A collective thumbs up from the board, Finney & Kear to sign Walker, tells you all we need to know about the state / ambition of our club
I understand that Finney, Kear and the Board have an ambition to be in the play-offs next year and maybe more; and presumably promotion to the SL or whatever it becomes in the longer-term, although this depends on whether the RFL are aiming for a fairer distribution of funds to clubs below SL level to enable a realistic chance of promotion and stability, or us getting a big investor to enable us to jump into the trough with Wigan, Saints etc.
Walker does not look anywhere near to being a decent signing on the basis of his performance for Wales and a few comments on here about his form at Bradford. Maybe we should give both him and Kear the chance to prove me and other doubters wrong. At least Walker managed to play in most of Bradford's games last year, which is a plus compared to some of the players we have signed in recent years.
It’s just discouraging to see a player looking that unfit particularly when he has played regularly throughout 2022. I don’t doubt that he has the ability to be an effective player but he’s going to need to work hard to get fit enough to do so. Does he have the desire? Kear should be clued up on this question having coached him before. So far from our “middle unit” we have signed Amor and Walker and lost Doro, Field and Baker. It doesn’t look a step forward to me.
Just strikes me, as I read the doom and gloom, that Doro hadn't even been to our ground this time last year, let alone signed on, so there is time to find a replacement!!!
Have to agree regarding Walker. He looks like there was precious little conditioning done at Bradford. A challenge for BB (if he is still on our books)!
Just strikes me, as I read the doom and gloom, that Doro hadn't even been to our ground this time last year, let alone signed on, so there is time to find a replacement!!!
Have to agree regarding Walker. He looks like there was precious little conditioning done at Bradford. A challenge for BB (if he is still on our books)!
He was here this time last year he played a season and a bit for us.
Confirmation of Lewis Hatton signing makes the front row situation look a bit better.
And was panned on this forum as a waste of space and a 'penalty machine' on his short stay!
Youngsters have to make their mistakes and the good ones learn from them. Sounds as if Hatton is a 'workhorse', as was Bent. If he plays like another Farnworth he'll be a great addition.
And was panned on this forum as a waste of space and a 'penalty machine' on his short stay!
Youngsters have to make their mistakes and the good ones learn from them. Sounds as if Hatton is a 'workhorse', as was Bent. If he plays like another Farnworth he'll be a great addition.
He was a penalty machine when he first joined then he vastly improved not sure what your point is.
Simply that what you see initially may not be the finished product. I don't think that JK is a bloke who acts on impulse and if he signs a player there is probably something there to be developed.
It took JK to point out that Bent was a defensive pearl when many had written him off because he wasn't breaking tackles.
In answer to the question asked in the title of this thread. Yes, we are - unless the board have at least two VERY good players up their sleeve for our threequarter line and probably another eye-opening forward signing. By very good, I mean players who could probably still play in lower end SL, that kind of standard.
As it stands right now, we aren't going to score anywhere near the points needed to get even top 6, never mind top 3 which is where we should be aiming. Our backline looks like our usual quartet of the last three or four years - tries hard but no real quality.
Firstly I would not call finishing 7 or 8 a disaster. Relegation would be a disaster. More like a disappointing season. As regards a lack of stand out quality in the backs or elsewhere there is little stand out quality throughout the game IMO including SL. Coaches seem to coach flair out of players these days. I think our back three forwards are apart from Lawton poor & ineffective. I also think the captaincy needs taking off Owens. Since he has had it his form has plummeted. I cannot see us getting higher than 5th to 8th depending on injuries etc.
Firstly I would not call finishing 7 or 8 a disaster. Relegation would be a disaster. More like a disappointing season. As regards a lack of stand out quality in the backs or elsewhere there is little stand out quality throughout the game IMO including SL. Coaches seem to coach flair out of players these days. I think our back three forwards are apart from Lawton poor & ineffective. I also think the captaincy needs taking off Owens. Since he has had it his form has plummeted. I cannot see us getting higher than 5th to 8th depending on injuries etc.
Agreed, however 7 or 8 would be a disaster for a few reasons.
1. It would knock another few hundred off the attendances, the season ticket renewals for next year and the signups to the 'new' fans subscription / VIQI-type thing, which we are hearing NOTHING about, by the way.
2. Category assignment / assessment has already started, despite the criteria not having been announced. I have it on extremely good authority that IMG are already looking at clubs and making judgements on future potential. 7th or 8th and a dwindling interest from our fans would be a massive blow to our outlook for the next few years.
3. 7th or 8th in the championship is a disaster for a club of our standing in the game. Don't care what any of the 'accept the mediocrity' crew say, it just is. If we don't think that is a massive failure, the club has basically lost everything it, and the fans, stand for. It would be the beginning of the end if that was the supporter's perception of our club.
In answer to the question asked in the title of this thread. Yes, we are - unless the board have at least two VERY good players up their sleeve for our threequarter line and probably another eye-opening forward signing. By very good, I mean players who could probably still play in lower end SL, that kind of standard.
As it stands right now, we aren't going to score anywhere near the points needed to get even top 6, never mind top 3 which is where we should be aiming. Our backline looks like our usual quartet of the last three or four years - tries hard but no real quality.
Your opinion, not everyone's.
In answer to the question asked in the title of this thread. Yes, we are - unless the board have at least two VERY good players up their sleeve for our threequarter line and probably another eye-opening forward signing. By very good, I mean players who could probably still play in lower end SL, that kind of standard.
As it stands right now, we aren't going to score anywhere near the points needed to get even top 6, never mind top 3 which is where we should be aiming. Our backline looks like our usual quartet of the last three or four years - tries hard but no real quality.
Your opinion, not everyone's.
Correct, it is my opinion. Only time will tell who's right.
I believe there are a couple of signatures left to announce - hopefully they'll improve our squad and not just pad it out, like seems to be happening up to now.
To be honest I am unsure how we will do until I see some of the new players. Definitely not impressed with Ant Walker, but looking at our prop situation I think Amor, Farnworth, Hatton, Josh Johnson are definitely ahead of him. Tilleke and Walker should fight for 5th position. 2nd row it is Lawton, Wilde, Grady and Olly Davies and for me I like to see a better quality 2nd Rower than these players. In the backs I feel Gilmore will improve us and Edge might be a surprise this year, as I believe will become even better if stays fit. Nobody knows the plans of the club, but a few loans from Leigh, Warrington or Wigan might be utilised for quality of player.