The squad signed for 2022:

[uCOACHING STAFF[/u
Chris Chester (Head of Rugby)
????? (Head Coach)

[uBACKS[/u
Ed Chamberlain (from Salford Red Devils)
Joe Wardle (from Hudderfield Giants)
Jacob Jones (from London Broncos)
Tom Nisbett (loan from St Helens)
Jayden Hatton (from Widnes)

[uHALF BACKS[/u
Joe Mellor (retained from 2021 squad)
Ben Reynolds (retained from 2021 squad)

[uFORWARDS[/u
Aaron Smith (loan from St Helens)
Adam Sidlow (retained from 2021 squad)
Chris Green (from Wakefield Trinity)
Sam Stone (retained from 2021 squad)
Joel Tomkins (from Catalan Dragons)
Jai Whitbread (retained from 2021 squad)
Mark Ioane (retained from 2021 squad)

[uRUMOURS[/u
Adam Quinlan (Hull KR)
Ata Hingano (Salford)

[uOTHER POSSIBLES[/u
Alex Gerrard - not yet linked with another club
Matty Russell - not yet linked with another club
Lewis Tierney - not yet linked with another club
Matty Gee - not yet linked with another club
=================================
Keanan Brand - 2021 loanee may return?
Matty Foster - 2021 loanee may return?
Jack Ashworth - 2021 loanee may return?
Rob Butler - 2021 loanee may return?

A couple more to be retained i feel, and at least 3 from SL. I feel it is really important to sign players from a FT environment because the gap in fitness no matter how talented a side can be is huge.

Ioane was the one to keep, and I am glad we did. Not worried about the rest of the Championship to be honest as we have a good mixture of experience and youth with kids with a point to prove and a future to build.

Our pack will be strong. At this moment in time, Fevs pack is pants but their backline will take some beating.

Think our pack is looking ok but probably need a ball handler like Bell in there. Backs are a bit light on experience. Young guns tend to come through as the season goes but as we know in champ you can’t afford to drop points early on. Would be good if we could keep Russel, Tierney and get Brand for season. Be nice to keep Elliot also would be strong in championship.

Tierney and Elliot NO . Russell hope we can but thought he was Salford bound. Brand - can't see a spot with the kids who have come in - experienced backs now needed imo

I would have Russell Brand & Foster we have enough experience need some legs

we could do with a little bit of magic from somewhere to win them big games

Scraping the barrel a bit with Russell Brand!

Brand seemed to be developing well @FB, better option than the expensive sicknote we appear to have lined up

Wouldn't have brand back. Was poor to be honest. Defensively weak. No threat chiming into line as was a runner, not a passer, and zero command of organising defense. Russell going to salford. Tierney shocking. Elliot no better. Quinlan may have the odd injury, but does everything well. Far better than other options

Right at the bottom

Lets hope Ed Chamberlain brings Ms Cumani with him

Quite harsh Col. Let Chester pick em.

I think we need a little more experience in the squad of top championship, or SL quality - a centre, another decent half and hooker. We seem to have signed a lot of young wingers recently.

I would say another 5 or 6 players yet to come , a bit more quality , trust in Derek, we have a few young wingers , but they are decent.

The squad signed for 2022:

[uCOACHING STAFF[/u
Chris Chester (Head of Rugby)
????? (Head Coach)

[uBACKS[/u

FULL BACK
??????

WINGERS
Ed Chamberlain (from Salford Red Devils)
Luis Roberts (from Swinton)
Tom Nisbett (loan from St Helens) =#FF4000Full Back?
Jayden Hatton (from Widnes)
Jy Hitchcox (from Toulouse) =#FF4000Full Back?

CENTRES
Joe Wardle (from Huddersfield Giants)

[uHALF BACKS[/u
Joe Mellor (retained from 2021 squad)
Ben Reynolds (retained from 2021 squad)

[uFORWARDS[/u

PROPS
Mark Ioane (retained from 2021 squad)
Jai Whitbread (retained from 2021 squad)
Adam Sidlow (retained from 2021 squad)
Chris Green (from Wakefield Trinity)

HOOKERS
Aaron Smith (loan from St Helens)

SECOND ROW & LOOSE FORWARD
Sam Stone (retained from 2021 squad)
Joel Tomkins (from Catalan Dragons)
Jacob Jones (from London Broncos)

=================================
[uRUMOURS[/u
Adam Quinlan (Hull KR)
Ata Hingano (Salford)
=================================
[uOTHER POSSIBLES[/u
Alex Gerrard - not yet linked with another club
Matty Russell - not yet linked with another club
Lewis Tierney - not yet linked with another club
Matty Gee - not yet linked with another club
=================================
Keanan Brand - 2021 loanee may return?
Matty Foster - 2021 loanee may return?
Jack Ashworth - 2021 loanee may return?
Rob Butler - 2021 loanee may return?

Hi Charlie
We currently have 16 players signed up - that leaves about 8 more to sign based on CC saying squad of 24. I would expect at least 5 or 6 more forwards and 2 or 3 more backs.
We need a specialist full back - unless Jy Hitchcox is earmarked for that role. Olly ashall bott & Adam Quinlan have been mentioned!
We only have Joe Wardle as a recognised centre and he seems to be a little injury prone - so we need some more quality in this position.
We have 5 wingers - which seems a little strange (as at least two will be in the west stand for most games)
We only have two halves - Reynolds & Mellor - I think Ata Hingano has been mentioned!
The next couple of weeks will be very interesting.
"IN DEREK WE TRUST" or should I say "IN CHRIS WE TRUST"

Very enjoyable post. As you say the onus is now on Chris. Not Derek.

Good evening Jboy, I must agree with all your assessments , I hadn’t counted players , but agree with your numbers , I really do think we will be ok next year , things are looking up .

We have a number of dual position players - eg Stone can cover centre as he did in SL, so I expect a FB who can cover 6 plus Ata as a half who can cover 9. I heard a rumour we have a couple of 'stars' to announce with the wow factor - Gelling would be nice....

I think we need decent centres because with young wingers our edges may be defensively vulnerable. Stone as cover would be great, but surely not a 1st choice centre.
Looking forward to the "star" announcements - Gelling would be great.

You can cross Jai Whitbread off the list he has signed for Wakefield.

Yes just seen it on my phone - I thought we had him on a two year deal - 2021 and 2022. I will take him off the list.
He must have a SL opt-out - will Sam Stone be the next to go?
I don't suppose there will be any confirmation from the club.
Doesn't training start next week? We are down to a squad of 15, make that 14 if Sam Stone isn't on board. And no head coach.
It feels like we are behind most teams on recruitment.
Hopefully there are some good signing coming soon!!!

The squad signed for 2022:

[uCOACHING STAFF[/u
Chris Chester (Head of Rugby)
????? (Head Coach)

[uBACKS[/u

FULL BACK
??????

WINGERS
Ed Chamberlain (from Salford Red Devils)
Luis Roberts (from Swinton)
Tom Nisbett (loan from St Helens) =#FF4000Full Back?
Jayden Hatton (from Widnes)
Jy Hitchcox (from Toulouse) =#FF4000Full Back?

CENTRES
Joe Wardle (from Huddersfield Giants)

[uHALF BACKS[/u
Joe Mellor (retained from 2021 squad)
Ben Reynolds (retained from 2021 squad)

[uFORWARDS[/u

PROPS
Mark Ioane (retained from 2021 squad)
[del=#FF4000Jai Whitbread (signed for Wakefield !!!!)[/del
Adam Sidlow (retained from 2021 squad)
Chris Green (from Wakefield Trinity)

HOOKERS
Aaron Smith (loan from St Helens)

SECOND ROW & LOOSE FORWARD
Sam Stone (retained from 2021 squad)
Joel Tomkins (from Catalan Dragons)
Jacob Jones (from London Broncos)

=================================
[uRUMOURS[/u
Adam Quinlan (Hull KR)
Ata Hingano (Salford)
=================================
[uOTHER POSSIBLES[/u
Alex Gerrard - not yet linked with another club
Matty Russell - not yet linked with another club
Lewis Tierney - not yet linked with another club
[del=#FF4000Matty Gee - not yet linked with another club[/del
=================================
Keanan Brand - 2021 loanee may return?
Matty Foster - 2021 loanee may return?
Jack Ashworth - 2021 loanee may return?
Rob Butler - 2021 loanee may return?

Anyone get the feeling we will be lucky to make the top 4 next season ?
As it stands we have no Head Coach & not enough player's to start a game.

Ste , I’m trying to be positive , I think we already have a Coach , and he will be named soon , I’m worried it’s Marshall though , I think we will have a team to compete and be up there .Hopefully .

It feels like the same old story is being repeated once again. Losing our best players, late start to recruitment, missing the best available players, delaying announcement of signings and so it goes on. Let’s hope for the announcement of some head turning names soon, building confidence that we can hit the ground running, and challenge for the top, Having the good doctor on board would give a real boost to confidence.

And I hope its NOT Lamb.