Looks like we're gonna be running with 27 players ...club confirmed no more signings coming in although there is space within the squad should someone become available ...similar statement to this time last year when nobody came till injuries devastated the front line ...would have preferred one or two more but guessing gameplan will be similar to previous season and space will only be for loans...personally think squad is stronger but that being said so is everyone else's ...think alot will depend on a good pre season and hitting the ground running ...
We definitely have a bit more strength in depth given that last season we had 26 players including Levy Nzoungou who didn’t play at all and two back up hookers who barely played (particularly Dec Gregory). I’d like another prop ideally and a utility player who could cover in the halves but it is definitely an improvement on 2022.
Chairman Price did say on Monday night, that there was a possibility of additions to the squad, if JK needed more, or injuries occurred. Recruitment in the Game, is an ongoing thing. We have no debts, or inherited debts from pre-2019
Paulie xx
Are we any better on paper? Last season we finished 8th and it was predicted by the bookies at the start of the season.
Field and Dixon signed but both already here last season on season long loans.
Evans and Max Roberts vs Tyrer, Spedding, Roby and an on loan Luis Roberts
Gilmore vs Matty Smith
Amor, Walker and Hatton vs Doro, Levi and Baker
Jordan Jonstone vs Hulme and Gregory (this is an upgrade with Fozzard we have 2 good hookers)
I don't really see that we have improved the squad, certainly not enough for one that finished 8th.
Are we any better on paper? Last season we finished 8th and it was predicted by the bookies at the start of the season.
Field and Dixon signed but both already here last season on season long loans.
Evans and Max Roberts vs Tyrer, Spedding, Roby and an on loan Luis Roberts
Gilmore vs Matty Smith
Amor, Walker and Hatton vs Doro, Levi and Baker
Jordan Jonstone vs Hulme and Gregory (this is an upgrade with Fozzard we have 2 good hookers)
I don't really see that we have improved the squad, certainly not enough for one that finished 8th.
A good pre season and if get Jack Owen fit and some luck with injuries, then we can be a surprise under Kear. In my opinion Edge will be a better player with more experience. If we could sign a big 2nd Rower, or 2 loan players from Super League, I feel we could be a surprise package under Kear.
Squad is slightly better but not enough to make the 6 for me.
To be honest I think it is difficult to predict until seen us play 4 or 5 games. It all depends on how much Kear gets out of the players, and how committed they are for success. It will also come down to combinations as this a team game. Might be more creative with a Gilmore and Craven partnership plus how our forwards make ground. One thing we won't have is wasteful signings like Gregory and Levy who never got utilised.
Hopefully not, maybe the John Kear effect can push us higher.
Hopefully not, maybe the John Kear effect can push us higher.
Hopefully mate I am trying to stay positive. Yeah I would like us to spend like Leigh, but unfortunately we don't have a Beaumont splashing the cash. If I see effort win or lose I can go home happy, but I do expect top 4 for a club our size.
Squad is slightly better but not enough to make the 6 for me.
That would be a failure.A big reason for finishing so low last year was the disastrous losing streak which started with the Barrow,Monday night home game.Surely we won't repeat that again,under Kear.I think we'll scrape 6th.
7 new signings, not counting Field or Dizon who were here.
Presuming at least Amor, JJ, Walker, Evans, Hatton, Gilmore will be in the starting 17, with Roberts fighting for a place.
So 6 new regulars, you would hope that provides enough impetus to see us improving up to 5th/6th, along with a full pre-season.
Think a large part will be how the Fozard/JJ rotation works; that could prove to be a major plus point as we didn't really have effective rotation at 9 last season.
I think the squad as it stands is better than last year - at least we appear to have a bit more ‘go forward’ about us with the props. If they can get an upper hand I think Gilmore, JJ and Foz can give us a few more options on attack. I’m interested to see how Evans will go - by the sounds of it he might have a bit more about him.
I think we are better placed than we were going into the start of last season - (slightly) better squad and certainly a better coach. I’m also optimistic based on our general improvement in performance when Kear took over. At least we looked like we might have started going in a positive direction. Perhaps with a good pre-season, build up a bit of team spirit, we might kick in a bit. l