No we don't need to sign a prop immediately, getting one straight away would be nice but like it has been said, by the Wakefield game we'll be 2-3 props up again and 2 weeks later Dudson will be back. But we do need another for the longer term, the international break will give Vaughan and Kasiano a much needed break. Plus Thomas and Green are slowly being blooded so they are both still an option.
Does anyone know why Green played such little minutes? Was it just to protect him from too much too soon, or do you think Powell might have not thought he was up to more minutes?

It looks like the intention for Green was just to give him a bit of time to just experience super league level. Probably so that he will go away and work on aspects that he needs to.
At 18 that is an incredibly young age to debut at prop and has a few things to work on in defence but really good to sample that level and hopefully give him the hunger to improve so that the next time he plays he is more prepared.

If Mikaele had left at the end of 2022, then I would have been totally indifferent, but he's been a different player this year, both as a starting prop and off the bench. This feels like a bit of a hole to try and fill, and like Tom, we could recruit a young fringe NRL prop that takes time to find their feet. Bringing someone in during this season, may not necessary have the immediate impact that we need, and that can apply to more experienced and well known players as well. If the right player came available then happy days, but we could have to wait until 2024 to get the right replacement. It's a shame we've lost him, and feels like an important a loss as Greg Mackey was when he left for Hull, or maybe, I'm just getting carried away with his performances over the first seven games.

The difference between this season and last is that last year we needed a prop to come in, be a regular starter and basically hit the ground running - this time we need someone who can come in just to provide much needed depth to the squad, they won't necessarily make the 17 every week, but will provide adequate cover in games where we feel we can give Vaughan, and Kasiano a rest, or less time on the pitch during a game.

With what we've seen from Harrison, Bullock, Philbin (and hopefully Dudson will provide more than he has done), do you not think we should have enough depth to rotate our props, even allowing for injuries and stupidity?

Has I pointed out in the opening post and from what we have seen so far this year, no, I don't think 7 props is enough.

I don't think we need to sign another prop - unless there is one at the level that would improve the team rather than just add numbers and do a job.
I expect numbers back after the Saints match, and possibly even Harrison at the Saints game. Not sure how Clark has made the team last week - shows he's prepared to go through the mill to help out in the short term.
I thought we had signed one too many forwards but now that Mikaele has gone (even though that has weakened the team) I'm ok with what we've got.
We were outgunned last weekend and this week will be another challenge without a doubt, but after that regardless of what anyone says it does become a bit easier and numbers come back.
We do need to give Vaughan a rest - we would have been in trouble if he had been one of the injured along with all of the others, but I genuinely believe we're through the worst.
Wakey are dreadful so maybe even though Vaughan may be in the 17, he may play a lot less minutes

Vaughan will get a week off after the Saints game.

It was an intense, so not particularly the best game to bring him in, but his remit was little more than to buy Vaughany a ten min breather.
I saw him with his mam and dad after the game..,proud is the understatement for it how his mother was!
Please for them.

I agree with this approach for the time being. I think that we've enough cover as it is particularly if all we can get is a squad filler.

Yes we are down to the bare bones, but without putting the mockers on it things should start picking up. It's always a gamble bringing new blood in. Let's get everyone available or as close to it as we can over the next few weeks and see what we might need to (if anything) to reinforce and rejuvenate the squad at the business end of the season which may not be a prop.

Signing someone just for the sake of numbers looks a little bit knee jerk to me

Karetaker

You spoke too soon.....

Gets a rest this week.
Un-bl00dy-believable

Anybody still think 7 props in the squad is enough?....

Lol but when I said it I was talking about him having the international week off now he as 2 weeks off.

Unless there's a prop out there that's a) available, b) wants to play for us and c) improves our squad, then it should be. We're in very odd and exceptional circumstances at the moment, but as it's April, were not facing do or die games.

DP will be banging on about cutting the out the stupidity in his team talks. Highly unlikely that we'll be in the same boat come the business end of the season.

Problem is, this isn't exceptional circumstances, it's pretty much the norm with injuries and how the disciplinary system is set up.

It's almost a given that you will never have a situation where every prop is fit and available, and by the very nature of how things roll as a season takes its toll, multiple absentees will happen again and for a longer period.

I agree its got to be the right player and not just a total panic signing, but, as I've said before, he doesn't necessarily have to be a starting prop or first choice. Just has to be someone who can do a job when needed (and his salary level would hopefully reflect that).

These are unusual curcumstances and yes 7 props is enough to run with normally.

I’ve said it enough times on here…

You need 2 packs to win SL.
We have 2 packs, and normal service will resume very soon.

Fortunately we’re only playing Saints this week, so we can get through the next 2 weeks without dropping any more points.

.... you're at it again, Duckie.

Maybe we can lure Kyle Amor away from widnes. He'd be just the sort of bloke you'd need in a crisis situation.

Better scenario this year, he'd thrive here

Game v Wakefield. Bullock, Philbin and Vaughan will all be back, and Kasiano will have had the international week off. Forwards back to strength.

Game v Wakefield. Bullock, Philbin and Vaughan will all be back, and Kasiano will have had the international week off. Forwards back to strength.

The wonderfully consistent disciplinary notwithstanding!

Yes we really need them then.
Must be priming themselves for big games!

In truth, whoever we sign now (based on who a club would be willing to lose so early in the year) is either bad news or a bad player. We don’t want to pay over the odds for someone to come in, play 2 or 3 games then disappear when the pack leaders return.

Problem of our own making to a point, with McGuire and Dudson getting mindless bans. I’d vote to tough it out, Matautia was strangely effective at 13, I’d have a look at that again and start Minikin.