Looks like we could be without Lewis Else for the next game. How did Hulme play yesterday?
Finnegan was not happy about the "decision making" by the team and that we failed to close the game down after a decent first-half. We will definitely need our strongest pack and bench on Sunday, if we are to have any chance against Featherstone.
Looks like we could be without Lewis Else for the next game. How did Hulme play yesterday? Finnegan was not happy about the “decision making” by the team and that we failed to close the game down after a decent first-half. We will definitely need our strongest pack and bench on Sunday, if we are to have any chance against Featherstone.
I wasn't there but listening on the radio the commentantors didn't mention any mistakes by him so he must have done OK.
He obviously had to play many more minutes than anticipated.
Looks like we could be without Lewis Else for the next game. How did Hulme play yesterday? Finnegan was not happy about the “decision making” by the team and that we failed to close the game down after a decent first-half. We will definitely need our strongest pack and bench on Sunday, if we are to have any chance against Featherstone.
I wasn’t there but listening on the radio the commentantors didn’t mention any mistakes by him so he must have done OK. He obviously had to play many more minutes than anticipated.
I thought he went well, didnt look out of place considering.
I thought he did well in difficult circumstances. Definitely doesn't look out of place at this level and will likely get better once he's hot a few games under his belt.
Certainly looks like we could use a couple of forwards from somwhere. Just can't see how we can afford to pay for long term injured as we are doing. Not suggesting that they aren't injured but we either have to bite the bullet and sign some reserves anyway or look to let them go if they are not going to recover during this season.
Hulme played well got through a lot of tackling.
Fev May rest a few with Wembley in mind.
We ran Fev close in the semi and with composure we would have won.
I liked SF's comments about some players not being up to the mark yesterday, hopefully inspires a better performance.
Need Clough and Farnworth back if we are to have a decent shout though I think.
Can't go on like this for much longer, playing with a scratch team every game, there's still lots of rugby to be played yet.Seems like a case of just muddling through the season and getting enough players on the pitch to field a team.
I just watched the highlights on the club site - I'd like to see the lead up to Cross's dissallowed try.
Can’t go on like this for much longer, playing with a scratch team every game, there’s still lots of rugby to be played yet.Seems like a case of just muddling through the season and getting enough players on the pitch to field a team.
That's whar I was getting at Sinbad. Decision time imo. We are on the point of either having a real go at the playoffs or just muddling through.
In truth we are probably not good enough to get through the playoffs successfully, so just playing the season out as we are, but sorting out a team for next year could be an option. Wouldn't please some unless the signings were great.
Can’t go on like this for much longer, playing with a scratch team every game, there’s still lots of rugby to be played yet.Seems like a case of just muddling through the season and getting enough players on the pitch to field a team.
That’s whar I was getting at Sinbad. Decision time imo. We are on the point of either having a real go at the playoffs or just muddling through. In truth we are probably not good enough to get through the playoffs successfully, so just playing the season out as we are, but sorting out a team for next year could be an option. Wouldn’t please some unless the signings were great.
Interesting to see what next years squad will look like, because it’s obvious we need some more props, but so does everybody.
Jewitt and Cook will almost certainly leave/retire, plus there’s rumours Warrington want Farnworth. That leaves just Clough and Tilleke.
Will need to recruit at least 4 new props.
Much will come down to how much we can afford to offer.
Covid will have seen most clubs losing walk up supporters cash and that will influence how much we have 'spare'. VIQI should help out though we can't really afford to spend everything we have. Of course our Academy used to provide prospects for us, but no more!!!
Some SL clubs may have to trim squads to meet their reduced Sky allocation and that might encourage some older players to look for a job and a PT berth. That is where sponsor support can help, by offering jobs if possible.
Reductions in SL cash might make them hold back on ridiculous contract offers to young players. Saints coach suggested that even they are being outbid by clubs offering double what Saints can afford!
If that is the case we are dead meat.
Have the RFL/SL decided anything on the distribution of the Sky money to clubs? Without that, it is difficult to plan ahead. As you say, we have VIQI funding and can assume a decent fan base will return in 2022 with the covid restrictions (hopefully) behind us.
The problem we may have is SL clubs cutting costs and looking for the better Championship players as squad players or for reserve teams. It has been mentioned that there is some interest from SL in Farnworth and I am sure that clubs will be looking at the form of Lawton, Else and Hatton and maybe others. You could not blame any player for leaving for a better contract elsewhere but, as has been mentioned previously, a part-time player with a decent job could be earning more than on a full-time contract in SL.
It is looking increasingly likely that we will not make the play-offs this year and even if we did, even less likely that we could actually win it. I guess the club will be looking to retain most of the current squad for next year - and we might even see a resurgent Tomkins in 2022 - and bring in a few more experienced players.
I recollect Finney mentioned a four year plan in getting back to SL. Forgetting 2020, next year will be the third year of the Plan, which must mean we are looking to have a team not only capable of reaching the play-offs, but a chance of actually winning it. The retentions and new signings for the 2022 squad will give an indication of the club's ambitions. Perhaps we should be offering longer term deals, like the two year deal with Danny Craven, to help retain and attract players.
In the part time field a lot must depend on what job the lad has. If it has real prospects and there is a wife and kid(s) involved it must be difficult to weigh a bag of money with a short contract offer against retention of job prospects and a top up from the game.
I don't know how much low level 'promising' players get from SL these days or what the job market will be like when you need a job. Players are discarded if they aren't what the club wants at a particular time and that must be hard to face if you have a mortgage etc to meet.
Hard questions for club and players.
The retention of Owens and Craven on 3 and 2 year deals is a good start to build on. I suspect most of our players aged about 25 and above won’t be that hard to hang on to though I am sure other championship sides would be interested I. Lawton. Hatton and Farnworth would be the only two players I could see being poached by SL clubs in the short term. Not sure how many of our veterans will fancy another season. Jewitt looks very unlikely and Cook must be a doubt but you’d like to think Smith and Clough have at least one more year in them for us.