigate some of his effectiveness but hopefully not by too ">much.'" He’s a brave lad judging by the way he took the ball up versus Toronto as he got absolutely smashed a couple of times. There’s potential for sure. If he can get some more fitness and learn from the coaches he could be worth a punt.

Quote ="Bullseye"He’s a brave lad judging by the way he took the ball up versus Toronto as he got absolutely smashed a couple of times. There’s potential for sure. If he can get some more fitness and learn from the coaches he could be worth a ">punt.'" According to MickTheGled on the commentary this Andrade bloke is a Marine I think. So fitness should be decent in terms of having an engine. Just need to shed some timber and try build some explosiveness to be more effective in contact.

Quote ="Bullseye"He’s a brave lad judging by the way he took the ball up versus Toronto as he got absolutely smashed a couple of times. There’s potential for sure. If he can get some more fitness and learn from the coaches he could be worth a ">punt.'" According to MickTheGled on the commentary this Andrade bloke is a Marine I think. So fitness should be decent in terms of having an engine. Just need to shed some timber and try build some explosiveness to be more effective in contact.

Quote ="Bulls Boy 2011"According to MickTheGled on the commentary this Andrade bloke is a Marine I think. So fitness should be decent in terms of having an engine. Just need to shed some timber and try build some explosiveness to be more effective in ">contact.'" Think someones confused, Andrade was RAF last I heard.

Quote ="Bulls Boy 2011"According to MickTheGled on the commentary this Andrade bloke is a Marine I think. So fitness should be decent in terms of having an engine. Just need to shed some timber and try build some explosiveness to be more effective in ">contact.'" Think someones confused, Andrade was RAF last I heard.

He's not unfit but the step up was pretty big for him versus Toronto and he struggled at the end of each stint. But he'll not come up against anyone that good in C1. Think Bulls Boy 2011 hits the nail on the head, it's technique in contact and a bit of explosiveness that will help him.

Quote ="mat"Think someones confused, Andrade was RAF last I ">heard.'" That's why I put I think. Haven't heard the commentary or watched the match since Saturday or whenever it got uploaded. Probably is RAF. Either way. Fitness will still be spot on. So he won't have far to go. Quote ="Bullseye"He's not unfit but the step up was pretty big for him versus Toronto and he struggled at the end of each stint. But he'll not come up against anyone that good in C1. Think Bulls Boy 2011 hits the nail on the head, it's technique in contact and a bit of explosiveness that will help ">him.'" Agreed, it was a step up for him. Tbf it was for all our lads. But I see your point. Hopefully he'll get a good run out against Keighley who are in our league. See how he goes. But yeah, build up some explosiveness and hopefully he can become a good impact prop for us. He's a unit and I'm sure defenses won't like the idea of Peltier, Andrade and Goodall running at them after they are tired from Crossley, Kirk and Milton/Hallas barraging them first.

Quote ="mat"Think someones confused, Andrade was RAF last I ">heard.'" That's why I put I think. Haven't heard the commentary or watched the match since Saturday or whenever it got uploaded. Probably is RAF. Either way. Fitness will still be spot on. So he won't have far to go. Quote ="Bullseye"He's not unfit but the step up was pretty big for him versus Toronto and he struggled at the end of each stint. But he'll not come up against anyone that good in C1. Think Bulls Boy 2011 hits the nail on the head, it's technique in contact and a bit of explosiveness that will help ">him.'" Agreed, it was a step up for him. Tbf it was for all our lads. But I see your point. Hopefully he'll get a good run out against Keighley who are in our league. See how he goes. But yeah, build up some explosiveness and hopefully he can become a good impact prop for us. He's a unit and I'm sure defenses won't like the idea of Peltier, Andrade and Goodall running at them after they are tired from Crossley, Kirk and Milton/Hallas barraging them first.

Fitness is relative to be fair and isn't some definitive condition, but more 'fit for purpose' - as in, I'm actually very fit for my purpose of ambling down to the papershop each morning.



I'm pretty sure Andrade will be fit for being a soldier, airman, or marine (strike out whatever.. etc etc ) which is obviously a decent level of general physical fitness plus any services specific levels, but that is quite a different thing to being match fit for pro rugby - in just the same way that a rugby player would probably fall short in some areas of services fitness.



I think he looks the part, to be honest and I can't wait to see how he goes after more time on the training paddock with the team.

Think Andrades definitely worth a punt. Nothing to lose if he doesn't work out IMO

Armed Forces international, gonna have a good level of fitness. If he is still serving, and we can get him to training and match fit then he will be a good capture I feel.



If we can't get him to training regularly, and isn't available for games then it won't be a good fit.



Obviously service comes first.



There's some brilliant players in the armed forces sides, that Ben Taylor the GB Captain for one.

Except for the wages you'd be paying him.

Jamel Goodall extended his contract until 2019

Andrade is " former RAF Weapons Technician" should be able to sort out opposition loose cannons then.



rubbish puns aside, Goodall has done al lot of good (oops...) and Andrade could shape up well, hopefully keeping his eye for an offload. Still no decapitator type of prop that this forum longs for, or to put it another way the signs are still there that Chalo want a pack that can play a bit not just slug it out.

Still think a terminator type prop is needed to give the players some space and time to play a bit. But I’m sure Kear knows what he’s doing.



Great to see Goodall rewarded for his showings so far. He’s a big strong lad that’s caused the opposition some problems so far.

I don't like foul play, I would dislike seeing any forward with a reputation as a head hunter in the squad. They give away needless penalties.



It's a tough enough game as it is without those sorts playing.



Notice how they never faze or get the better of good tough hard-working fair players?