Doesn’t seem to have been a particularly informative evening. I can only glean the following points from comments on here.
- Wilde signed for 2022 – I think people on here already knew that anyway
- Playing squad totally part-time in 2022, but Owens and Craven given “jobs” to effectively make them full-time contracts. Are there any other current players on full-time contracts this season, who presumably will be leaving? Jewitt part-time player/coach!!!
- Recruitment and retention for 2022 proceeding with several deals tied up – why not announce them then? Looking at players with Championship experience.
- Recognise that mistakes were made on the recruitment side this year and that there is an imbalance between forwards and backs in the squad. That must have come as a surprise to everyone.
- It’s hard being a part-time rugby league player – Grady finishing work at 10:30 am on the day of the match. At least we have not gone back to previous eras when players finished work and met up for a drink before the match and would be seen having a smoke as they came on the pitch!!! Have we?
- No comment about the in and out form this season – guess see above for excuses – and what our ambitions are for next year; or whether there are any plans to bolster the squad this year with further loans. I guess we are just looking to play the season out and fingers crossed that Grady and Co do not have many night shifts before games.
To be honest, I am not sure what else they could say and there may have been other comments and asides that have not yet been mentioned here. I think that this season is already a write-off and the plan is to bring together a more balanced squad for 2022. I can only presume that the ambition is to finish in the top 6 next year. It is good that events like this are held where fans can meet and ask questions of the Directors, Chief Executive and Coach. Perhaps the club should recognise that there is a perception that the club is less than open with fans on occasions. Events like this can only be positive in answering that criticism, There will be a chance in the last home game against Bradford to make announcements about signings and ambitions for 2022 and generally promote that game to try and get in a decent crowd. I suspect that there are many long-term fans (like me) who have not gone to games this year due to covid restrictions and continuing concerns, but who will return next year, particularly if there is a positive feel about the place. Onwards and upwards. Come on the Chemics.
Thanks for that Frank.
It is a bit frustrating not having signings released, but thinking about it, the club need to have things to announce during the off season to get people buying season tickets and to keep people interested.
Doesn’t seem to have been a particularly informative evening. I can only glean the following points from comments on here.
- Wilde signed for 2022 – I think people on here already knew that anyway
- Playing squad totally part-time in 2022, but Owens and Craven given “jobs” to effectively make them full-time contracts. Are there any other current players on full-time contracts this season, who presumably will be leaving? Jewitt part-time player/coach!!!
- Recruitment and retention for 2022 proceeding with several deals tied up – why not announce them then? Looking at players with Championship experience.
- Recognise that mistakes were made on the recruitment side this year and that there is an imbalance between forwards and backs in the squad. That must have come as a surprise to everyone.
- It’s hard being a part-time rugby league player – Grady finishing work at 10:30 am on the day of the match. At least we have not gone back to previous eras when players finished work and met up for a drink before the match and would be seen having a smoke as they came on the pitch!!! Have we?
- No comment about the in and out form this season – guess see above for excuses – and what our ambitions are for next year; or whether there are any plans to bolster the squad this year with further loans. I guess we are just looking to play the season out and fingers crossed that Grady and Co do not have many night shifts before games.
To be honest, I am not sure what else they could say and there may have been other comments and asides that have not yet been mentioned here. I think that this season is already a write-off and the plan is to bring together a more balanced squad for 2022. I can only presume that the ambition is to finish in the top 6 next year. It is good that events like this are held where fans can meet and ask questions of the Directors, Chief Executive and Coach. Perhaps the club should recognise that there is a perception that the club is less than open with fans on occasions. Events like this can only be positive in answering that criticism, There will be a chance in the last home game against Bradford to make announcements about signings and ambitions for 2022 and generally promote that game to try and get in a decent crowd. I suspect that there are many long-term fans (like me) who have not gone to games this year due to covid restrictions and continuing concerns, but who will return next year, particularly if there is a positive feel about the place. Onwards and upwards. Come on the Chemics.
Did you go Frank
t is a bit frustrating not having signings released, but thinking about it, the club need to have things to announce during the off season to get people buying season tickets and to keep people interested.
Agreed ma but with the system as it is, player approaches available early in the season, others like Salford, Wakey etc are announcing signings to start rebuilding confidence amongst their fans. Cross for instance has been widely mentioned and does justify the TS logic of looking at ex-SL academy players who have slipped through the SL net.
Wilde is a good signing, though it is pretty plain that it fits for him rather than us being 'tempting', whatever he is a good start. The early signing of the six or so props that we need would make a massive difference to our fan base and maybe to the existing team. The plan of bolstering our squad with SL loans has failed dismally and left us at the mercy of the SL clubs.
As the season ends we may find other SL clubs following Hull KR and calling loans back ready for the end of season fixtures. Again SL using lower grades rather than supporting them.
I just hope that the Championship clubs stand up and press the RFL/SL to get next seasons format and funding clarified before this season ends!
Phil Finney eluded to the fact Warrington "pulled the rug from under our feet" over Doro and Robson, and suggested that they are more likely to make sure they can look after themselves next season player wise.
That doesn't rule out using loan players - he said Wigan were shocked when Widnes approached them for O'Neill, who was someone Widnes had known about for a few years.
Phil Finney eluded to the fact Warrington “pulled the rug from under our feet” over Doro and Robson, and suggested that they are more likely to make sure they can look after themselves next season player wise. That doesn’t rule out using loan players – he said Wigan were shocked when Widnes approached them for O’Neill, who was someone Widnes had known about for a few years.
Good to know, thanks! As a bystander it looks as if Wigan are a more reliable partner to deal with.
I do wonder if we have any ex-players or knowledgeable supporters who get around the amateur game looking out for prospective signings?
Btw really enjoyed the commentary on Sunday - good info on where sides were etc - not easy I guess!
Did you go Frank
No Mick - it is a two hour journey for me back to Widnes. Just pulled together comments on this post.
Hope your questions were answered Mick.
Wilde is good defensively and evidently defending has been an issue for many a game this year.
Would not be sad to see the end of the partnership with Warrington to be honest: we have got good players from Wigan in the past anyway (Farrell, Ainscough, Mellor, Crosby, Tomkins', O'Neill etc) so one or two loan players from them next year would suit us fine.
Encouraging to hear that they have admitted the recruitment has backfired, interested to see how many new faces come in, presumably quite a few?
Who is in charge of recruitment ?
The publicity that Cross has gained has served him well and presumably given him a real chance now. He could come back at a later date !
Hopefully Spedding is staying, his pace is what every team needs tbh, a team that can only score from within ten of the line isn't that attractive to watch. We seem to have the talent to make good openings and you need speed to profit from them.
We seem to have second rows with reasonable pace who are just not solid enough in defence to replace a purpose made prop!
Leigh gave a clue as to what we would be up against next year.
Also said a top 4 finish next season with the league structure more than likely changing to what we expect is an absolute must no excuses.
No excuses, none at all.I just get the impression that we and the other five will be in no man's land for the foreseeable future.In 2023 the championship six would be up against FOUR relegated SL clubs.Then a different one relegated from SL year on year.Seems highly unlikely to me that promotion is feasible for one of the 6 Championship teams that qualify.
Also said a top 4 finish next season with the league structure more than likely changing to what we expect is an absolute must no excuses.
No excuses, none at all.I just get the impression that we and the other five will be in no man’s land for the foreseeable future.In 2023 the championship six would be up against FOUR relegated SL clubs.Then a different one relegated from SL year on year.Seems highly unlikely to me that promotion is feasible for one of the 6 Championship teams that qualify.
Think it would depend on funding. Every time we have been relegated it's pretty much meant financial ruin + starting from scratch. Other clubs have managed to keep at least some of the squad together and bounce back 1st time
Think it would depend on funding. Every time we have been relegated it’s pretty much meant financial ruin + starting from scratch. Other clubs have managed to keep at least some of the squad together and bounce back 1st time
Have to agree with that. Really comes down to part time or not. If the Championship side is part time it will struggle to retain players of a standard to gain promotion again. Our experience this year makes it pretty plain tbh. The point has to be just how the RFL/SL split the Sky income. If it is reserved for the SL 1 then SL 2 is SL in name only.
Any club such as ours wanting to stay on a high level, even in SL 2, will have to be FT from the off. Sky cash will top up but probably not be enough to sustain the club on its own. We might just about do it with better crowds but others could struggle for ever.
Fev's relationship with Leeds could keep them going effectively as Leeds Reserves, though that could be more difficult if Sky effectively ditch the game.
Of course the funding changes could affect players too, lowering their contract scale. There's a lot for the RFL/SL to sort out and the sooner the better.
On the funding front if there ever was a wealthy person interested in RL and wanting to get involved now is a great time!!!
A 'name' club, beaten the administration threat and looking to grow again with a recognised following .
Just needs some financial security to make the leap again.
Is anyone completely bewildered with us signing Wild? A good, solid player but I hear many of the compliments heading his way all say “he always gives 100%”.
That is true but that’s the minimum. To me, he played in some of the worst Widnes teams off the last 20 years and he barely stood out. We need more!!
Deon Cross signing for Super League Salford exhibits the ever decreasing player pool that is no doubt facing us. I rate him as a player but 2 seasons ago he was playing for Barrow and since signing for us, he has a decent but no extraordinary try-scoring record. Amazing, what playing for a big club like Widnes does for a players value.