He's on there now, number 35, no surprise.

Personally Pitts was excellent in right SR last year (12) and Tanginoa was very good once he switched back to left SR (11).

It seems odd to me to move Pitts/Tangi both to new sides/positions. Certainly a big risk if the numbers are relevant to positions.

I personally thought Ashurst would be an interchange 13 option with Tangi and Pitts retaining their “best positions”.

Of course the squad numbers may hold 0 relevance to actual positions. Either way I trust the coaching team to select players in their best positions. If they take the risk with moves positionally then they will take the plaudits or criticism either way.

Seems strange to me though if those numbers are to go by.

Also, huge positive here but it’s so good to see a lot of wakey homegrown products in the team!

I agree but I'd have actually gone Kelepi 11, Batch 12 and Pitts 13

That’s the key, the numbers are a very rough guide especially in on particular case.

In the modern game he will go with what’s needed on the day.

Some players are fixed, Fifita and Battye will prop and TJ is unlikely to appear anywhere else but on the wing.

Pitts, Arona and Tanginoa are much more versatile and although I thing both All three now carry numbers to match their prime positions there is every chance they will play elsewhere.

It’s good in this day and age to have a large number of players who can’t just play more than one position but play them all well.

I agree, I've heard that David F wants to be the goal kicking half-back and he's No 35

Me too. Ashurst at the end of his career and should really be interchange or cover, Batch with a one year deal to impress for more. Long term you’d have to go with him as I think he’s a great player to build around for the next 5-6 seasons

Agree too tbh. Kalepi and Pitts for me are the two guaranteed starters if fit in SR.

Nah, for me Pitts has matured into the ideal LF

Kelepi and anyone from Ashurst, Batch, Crowther and so on.

I don’t disagree that Pitts could be a great LF but there’s an element of risk moving him from his experienced position of right SR where he’s been excellent.

We certainly do have the quality to at least try him there with the players you have listed.

I guess that’s what pre season games will be for.

If Pitts is to play LF then it will be tough for Crowther/Walker/O’Donnovan to push their way in this year other than interchange but Pitts is a full 80 player.

I’m happy with the squad reading it down the list. I would prefer another utility to back to cover full back and Halves (Hampshire would be ideal to complete squad) but if we run with what we have we will go fine unless we get a couple of injuries in the halfs/ backs but we will have to see.

Didn't Pitts play 13 at London?
I may have made that up though.

Wouldn't you say Crowther had already pushed his way in, he's no rookie anymore with 70 SL games under his belt, he is an S/R despite playing almost anywhere asked? So I wouldn't class him with those players but with Batchelor and Ashurst, with Kelepi a class above. That's a fair few options before worrying about Pitts playing LF IMHO.

Yes.

He's done it all tbf but last year for me his game awareness, especially in defence, went dramatically upwards. He became a footballing forward, which to me is always been the role of an LF, a link between the pack and the halves.

Loved the way that he came in on the angle and then clattered someone.

That is the risk though. He improved that right edge.

He did, but he's still the best player to replace Westerman IMHO.

A lot I suppose depends on Ashurst regaining his form and Tanginoa and or Batch/Crowther making the right edge their own.

Put it this way. Crowther will probably end up as a L/F but he's not yet as good a player as Pitts IMO, so it should be easier to get Crowther playing well in the SR than landing him with the job of L/F.

It's all swings and roundabouts and at the moment we can't afford too many options, so to me it's the best use of players but it's all very marginal.

As you say we'll find out in Preseason.

Only once, he predominantly played second row as he has for us and also play half a dozen games at stand off.

He did however play the majority of his rugby for Hull FC and Bradford from loose forward.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the omission of Leon Ruan from the squad and subsequent departure from the club to play at doncaster.
IMO he was the best player in last years academy from what I saw, far better than the forwards that have been given 1st team promotion from the academy.

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Why is it an omission? Was he talked about as bring a first teamer and then not put in or just not seen as being a first teamer?
Can't say I know anything about him more than the YouTube highlights reel but he looks like a big lad who has potential but needs to learn his trade.

Heard good things about him but like with your lad it's not the end but an opportunity. He does well at Donny and he will grab the attention of other clubs. May be a better option than being a bit part player in SL sent on loan at the drop of a hat.

Time will tell if Trinity have dropped a bollock.

This was discussed a few months back. Is it a DR or permanent?

I agree from what I saw he looked very good but again you have to ask if we don't want him then why? Ditto if other SL clubs are not interested then why?

I don't know the answer by the way but this happens a lot. A player excites fans but doesn't do it for coaches, Ryan Hampshire is a classic example.

They all seem to think the same way as well, so they must see something we don't.

Just a point, your lad clearly didn't want to leave, are we sure Leon felt the same. Players are not all the same and some think very differently from the rest of us. Maybe the lad couldn't be bothered to wait and just wanted to pick up the first-team paycheck. Not all young players are all that dedicated? Again I don't know but there are two sides to every argument.

Clubs will always drop the odd bollock, nobody gets it 100% right.

But hand on heart, all of us posting, name a youth player we have let go In the last ten years who's proved the coaches wrong? I can't off the top of my head.

From what I've heard he was wanting to step up to 1st team, hasn't got that so has left to test himself at a higher level to help with his development. Who knows the exact details, but good on him for taking control of the situation


My point is that there were quite a few raving about this lad and there was a general consensus (not necessarily on this forum) that he was one to get the nod. Just surprised no one else has picked up on it.

Meant to add, I don't agree with that statement, better maybe but far better, that's extremely unfair from what I saw last year as for me the strength of the team was that they played for each other without any huge standouts.

It looks like Issac Shaw may have just got the nod for promotion in front of Ruan? Added to Eseh, Bowes, O’Donovan, Murphy, Windrow and Hall that's quite a batch of last years U19s amongst that 1st team squad. I know Hall is slightly different.