I think we are in a better place than this time last year, our back line is as good if not better, potential there for sure - Fleming was rubbished on here when we signed him and he turned to be a great acquisition
so maybe wait and see how they gel, however I feel we are missing a back row player as we are light there - Grady is not available every week as probably will be Wilde, Lawton off bench unless he teams up with walker for team marathons
edge will probably start every game if fit
onwards and upwards
So far we seem to have gone for small improvements, tweaks and marginal gains with our recruitment, which suggests that we may make marginal gains in our league position, so 6th might be attainable anything higher would be a bonus. Coaching will be key and in John Kear we have an experienced coach, who can hopefully avoid a bad run of defeats, which sunk us last season.
Hopefully we dont have too much cash tied up in Mr Amor, as he seems more pundit than player these days and I can't see him as a regular starter, as good a player as he has been. He may of course surprise me and it would be nice if he brought his experience to bear on a regular basis.
Is there a game changing signing on the horizon? I guess that depends on what is left in the kitty. Not even a whiff of a rumour that a player with Wow factor is being lined up, it is of course high risk, as good players can get injured as much as average ones, but it would certainly be nice to have a player on view to set the pulses racing and give us hope that 6th is the minimum we are after.
Saw amor play for cumbria against Jamaica couple weeks back...played decent minutes ..worked his backside off n bagged a try...got no concerns whatsoever...what he'll bring alongside playing is massive experience and his own standards ..
Well with the recent retention of Brad holroyd I think that really shows are intention of a top 4 side… NOT that lad couldn’t finish his dinner never mind scoring in the corner. Another dismal season incoming Widnes fans. ( I hope to god am wrong but we’ve seen it all before)
Well with the recent retention of Brad holroyd I think that really shows are intention of a top 4 side… NOT that lad couldn’t finish his dinner never mind scoring in the corner. Another dismal season incoming Widnes fans. ( I hope to god am wrong but we’ve seen it all before)
You are forgetting it will be negative RL with no attacking flair whatsoever will be a real boring season.
Another poor signing from the Widnes board. Another league 1 standard player. 🥖🥖🙈
Nothing against Holroyd- but he’s shown absolutely nothing to suggest he’s Championship quality.
Strange decision to give him a new contract.
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.
Nice lad is Tom, but is he really going to offer more than SMITH?? No pace, lightweight in defence and playing behind a weak pack? The lad is an organiser as is Lyons, and Craven is picking up knocks so if LYONS and Tom are our half backs for the majority of the season, I fear the worst.
Once again, how long is it before Finney is accountable? He signs the coach and players.
Not quite sure why you conclude our half backs will be Gilmore and Lyons for the majority of the season, any one of those 3 (Gilmore/Craven/Lyons) can get injured. If we're looking for a loan half back option I'd go get Leon Hayes from Warrington. He's got the best kicking game I've seen in a long long time. Better player than Lyons too.
I do think we're looking slightly stronger than last year, lets not forget the awful period we had which cost Finnegan his job as well which we hopefully won't have - Kear looks a much more solid consistent option.
Fully expect it to be Toulouse and Featherstone in the top 2 but it would be nice to be competing with Halifax/York etc. for the next spots.
Nice optimism VM, but the squad so far is 8th / 10th at best. Not enough seasoned yard dogs and savvy skill for our division imo. Like I've said previously, unless there are 2/3 rabbits out of the hat yet to come, it'll be another frustrating / boring 2023 down at the DCBL
Nice optimism VM, but the squad so far is 8th / 10th at best. Not enough seasoned yard dogs and savvy skill for our division imo. Like I've said previously, unless there are 2/3 rabbits out of the hat yet to come, it'll be another frustrating / boring 2023 down at the DCBL
Wonna bet that we don't finish higher than 8th?
I see the Holroyd signing as wing cover not as first choice. He is still young & has pace. I am prepared to trust Kear knows what he is about.
To be fair to Holroyd, he made just 9 appearances last year and scored 3 tries. I am not sure we played to his strength and he got few passes in open space.
He was signed for his pace and his try scoring record with Workington. Maybe Kear plans to try and use Holroyd’s speed more in 2023.
@frankg holroyd was given a good few chances last season if I remember rightly in open space and his “ speed” certainly wasn’t on show when he was getting ragdolled into touch or I think he even made a break against Workington and was caught by there 2nd row. Another poor retention from the board
Why are we still thinking Kear is making the signings? Do we really think he came here and thought 'wow, what a top squad, I only need a couple of signings and we'll challenging for top 4.'
If SMITH hadn't have retired, he would have got another contract, why did not retain Roby? Why give Grady another year and get rid of Baker? Why give Young Will a two year deal when he doesn't look Championship standard?
Some baffling decisions made with regards to new signings and retentions, yet Kear will get the blame but Finney will be with us the following season.