If he’s coming to play center would you say he’s better than spedding? If yes then he’s a good addition to the squad
personally I don’t like this idea of going back for nearly every player we have had who becomes available again we need a different direction to this one or two isn’t bad but when you start adding them all back up collectively they wasn’t great or set the world alight when here last
Hear,hear.I've said the same myself.You don't mind the odd exception such as Jordan Johnstone but when it's players who did next to nothing when they were here previously then it's just going backwards.
They might be better players now than when they left?
Jordan Johnstone is an excellent signing, we are not just talking about players who used to play for us coming back, it's players who left to sign for Hull and Warrington coming back to a side that finished 8th in the Championship.
I wouldn't of thought Finney has much input on signings now that we have John Kear, a man of his experience knows the style of play he wants and the signings that fit that style, wasn't he also director of rugby at Wakefield? With a small and mostly part time setup I'm sure the club are utilising Kear's experience and expertise.
Finney can then focus on off field commercial opportunities. Finney sets the budget, Kear identifies his targets and then Finney gets them over the line, that's how it should be. I'm not on the inside so I don't know if that's how we operate or not.
Ben Crooks is considering part time with Keighley favourites to sign him. I guess Yorkshire clubs will be in the box seat but he would make a great signing at centre.
Talking about splashing the cash Keighley have already signed our former player Brad Walker from Wakefield, Ione from Leigh and a highly rated hooker from Bradford. They should go well next season, 20/20 wins in the league, a very good side back in the late 90's with Cougar Mania!
Jordan Johnstone is an excellent signing, we are not just talking about players who used to play for us coming back, it's players who left to sign for Hull and Warrington coming back to a side that finished 8th in the Championship.
I wouldn't of thought Finney has much input on signings now that we have John Kear, a man of his experience knows the style of play he wants and the signings that fit that style, wasn't he also director of rugby at Wakefield? With a small and mostly part time setup I'm sure the club are utilising Kear's experience and expertise.
Finney can then focus on off field commercial opportunities. Finney sets the budget, Kear identifies his targets and then Finney gets them over the line, that's how it should be. I'm not on the inside so I don't know if that's how we operate or not.
Come on, we've been through this before with every coach the last few years. Finney gets who he wants, it's jobs for the boys. The reason we got Kear as he is one of the few available who would work under him, lets see how long it lasts!
One or two old faces yeah but as another poster has said most of recent old boys have hardly set the world alight. From what I can see the squad we have so far would be lucky to break into the top six, it's 7th or 8th place for me.
Retaining players who are passed it like Grady, adding another past it player in Amor, potentially replacing Smith with Gilmore! Realistically does anyone really think Tom will do anything different to Smith? At least Smith worked hard in defence. Craven will be lucky to play 10 games, we will struggle in the halves.
Hope I am wrong, COYV!
Johnstone was a regular for Hull and him and Fozzard are a really good pair of hookers. The rest I agree with, cant see Gilmore doing much and Amor will hardly play.
@wrlfcefc1989 I fear I have come to the same conclusion myself. If we lose Doro too we could well be weaker.
If we end up with Brand, in addition to Gilmore, JJ: with Farmworth, Owens, Wilde, Ince and Craven here still it's a bit like getting the 2019 band back together, which wasn't great let's be honest.
My hope is that the returning players come back to Widnes improved, like in fairness I think Owens has, and the non-Widnes signings will be of a high enough calibre to drive us forward.
On PF, his recruitment record in conjunction with SF was dire, one can only hope JK is stronger and pushes for players he wants, not just the Finney Boys.
Gilmore has pushed the Batley pack all the way around the field to the Grand Final - IF he comes here, we have to hope he can do the same with new props and new second rowers!
@erik-the-red No doubt hes a good player, will he be as effective with us than he is with Batley. Only time will tell.
maybe Gilmores signing depends on the final result which I assume Leigh will win and the super league will want them to win as batley are part time
I would love to see batley win but it’s a hard task, I feel they will hold their own in the first half but the second half full time players will always have more in the tank
now if Leigh have a man sent off it could be a close game
Seen Brand play a few games due to going to some Leigh games with a mate and he’ll be a good player for us it comes through. He beefed up a bit since he left us and has only lost his place due to Leigh’s recruitment policy! I doubt this will be confirmed for a while though until they get their quota negotiations finalised!