Oh I don't know. Rhubarb can be grown all year round, maybe just in another 'guise ..

Forums gone a bit quiet at the moment so just till we get new news regards signings, could someone with more knowledge than me list the first team players and their positions from last year , then at the side (or above) type in bold letters the respective names of new signings to date to take their place, then we can try and dtetermine whether the first team will be stronger or weaker this coming season. (just a bit of fun).

We started with this last year when Squad numbers were announced in December 2014

1 Craig Hall
2 [size=85[iChris Riley[/i[/size Jordan Tansey
3 [size=85[iDean Collis[/i[/size Ashley Gibson
4 Reece Lyne
5 Richard Owen
6 Jacob Miller
7 [size=85[iTim Smith[/i[/size Liam Finn
8 Nick Scruton
9 [size=85[iPaul McShane[/i[/size Michael Sio
10 Scott Anderson
11 [size=85[iAli Lauitiiti[/i[/size
12 Daniel Kirmond
13 [size=85[iDanny Washbrook[/i[/size
14 [uPita Godinet[/u
15 [size=85[iMatt Ryan[/i[/size Ben Shulver
16 Mickael Simon
17 Matty Ashurst
18 [size=85[iDaniel Smith[/i[/size Anthony England
19 [uJon Molloy[/u
20 [size=85[iJarrod Sammut[/i[/size Sean Morris
21 Max Jowitt
22 Jordan Crowther
23 [size=85[iLopini Paea[/i[/size Andy Yates
24 Tom Johnstone
25 [size=85[iIan Kirke[/i[/size Stuart Howarth
26 Chris Annakin
27 [size=85[iKyle Trout[/i[/size

Signed during season but still not signed for this season
Moore
Arundal
Walker
Tupou

I've kept the squad number position from last year if still here but clearly the likes of Ashurst and Simon will actually be replacing Ali and Washbrook.

Thanks PopTart, it gives a clearer picture but not sure what to make of it whether its a better team on paper this coming season.

It shows there are still a few gaps to fill, though they may be with players we already know like Moore, Tupou and Godinet

Think we are currently weaker and givan how we performed last year that could spell trouble

Ability wise weaker, hopefully attitude wise stronger. More signings to come which could add some quality.

Would agree with you, but I am fairly relaxed as I expect a number of additional signings to come in and if they include some of the names previously rumoured such as BJB; Pomeroy and Anthony Tupou then things will start to look a lot better. In addition, as has previously been stated by others a full preseason under Brian Smith is also likely to make a significant difference.

Last years back line was very slow with the exceptions of Jowitt who hardly played and Johnstone who did not play that regularly. The signings that have been made in the backs and the names rumoured are clearly addressing this issue, whilst Finn will give us something we lacked all season (a decent last tackle option), so I am happy that we appear to be heading in the right direction.

Fair comment this and let's not forget that Johnstone, Crowther and Jowitt are all now surely ready for regular first team action. In fact Johnstone and Jowitt would be the first names I would have on the teamsheet.

The concensus of oppinion of posters appears to be the same and agree the requirement now is for 2 or 3 top class players to compliment the existing good quality players otherwise we could end up in the same position as last year.
Although the attitude of the players should improve no end under Brian Smith, the other clubs around us are all strenthening.

Can't agree with you there and I suspect neither does Brian Smith, Max Jowitt is a capable stand in for the odd game but is far from ready for regular SL football and needs another season at least.

For me, if you take the squad we already have signed up and reordered the squad list I posted earlier, I'd do the shirts like this:

1 Jordan Tansey
2 Tom Johnstone
3 Ashley Gibson
4
5 Richard Owen
6 Jacob Miller
7 Liam Finn
8 Nick Scruton
9 Michael Sio
10 Scott Anderson
11 Jon Molloy
12 Daniel Kirmond
13
14
15 Anthony England
16 Mickael Simon
17 Matty Ashurst
18 Craig Hall
19 Andy Yates
20 Chris Annakin
21 Max Jowitt
22 Jordan Crowther
23 Sean Morris
24 Ben Shulver
25 Stuart Howarth
26 Reece Lyne
27

Pita Godinet or Scott Moore could fill the 14 shirt.
And Michael Simon could be moved to 13
And Hall could be 4

But for me we need a starting centre and either a starting 13 or prop to free Simon.......along with a decision about second hooker/Half.
Adding Pomeroy and Tupou to that team would make it a lot stronger.
I'd feel better if the Tupou we have already stayed for starting Wing and centre cover too.
Maybe Arundal as back up but probably not starting centre.

Kinda like the look of this Pop Tart well done.

By the way thats 27 players, the wage bill must be around 1.5 million!!!

Now Joel Monaghan has gone to Cas instead of Salford, as everyone was expecting, then are Salford likely to release BJB ????

Knowing that the squad will have a full pre season with Brian Smith and will be better prepared, more structured and be subjected to stricter discipline, I'm fairly happy with the way we're shaping up.

The addition of 3 or 4 higher quality players should see us being far more competitive next season.

We quite rightly will start the season with top 8 aspirations and it shouldn't be any other way however, realistically we must be aiming to avoid bottom place and in doing so not be cast adrift of the other Super League clubs. Importantly that will also widen the gap between us and the Championship clubs we are likely to meet in next years Middle Eights.

I'm sure some middle to end of season recruitment and tinkering will still be available to us should we require it.

If we believe the persistent and strongest rumours then BJB, Pomeroy and Tupou are going to be with us next year,
I also think Godinet and Bill Tupou will stay with us as well.

That would give us a decent starting line up and some quality depth.

BJB
Johnstone
Pomeroy
Gibson
Tupou
Miller
Finn
Scruton
Sio
Anderson
Ashurst
Kirmond
Tupou

Godinet
Molloy/Crowther
England/Anakin
Simon

Maybe they will take Carney to Salford,because I can't see him staying over't common with everything that has gone on "allegedly"

Clan... we are not allowed to sign players towards the end of the season...we cheated last season, according to the Championship clubs, by signing a whole new squad in order to beat them in the Middle 8's...and not one of them signed any players whatsoever.......oh hang on a minute

Got to agree with you chissit, didn't go to Sheffield must be honest but watched highlights, I'm afraid every try Sheffield scored I looked vainly for young jowett to come into the picture never saw him I'm afraid, looks a prospect but these wanting him first choice fullback are in my opinion way off the mark

England will start he's better than anything you have at moment, few more signings and smith at helm hopefully you will be out of bottom 4

Thinks it's probably a little harsh to single out Jowitt for the Sheffield debacle. He isn't just a prospect, according to many who have forgotten more about RL than I will ever know, he is a hot prospect.
If he was at Wigan, Leeds or Saints he would gain his experience in the first team!
David Topliss and Mick Morgan started young and they didn't turn out bad.

Thought it was jowett we was talking about, not singling him out, don't think his performance would have got him a place at Wigan ,leeds or saints prospect I'll stick with ,wouldn't say anymore than that, seen the kid in 19s decent but hot don't think so

blame the team and the coach one player can't loose the game if that was the case the coach should have taken him off

I thought the Sheffield game was more down to Tupou and Lynne making poor defensive reads than Jowitt, and whilst Jowitt didn't have his best game he was certainly no worse than any other.

Lets not forget if it wasn't for Lee Smith allegeding demanding more money, Jowitt would most likely not have needed to play against Sheffield.