No doubting he’s a talented player and it’s great he’s coming back.
I was hoping it was a player for this year, and I was hoping it was a prop! That said, a quality signing like Sam does demonstrate some intention for next season.
Wilde is a decent second row and a good start in building a stronger squad in 2022. One of a number of new signings for 2022 I hope.
You have to respect the wish of Cross to get a full-time contract in SL. It just goes to show that players from the amateur ranks or released by clubs can re-build their career in the game in the lower leagues. Just a thought and I am not sure that even a good winger like Cross is a critical signing - Hatton has shown promise this year and we do have other wingers on the books - but shouldn't we be at the stage of offering full-time contracts for the right signings with an eye on challenging for SL in 2022? I suppose it all depends on our financial situation.
It’s not surprising we are poor in second half of a lot of matches this season. Apart from having forwards injured and having to put 2 young backs on the bench. Finnegan said tonight that Grady had finished work at 10am on Sunday went home and had 2 hours sleep , then got on the coach for York.
Most pleasing thing said tonight was that they recognise the mistakes in recruitment last season, also said that they recognise there is an imbalance in the squad with backs and forwards they will address, recruitment, retention and resignings they have already agreed with the players they want behind the scenes already more or less. Also worth note they are focussing on more current championship players rather than ex super league players transitioning they would much rather look for players who already understand the demands of the championship.
Also one other thing sam Wilde is a good signing to go along with Lawton, Grady and josh Wilde this is surely an example of the depth we are missing let’s now hope for some more props.
What were the main points from tonight?
Any questions asked about positive plans for the club in terms of pushing forward or are we caught between a rick and a hard place with where we can go without knowing the structure of divisions?
Or was the evening a case of what we already know - not much?
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.
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 ?