Finally updated to include the new signings for 2010.

Bit surprised that we have our squad of 25 (despite releasing 8 and only signing 4 so far). That consists of 15 forwards and only 10 backs, which seems a bit lopsided. Hopefully another outside back or two will follow.

If you feel there are any corrections to be made please add them to the bottom of that thread (not this one – you can discuss other things squad related on this thread though!).

[url=http://viewtopic.php?t=91771Link[/url

Cheers.

A horrific squad with undoubtedly the worst wingers in Super League if not the lower leagues. Will finish above Salford and Celtic and thats it.

Thats a bit harsh on Will and Jamie !

I am not even sure we will finish above them either.

DOOM & GLOOM 2010!

Actually when you look at it, its not THAT bad. A lot will depend on how the two Aussie second rowers fare I feel and, as always, our luck with injuries.

I have to hold my hand up and say that I like the way the club is doing things.
I prefer this model of trying to bring through your own and keep a squad together over a number of years rather than just signing 13 new aussies every summer.
That said I am not blind to the fact that we dont meassure up too favourably to the stronger sides in the comp. Still how far is that team from the one that went 10-5 and how many in the squad have yet to reach their prime?

It all depends on motivation. If Brian can get them going we may start well but once the injuries kick in we will end up in the mess again.

I am sorry but I can see little to be positive about!

It's not meant nastily. Those two are young players, they MIGHT come good but that is it. Unfortunately the club are paying a wage to Jon Wells who was past it a couple of years ago, who scored ZERO tries last season and incredibly has a contract for this season.

It is NOT a super league squad. The forwards are mostly plodders with the exception of LMS who is a genuinely exciting player.

The backs are quite clearly the worst in the comp behind Celtic.

I do agree it is very skinny. I'm all for bringing through our younger players, but a bit more quality would be appreciated. Not sure we've made best use of our quota. Having a Williamson or Robinson character (hard working, good defence, dependable) in the squad is useful, I'm just not sure we need both of them. That place could be used on a halfback, centre or even a bigger back rower with a bit more of an offloading game.

The negativity continues!!!!!!!!!!

Some of it is justified when you look at some of the players we used to have. The second half of last season was a disaster. The second half of the 2007 and 2008 seasons were fairly miserable as well.

I do agree that having a settled squad is important, I'm not sure keeping 21 of the players involved and bringing in 4 players, 3 of which are from reserve/national league level is the appropriate response.

It probably says a lot about the budget and status of the club at this moment in time.

Totally agree. To waste two overseas quota on a couple of simply average second rowers in Robinson and Williamson is utter madness.

However David Hughes appears to be content to let the club get worse and worse each season. If the quality drain continues as it is and gates get worse then Harlequins RL will struggle to get a super league licence especially if Barrow continue their upward trend and a possible Cumbrian superclub is formed.

Your post was going so well until here

Never mind the squad - these are the worst bunch of so called supporters I have ever come across in my whole lifetime of being a rl supporter. I have never heard such pessimism and doom and gloom in all my life. For goodness sake - GET A LIFEE - and give the lads some support or are you a bunch of QUITTERS.

Don't give the Aussies the satisfaction of matching up to what they call us - A BUNCH OF WHINGING POMS.

I couldnt agree more

I trust you have a season ticket for the coming season and have been supporting the club for many years? Would you not mind if the club finished bottom of the league and didn't get a franchise, so long as you gave them your "support".

Get real.

Welcome to reality, its not great.

I don't think a Cumbrian superclub is such an impossibility, all it would take is a softening of the attitude from Whitehaven to such a possibility. There is some serious money being invested in Barrow at the moment, certainly the chairman there, Des Johnson, is far more ambitious for his club than David Hughes who doesn't seem to care no matter how bad results get or how poor recruitment is which is very odd considering it is his money that he is going to carry on losing.

What a bizarre post - how many Aussies give a damn about what people think of Harlequins Rugby League?

Cumbria will never have a SL franchise either as a county or singular club-period-

They dont have the population or ground(s) for starters

I think there is a real possibility that Celtic Crusaders could finish above us. When Brian Noble and Jon Sharp are confirmed as the coaching duo, I think it could be the spur to see them being a more coherent team. I am very worried about our chances next season. The last couple months of the 2009 season were dire and the new signings don't offer much hope of anything better next year.

There is lots of talk up there about how Des Johnson wants to sort out a new ground and that he has great ambition to get into Superleague. This is the worst squad the club have ever had in the Superleague era.

I agree with you with regards to our squad, but think you are well off the mark with Cumbria. Will never happen IMO, no matter how much Des Johnson wants something.

As someone born and bread in Whitehaven I was going to say the same thing, that said the post from Rupe1 is the most sense made on here for ages the club are wasting a fortune on two aussies that are fourth rate at best. (that is to say there will never be a 'cumbrian' super club it's like asking Bradford to support Leeds)

Whilst we could struggle for a licence next time around, assuming David Hughes fancies losing another million or two keeping us going, I doubt it will be to a Barrow /Whitehaven super club though. The blunt truth is it's quite a long way from one to the other and I doubt many will bother to travel from Barrow to Whitehaven (or vice versa) to watch a club week in week out. (52 miles and 77 minutes each way according to The AA. Given what we say about our moves across London being dis-advantageous- which they clearly were - how can that not hurt a Cumbrian super club. As for public transport on a Sunday, something like 4 hours each way, I doubt you could return home after the match, if I remember correctly.)

I should add that I spent a very enjoyable weekend in Cumbria after watching Quins at Wigan on a Friday a couple of years ago. Barrow on Saturday and Whitehaven on Sunday. I'd love a Cumbrian team in superleague.

The squad in 2000 was pretty bad, especially after Brendan Magnus got injured. It really dawned on me just how weak we are in some places when I put it together. As I said, I hope the club is looking for one or two outside backs at the very least.

I find David Hughes absolutely baffling. He obviously loves Rugby League and is prepared to spend his own money on the club yet he seems entirely unconcerned by results. The coach appears to be unsackable no matter how bad the results and recruitment are. Does he have any desire for the club to be successful on the field? If so why does he tolerate such appalling standards?