nope not me im very pleased think sam is just what we need

Waste of a qouta spot i think . Been trying to get rid of average oversees signings like this for years Todd Byrne for one and we go and use our last spot on another prop whos nothing special. Oh i forgot though he likes it here and is always smiling . No wonder !!

Thats because your such a generous man , no wonder Cheeky Charlie worships you

your aving a laff, the greedy f00ker wouldn't spend xmas with you he's that tight

You're wrong !!!!!

I am a bit. The pack looks really strong next season now, but the balance isn't right IMO. Too many inexperienced backs and not enough cover in the halves for me. Washy should play at 13 all season, but as soon as Horne or Long aren't available he'll be moved to 6, with an extra prop at 13, thereby immediately losing a ball-player and back to square one in the creativity stakes. Nothing against Sam, he's a good player, but we have more obvious gaps than in the pack next season IMO.

WHY

We also have Whiting as an option, Tansey is available to cover for Horne, and Whiting can cover f/back or Horne. Also young Jack Brisc may make the odd appearance.

i respect your view but maybe thats why they have brought this kid from salford he can play 13 or 6 possibly also whiting could play 13 i think that could be his natural position

Hope its true big fan of Sam , can use Hame in 2nd row and if we get rid of dowes and cusack end of next season then we be looking for a prop anyway and we got one here .

Think our squad has been so dysfunctional that it would be very difficult to get the balance right again in just one season.

Personally, I think getting a big pack with some depth/options is the best beginning. Long is what we need but he will require some protection/go forward. Hopefully that will provide the platform for our best young players - most of whom are outside backs - to flourish. Playing behind a beaten pack with no organization is exactly the sort of environment that will see them lose their way so we've got to avoid that.

if Long was to be out for a period of time next year-who the hell would we turn to for a kicking game/creativity thats what worries me, been said before the problem is not getting to the opponents 20 its having someone who know what to do when we get there!!! will be dissapointed if moa takes the final quota spot

He has signed for the Giants

Reallyy hope this news is true.

He will be on the back of my shirt next year if so

.

Just imagine all these on at the same time...

O'meley, Berrigan, Moa, Manu, Lauaki, Fitzgibbon

We actually could be a threat again next season

I think that it was the 'quins game that Tansey played there and looked good. I'd probably move him to SH when Long is unavailable. Whiting/Horne/J.Briscoe to FB.

Houghton could play 9 and Berrigan could fill in at 7.

My concern is that Washy's been messed about enough the last 2 years and has been disrupted with injuries - it's time for him to take control of the 13 spot as he's on a good wedge and needs to fully realise his potential. He must be given a full season there to be fair to him and not shuffled round to 6/7/even 9.

We have Long (class but getting on), Horne (underperforming significantly) plus Whiting/Turner who are both unproven in the halves at this level. Agar has had ample opportunity to give Whiting a go at 6 and (wrongly) not taken it, so that looks unlikely. I don't know much about Turner, but don't get the impression he's a genuine half back. Tansey clearly wants to make the FB spot his own and should be allowed to do so IMO.

Consequently I still think we are light in the backs and lacking quality cover. As Clarky pointed out, statistically the go-forward has been less of an issue than the ability to create try-scoring opportunities this season. Long will help as he is better than Thorman, but still short there IMO. I like Sam and think we have an excellent pack now, but I wouldn't have been devastated if we'd used the last spot on a back.

I'm wondering who was available at the right standard (ie top player) to come in at half back. It's all about the right standard of player being available. I don't see too mant top halves coming in the direction of SL for next year. If there was no one out there who was better than we have already then if Sam has/does sign it is the right move. I agree with your balance argument but it will take more than one season to resolve it. If Moa signs we have a good prop for the medium term and it releases Lauaki out wider which is exactly where he should be IMO.

I agree with all that, just saying that ideally we should strengthen the backs before the forwards as what we already have is adequate IMO. 100% agree about Lauaki. Must be played wide.

IF Lauaki is to be used in a similar role to Manu.

We would only have Cusack,Dowes and O'Meley as props.
and due to the impact of the sport - 3 or 4 props is not enough -IMHO.

For mine ,IF true, the signing of Moa - would reinforce the prop position.

We were allegedly linked with Luke Burt, but he is no 'blue chip' signing. -IMHO

Id prefer us to persevere, with our young backs.

We need to reinforce the forwards first - they lay the platform for the backs.

Chris Bridge.

Fitz will almost certainly be our number 13 next season.

Great news if true, the thing is he is only 22, so could be here for a few years to come.

Cusack last year and with no props coming through at the moment, this would make sense.

It's ok saying we are short in the backs, but for next season we only have 4 props and each game you need to play 4 props, so you could argue that the position we are short is prop.

Lets hope it's true.

No arguing needed, we ARE light in props, we have 8 first team backs with a couple of youngsters if needed yet we only have 3 props in o'meley, cusack and dowes if lauaki is to be a 2nd rower for us. I have no idea how people can make an argument for backs to be reinforced before prop!
Even if moa does sign, we still only have 4 "specialist" props, I expect another "project" to be announced aswell.

This would be my team for next year (upto now!)
Seems like we've got plenty of cover all over the park.
Can't believe theres no room in the 17 for Houghton (might have to re-think) or is Berro good for the 80?
Back division doesn't seem to be lacking too much experience.
Just hope Horne & Long can get a good understanding & quick!


Tansey

Briscoe
Hall
Yeaman
Raynor

R Horne
Long

O'Meley
Berro
Dowes
Fitzgibbon
Tickle/Manu
Washbrook

Subs:
Moa
Cusack
Manu/Tickle
Lauaki


Squad:
Houghton - Hooker
Turner - Stand Off/Centre/Loose Man
Burnett - 2nd row
Radford - 2nd row/prop
Whiting - full back/centre/loose man
Calderwood - wing
J Briscoe - full back/wing