According to Barrow forum Sammut has gone.
When we survived administration the Board were left with a few players, loyal and local generally. Some had been sold as 'marketable' to satisfy the powers that be. The Board then cut back as much as possible to survive.
But we still saw ourselves as SL, lower level maybe, but still SL. This self image hasn't changed until this year and we now are what we are, a Championship club in the Championship dogfight. The signings made so far are realistic and know the Championship well.
Some time ago Danny Craven stated that the difference between SL and Championship was speed rather than physicality and that was where we lost the thread imo. The pace of a game is governed by the referee, as Tonga recently discovered.
We were never geared for that slow grind and were still banking on the speed of play. Our opponents played it the referee's way, lie on and delay. This year we have a coach who understands this and will plan accordingly, with players who know the game.
The major signings throughout the lower leagues will be an interesting side line this coming year.
@sandgroper TBF mate when we survived administration we were left with basically a full time squad, not just loyal and local. We weren't too loyal ourselves when we cancelled the contract of a couple of players either.
I'd agree regarding the speed of play SG, rugby at this level can be incredibly frustrating to watch, holding down and laying on. My main gripe would be why it's took us 5 years to adapt to it?
The thing I’ve read over and over is about how we want a “Championship pack” not a “Super League” pack.
It is as though just because the game is slower, a slow pack will aide you to victory. Utter nonsense. A Super League pack would skittle every pack in Championship.
It baffles me too,that one.Also players that 'know' the Championship.Like it's a different game with different rules.
I think we can all agree that the squad we had were able but didn’t perform. The players being brought in will hopefully play to their potential and will show us what they can do.
the game on the field isn’t different but assembling a FT compared to a PT squad is worlds apart. Look at Langtree, I heard he left batley because of job commitments, look at Grady not being available for some games due to work commitments. A player being in the gym and training 5 days a week compared to 2 evenings a week is worlds apart. That’s why I think we have struggled as a club. We have relied heavily upon certain players who haven’t performed and some of those players have now moved on. Let’s see what the new squad and coach are capable of before we write them off
We haven’t had a pack leader, as such, since Ben cross who, in his first season, was a penalty machine initially but in subsequent seasons managed to have that aggression and go forward that inspired others around him.
we are where we are and it is a massive concern that this stagnation has been allowed to grow instead of slow improvement. I will still support next year until I’m given a reason to walk away but even when I’ve had that in the past I’m still clearly glutton for punishment
@scouseviking55 would langtree fit that pack leader role? I don’t know much about the new recruits but would be great to hear some thoughts from you guys about how they will go next season
Macca spot on there - we can compare players in to players out but until we see the first few games and players commitments to the team give them a chance
and we still do not know about DR players which could change the outlook completely
The thing I’ve read over and over is about how we want a “Championship pack” not a “Super League” pack.
It is as though just because the game is slower, a slow pack will aide you to victory. Utter nonsense. A Super League pack would skittle every pack in Championship.
Championship games are significantly different to SL games you know that. There are less strike players in the backs in the Championship. To provide a platform for the standard of players that we have, and other Championship teams have, you need a dominant pack; that's not always the case in SL. SL packs are better because they are better players, not because they're constructed differently. When we've come up against other teams with comparable backs, it's often their more dominant packs that have made the difference. If we had Bevan French or Welsby playing, that might not matter; but we don't. We are always found wanting against the Fevs, Batleys, Sheffs of this League because we don't have a pack with grunt.
Hopefully we do have a pack with grunt who like to get into the faces. At the end of the day they are only human so hopefully get a few animals who like a good tussle. In the past we have had too nice players like Adam Lawton, Chapelhow twins and a few others who didn't have enough aggression.
Let's wait and see how they do once the full squad, dual Reg and loan players assembled. We all agree another halfback required especially if Lyons or Gilmore get injured. Nobody wants a makeshift halfback.
My money is on Lloyd for captain/pack leader along with Gilly as backs leader.
It will be interesting to see how the big signings throughout the Championship go, ours included!
I still wonder why Long left Fev, just when the big games were approaching. Odd decision by their Board.
Who are our big signings ?My money is on Lloyd for captain/pack leader along with Gilly as backs leader.
It will be interesting to see how the big signings throughout the Championship go, ours included!
I still wonder why Long left Fev, just when the big games were approaching. Odd decision by their Board.
We have been assembling a PT squad for years and your comments are nonesense part time means part time which players fans and everbody else understands except your good self, 90% of the league we are in are part time and have no problems so why should we ?. We where part time in our hey day so I am lost on the excuse you make.I think we can all agree that the squad we had were able but didn’t perform. The players being brought in will hopefully play to their potential and will show us what they can do.
the game on the field isn’t different but assembling a FT compared to a PT squad is worlds apart. Look at Langtree, I heard he left batley because of job commitments, look at Grady not being available for some games due to work commitments. A player being in the gym and training 5 days a week compared to 2 evenings a week is worlds apart. That’s why I think we have struggled as a club. We have relied heavily upon certain players who haven’t performed and some of those players have now moved on. Let’s see what the new squad and coach are capable of before we write them off