Yes it’s hard luck having probably our highest earner out for the season but it’s rugby league and injuries occur. Like said above we need to not let this affect us too much mentally and hopefully Craven can have a good season with Lyons stepping up and cementing his place for the season or look at bringing in a reserve half from super league/NSW cup etc
FFS!!! Only at Widnes!!! 🤦♂️
My thoughts too. Has the club run over a black cat under a ladder?
It'll be interesting to see how they deal with rhis problem. I trust John Kear to know what is required and hope the club back his judgement, whatever that is.
Wish we had a tad more good luck though, instead of dealing with constant issues.
Yes it’s hard luck having probably our highest earner out for the season but it’s rugby league and injuries occur. Like said above we need to not let this affect us too much mentally and hopefully Craven can have a good season with Lyons stepping up and cementing his place for the season or look at bringing in a reserve half from super league/NSW cup etc
Highest earner? How much is TG and the rest of the squad on?
Paulie xx
He won't anything near our two full timers.Yes it’s hard luck having probably our highest earner out for the season but it’s rugby league and injuries occur. Like said above we need to not let this affect us too much mentally and hopefully Craven can have a good season with Lyons stepping up and cementing his place for the season or look at bringing in a reserve half from super league/NSW cup etc
Highest earner? How much is TG and the rest of the squad on?
Paulie xx
It’s time for Danny to step up and take control at half back in the absence of Gilmore,It must be years the last time he played for a sustained period consistently or without being injured.
With no reserves or Rochdale games, the only way for Craven to get Match Fit is to play.
If he isn't fit for 80 mins, then could start Fozard at HB and JJ (assuming he is fit) at 9, then bring Craven on for one of them, still having the rotation at 9?
@pauliewalnuts I would assume he is earning around 35k, I’m not sure but craven/Owens to be on around 30k would be my best guess as championship money is not anywhere near super league money. What do you guys think the wages would be at this level
Really bad news, but good that Danny is back, teaming up with Lyons in the halves I would assume
gilmore will be out until July at best so we need cover at half back - Fozard probably best but then no cover at 9
maybe edge could cover ?
We have been led to believe there is a contingency fund for signings in situations such as this , plus the freeing up of Josh Johnson's wage , should allow the signing of a half back , but finding one may be the problem.
Whoever is in charge of recruitment needs to be looking for a SL loan or even look at the second tier in Australia. It is without doubt a problem we could do without , but it sounds like a long term injury for Tom if it is going to be a few weeks before surgery is considered and then possibly a lengthy rehab .
Great shame for both Tom and the club , but a problem which needs solving as soon as possible .
Can't believe people think we can just cover with what we have we must have money no Finney no Johnson and whatever they must have put aside for rebuilding later in season well unfortunately that time for us is now ! We can't cover for 4 months or another season will be gone craven won't go 4 months without injury we know that so time to buy
Yes we are now down to 2 specialist half backs, one of them Craven has a poor injury record of late, including this pre season. The good news is we have space following the release of Johnson, who coming from Salford must have been on ok money. The problem is finding a player available. One may come up on loan after a few weeks once SL gets going. Scrum half is a very important position.
For the first 4 weeks or so we could move either Fozzard or Johnstone into the halves and use Brown as a hooker off the bench. I wonder if Craven is fit to play this week or has just been included in the 21 to make up the numbers?
I assume Lawton will be back next week as its just a mandatory 12 days out with a head injury. Is Farnworth close to a return? If we don't pick up any injuries against Keighley, get these 2 back and manage to give Craven a run out, we will still be in good shape going into 2 tough games.
@mckviking I haven't a clue what any player is on, at any club. That's between them, their agents & their employers.
Paulie xx
@pauliewalnuts I’m not inland revenue, just trying to figure out what the budget/spending is if we are going into the market for a new half to cover Gilmore
It's dead unlucky, I would imagine we have no money to cover so Owens, Craven (when he's fit) and Lyons will have to cover it. It is what it is.