Granted the coaching team needs to get them to work as a whole. Everyone has a job and knows what it is, etc. BA clearly started that last term. A stronger by far backline (I'm assuming Sivo arrives), more power up front and a good, hard pre season gives the platform to at least be competitive.

IN[/fimg

"We had a good team on paper, unfortunately the game was played on grass." Brian Clough.

Me too. Bai was a terrific signing.

We looked good on paper last season (barring being a big prop short), should have been good enough for top 6 anyway.. nothing guaranteed, but you can only judge on paper at this stage and if Sivo comes in it certainly looks much better than last year no doubt.

We now have 6 props over 17 stone in weight allied to guaranteed metres out of backfield .I know they don't all necessarily play to their size or for enough minutes!
Despite the above we should have enough to give us a completely different platform for our hooker and halves.
In theory on paper we should be finishing sowhere between 4th and 6th as a minimum and the gap to the top 3 should be closer.

Onwards and upwards for sure.

I think our weakest position(s) are half back/7 and centre given Newmans past injuries and Frawleys average ish performances.

Guessing that's why we signed Jake Connor.

If we can keep Holroyd / Gannon and Newman fit/ playable then we really should be pushing top 6 hard.

So are we assuming Handley can learn how to defend as a and learn when to pass if he is centre material how come he's played on the wing for most of his career up to now?

He has a full preseason to pick it up.
It's not the best plan but if Momo is leaving and Hall was already signed it might be the best plan we have.

If it doesn't work we JC who plays best at centre and the academy kid

Whilst I`ve always been a massive fan of Ryan Hall (decent bloke off the pitch too having met him a few times now)
I do wonder if it was a panic buy to appease the fans.
Don`t get me wrong he still has something to offer but Sivo and Handley wouldn`t be a bad couple of wingers had Hall not signed.
Then again we would have 2 whingers inside our 2 wingers in Newman and Connor

Hall was Hull KR's best player in the Grand Final. Things can taper off at his age but as of now he's a very good signing for at least a year and relatively cheap on the cap.

I think Hall was signed for his reliability and hard yards from deep.
It's only a one year deal so my guess is after that we will either move Handley back to wing and sign or promote a centre or sign a winger depending what's available

If BA sees him as a potential centre that'll do for me. If it doesn't work out we have other options.

Sangare to Salford

Interesting. You'd have to think we are in for another domestic prop.

Must be otherwise no sense in it… he’s under contract too so this is an interesting one

Liam Byrne perhaps?

Could just be a cap clearing exercise for Sivo

Don`t think many Wigan fans would be too unhappy.
Maybe Eseh?
Or Mulhern would be one of the best domestic signings we could make imo.

I don’t think he’ll be replaced, I reckon they’re hoping Holroyd is Sangare’s ‘replacement’

Think that`s a bit of a risk.
I reckon we need to replace him as it gives us options not to mention cover for injuries/bans.

Think it would be a very risky move to play the "practically a new signing card" in Holroyd's case. You'd think Momorovski departing would allow enough cap (utilising a marquee spot) to land Sivo. Getting rid of Sangare, who in fairness has been very poor, would once again leave us looking light in numbers in a position that almost everybody agreed needed significant strengthening. Cannot let that happen again.

I agree, just don’t think we’ll see a replacement.

I could be wrong, but we’re talking about replacing 5th or 6th placed prop, the options of any real quality will be very limited.

I think if Momo and Sangare go and Sivo' wage is half covered by his former team then we should have some cap free.

Oledski
Palasia
Holroyd
Lisone
Jenkins

Isn't bad. I'd be happier with another starting quality prop but I think just getting those two off the books is good work

Maybe we will see Gannon doing the odd spell at prop.

TNW is still here isn't he? I think he'll prove too small in the long term, but as sixth choice he'd be OK. The one that needs to improve massively (assuming Holroyd can get fit) is Lisone. He is way down on what we need from a quota player on last year's form, and needs to show he can cut out mistakes and have an impact against better teams, not just come on and batter everyone when we're already winning.