Done with recruitment.

According to AP they will be no further signings and the squad is now completed. We are well covered in the backs but I have serious concerns that we are lacking depth in the forwards. Last season we had relatively few injuries which was a major factor in our success but maybe contributed to fading at the end. Next season we may not be as fortunate. If we suffer 2 or 3 long term injuries or loss of form we will have to rely on youngsters who while have potential are unproven at this level. Obviously we have to blood young players but can we expect them to replace Ellis or Mini if they are out for a long time? You could argue that Wigan did it successfully last season but the quality of their younger players may be higher than ours.

Any thoughts?

We are unlikely to see 5 or 6 injuries at the same time in the pack, so if we have to play a young kid, then he should be surrounded with experience.

Taylor, Watts, Green, Bowden, Thompson, Ellis, Manu, Minichiello, Thompson, Hadley, Washbrook (2nd Row/Loose Man) should be enough with the likes of Turgut and Masi to come in

I wouldn't be surprised if we'd left a bit if cap space to accomodate an emergency signing if needs be. Although thinking about it, maybe we're using some of the money left over from Frank's departure to improve contracts eg Shaul, rather than spend on a new player.

I think if we were really desperate we could recall Abdull (I know they've come out and said it's for the full year, but im sure I read on the rfls operational rules that players can be recall from loans once they've been gone for more than 28 days).

Fully agree. We don't have the best pack in the league like others have suggested IMO and we will get over powered by a few teams in the forward department.

I don't think we're far off though. Didn't we have 4 of the 6 dream team forwards in 2016?

The issue would be if we lost Ellis or Mini. But I don't think that's any different to this year. I honestly think we'd have won that Semi for the GF had Ellis played. They're quality players and anyone would struggle to replace them.

Yeah I think Saints have recruited well in Douglas and Walker which will certainly beef there pack up. Leeds have a strong pack if they gell. Wigan and Warrington very storng contenders again but I do think we're up there with one of the best packs and I have high hopes of Masi making 2017 as his breakthrough year.

No we're not far off...where I think we'll struggle in comparison to last season is the interchanges. Last season we blew teams away with our interchanges, thriving in the 30-70 mins mark and I think we'll miss Pritchard a fair bit. Put that along with Radford hinting Connor will be used as an interchange and I think we'll lose a lot of the fire that worked so well last season. Saying that though the addition of Kelly will allow us to play a different game to the power play.

I'd like to see Ellis coming off the bench with Mini, Manu and Hadley starting 11-13. You'd then have Ellis, Bowden, Green and possibly Connor/Washbrook/Tuimavave at the bench.

I'm not sure about the back on the bench when you have the likes of Thompson and Washbrook who could do a short term job there should someone get injured. I supposed Connor could just slot into any position in the backs which would eradicate the need to move other players about.

I think the addition of Kelly, Connor and Griffin will more than offset the loss of Frank. I comfort myself in the fact that arguably our best performance of the season was achieved without Frank and Sika at Saints in the CC.

How will be know if our young players are as good a standard as Wigans if we don't give them a chance.

Hard to say about injuries, but I think we are as strong if not stronger this season in the forwards, ok we have lost Frank, but the likes of Masi, Turgut are a year older, stronger etc.

Pack will be fine, always a loan signing if we are struggling.

If a player goes on loan for the full season he can't be recalled

I think the squad is far better balanced that it was last season.

The fact we didn't cop much in the way of injuries exaggerated our depth in the forwards as it meant lads who would usually have played more games didn't get a chance to.

With another year under their belts to develop physically, I'd expect to see Downs and Masi (along with others) get their chances.

The young players will get a chance this season. Bringing them in for the odd game to gain experience is what you want but you can't expect them to play week in week out if we have long term injuries. I still think we should have signed another forward instead of Michaels as we already had enough cover in the backs.

Not sure about that...



C1:2:17 seems pretty clear. Can't see anything else about season long loans. The only issue I can see would be the salary cap.

... only if all 3 parties agree to terminate the loan, unless the original arrangement specifies otherwise.

We want him to stay all season, rovers won't want him to leave if he's playing well, we won't want him back if he's playing badly, so I doubt there is a get out clause.

If Sneyd, Kelly, Connor, and Tui all suffer long term injuries at the same time, I'd imagine we'd be keen to take him back early

Its only going to happen if there is a major injury crisis, but I'd like to think there would be something stipulated in the contract which allows for an early termination should it be required. Hopefully we won't need to find out.

Think we could do with another big prop like Huby

Going to Wakefield isn't he?

didnt know about that.Good player though.
I think we are a missing a prop.its an injury prone position and we only need Taylor and Watts out at the same time and we will be very lightweight there.

They can be , and probably will be if parent Club have injuries.
Dodgy business by Rovers having 2 loanee halfbacks .

Right decision by the club - There has to be a chance of the younger lads getting to play first team when injuries arise or whats the point? If you notice the two teams that contested the GF where the two teams who had to do this and ended up being the difference between them and us imo

Exactly.
What's with all this we need a prop we need a prop, shouldn't have resigned Michaels panic all about?
We haven't lost a prop all be it Frank was an impact player.
We have a better balance to our squad right now.
And unless we give the younger players a go we will never know if they're ready or not.
Let's put a bit of faith in our youth and give them chance to develop and shine.
Otherwise all we are doing is stiffling their growth and opportunity.

I agree with the poster who said it gives us a more balanced team.
Think we'd have been found out a little bit next year, relying on the power game and kicks for tries.
Can see Radford tweaking things next year in how we play. Kelly gives us some unpredictability now. Keeps the opposition on their toes.
Also think a lot of our strength with the young players lies in the back row - now is their chance.
I really see Connor being big for us next year as well. Expecting big things from him over the next couple of years.

Not sure why not other teams do it, some of them are 21/22.

saying that if we could agree a deal with Huby for the right price then I wouldn't complain, on a huge salary at Hudds, that's why they want rid and that would make it unlikely we could sign him.

Only what I've seen on twitter. Agree, but I suppose there are players such as Ellis and Thompson who could do a short term job in the front row. Trouble is finding a balance in the salary accomodating someone who would mainly be cover. I guess Radford sees Fash, Osborne and Matongo capable of doing that job.