Dane Neilsen has left the club. m.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/spo ... confirmed/

Dane Neilsen has left the club. m.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/spo ... confirmed/

Shame but it was always going to happen... Didn't offer much in attack but was one of the best outside backs defensively that we've had for a long time!

This. Had got stage I'd have been surprised if he did come back.

Expect we'll get a announcement of 2nd trialist today or tomorrow who is expect to be a centre.

Not a massive surprise and it is a shame, but he never really stood out as someone of his ability and experience should. I didn't expect him to be back after it was announced he'd gone back down under and we signed Welham the next day or so.

Looks like another summer signing for a middle 8's onslaught however bearing in mind half of the late signings didn't play in MPG and then we declare we didn't break even i hope this wasn't a desperate all or nothing bid

When we signed Welham it did make me have doubts that Neilson was coming back. As has been said he was decent defensively but he offered surprisingly little in attack.

Do we need another centre if we have Welham, Purtell, Blythe, Baile and Ethan Ryan, Mendeika and Uaisele as back up?

His signing was a bit farcical really. I can't blame the club for trying to strengthen at the back end of the season but I have to say that it doesn't sit well with me at all.
People have a go at Wakefield for what they did but this whole thing with Nielsen makes us look just as bad.

If there is to be any transfer activity during a season, it should be around the halfway point like in football. The cut off point for transfers should be nowhere near the super 8s. And what do the RFL do? They move it closer

How many games did he actually play for us?

Short answer to your rhetorical question is clearly no.

As of right now, the only exception I'd make is if the centre were to be an exceptional one - that though is pretty unlikely and, to be honest, a waste of money in the championship. You just never know who may, 'become available', though, and sometimes you just have to go for it or lose the chance.

Things may change over the season though and with losses of form, injuries and all the rest who knows when the eights come round?

There's too many combinations though. At the end of last season Purtell was in the halves, Baile was the interchange hooker, Blythe was playing a bit of 2nd row, Uaisele is mainly a winger, Ethan Ryan is just up from academy and Mendeika is used as a utility back (although says centre is preferred option). A year ago I would have said Welham, Purts, Blythe, Baile were all centres - but now I'm not sure.

This is the "utility" argument which has appeared somewhere on another thread recently.

We should now decide if the ones we have are good enough. If they are, then play them. If not, get rid and sign another.
We mustn't just keep signing loads of "OK" players and then not be able to decide who is our best because they are all alike. We need a few less players but better quality. Keep the ones we now have - look at them over the first half of the season and then decide to stick or release.

Triallist isn't a centre. Wing or Fullback I am led to believe, can't say I know much about him.

Nielsen is neither a surprise or a particular disappointment. As has been rightly said, he was next to useless in attack for us. Yes, it may have just been game sharpness he was missing, but he certainly didn't stand out as a "must keep" player. I'm still far more gutted about Mullaney.

This has knocked me for six I'll admit. I always thought he'd come back to us in time for pre-season hand in hand with Orford. And Nick Zisti.

I bumped into Baille at the LSV recently, he was there with Pala a former team mate at Catalans now at Leigh.

Has he lost weight does anybody know as I seem to recall him being a big aggressive centre at Catalans and when I saw him I couldn't believe how small he actually was.

Either that or my TV lies.

He's not a big bloke I know but he is a strong runner.

Often the little blokes pack more of a punch than the big uns. See the likes of Karl Pryce, Chris Feather and Ian Kirke for evidence of that!

One thing about Baile that is a concern is that he's a bit injury prone. Probably a side effect of the way he plays.

True, Liam Kay our winger is very strong & he isn't a big fella.

My concern about Baile is that he's merde.

I don't think he is, but I don't think he's a world beater either. As it stands though, I'd have him as the 2nd best hooker in our squad, so unless we signed another one, I hope Baile is staying.

Think baille and blythe are more 2nd rowers these days. Neither impressed at when they did play there last year. Mendieka was terrible defensively in and is rumoured to have a long term injury. Uaisele has said he prefers but not sure if hes played there for us, maybe moved there during a match due to injury?.

Nielsen didnt impress in offense but not sure how much service he actually had. IIRC gaskell was missing every game he played apart from million pound game. Where nielsen did make an impact was in defense. our defense down that side was a revolving door all season down that side and improved very noticeably when he arrived.

Biggest problem we need to address this year across the team in our poor defense. We've shown in odd games that we're capable of defending well but then in other games we look like we've never played together and defend as individuals rather than as a team. Improving that single aspect of our game will make a big impact IMO.

I think I put on the other thread that he was signed for 2015 with a further one year option. I've not read anywhere that the option has been taken....though equally, I've not read that it hasn't. Someone must know!

Just got an email saying the Bulls are giving trials to Dean Caprice, who has played 'sevens' for England, calling him a 'utility player'. I guess as a union player his position might be more open than normal.

he was included in season ticket booklet and IIRC had an article in t&A talking about coming season so it would be odd if option wasnt being taken up. Whilst nielsen was in booklet too he's not been mentioned at all in any of articles.

Think you mean DAN caprice. Seems to have moved around a fair bit. played premiership for london welsh and had stints at biaritz and in new zealand. looks quick enough on sevens highlights. Interesting.

Yeah, that's the guy. Don't if I misread it or it was just a typo....it doesn't it actually say what his position was in union, though I'd guess in the backs as sevens player.

Played wing and fullback for london welsh.