A list of 38 out if contract players on news channel.
Includes Alex Gerrard!! Not sure if he would want to return, or if he would be what we need?
A list of 38 out if contract players on news channel. Includes Alex Gerrard!! Not sure if he would want to return, or if he would be what we need?
I don't see why not he had a good run here and i for one enjoyed watching him. Problem was he did sustain a few injuries for us which reduced his appearance's later on but he's been fine since returning from Australia, similar to Lloyd white. A few on this board at the time, now gone, were insulting about him but for me he did a good job and still can.
Possibly past the 'barnstorming' phase but knows the game. Obviously not impressed Degsy of late.
Would depend on knowing him and where he sees himself going. His games at Widnes might have been coloured by the way that we were managed.
He's not played much for Leigh this year, has he? Got no quibble with him having the ability to do well for us at this level provided he can get on the pitch regularly.
He’s not played much for Leigh this year, has he? Got no quibble with him having the ability to do well for us at this level provided he can get on the pitch regularly.
Might warrant a medical check!
Wouldn't have any problem with us signing Gerrard, just the sort of player we need (ie. a prop).
I do hope we don’t go into the season with only the 3 props we have announced plus Will Tilleke. Even allowing for Baker/Grady being able to cover there it would be asking for trouble.
I no we have signed a few players and I think today’s is ok but I hope the club try to sign maybe 1 or 2 out of contract super league players to show intent of us competing for promotion.
Alex Gerrard 16st 7lb/Shane Grady 16st 1lb - one can be a prop and the other cannot be a prop. Why?
Not all props are 18st. A prop is the battering ram of the team and will play 10-20 minutes in each half just running as hard as he can, preferably into the smallest opposing player and able to offload if the chance arises. Also able to bring down the battering rams in the opposing team. No scrummaging skills required. Oh and the wingers will take on the battering ram role from kicks.
Yes I hope we can sign a couple of 18 stone props who are not injury prone and can run like Alex Walmsley or Luke Thompson or even Ollie Partington (at a mere 15st), but cannot see why a player like Grady cannot play at prop. We have currently signed 6 back rowers - Wilde, Brown, Grady, Smith, Baker and Lawton - 4 "specialist" props (5 if you include Tilleke) - Farnworth, Nzoungou, Dupree, Bent and Tilleke; and 4 hookers - Fozard, Tomkins?, Hulme? and Gregory.
In the squad this year, excluding loans, we had 6 props - Farnworth, Tilleke, Clough, Jewitt, Cook and O'Neill - 6 back rowers - Grady, Smith, Baker, Lawton, Dwyer and Wilde - and 3 hookers - Tomkins, Else and Hulme.
I am hoping that we are not planning on loans to make up the squad numbers and will be looking at having a bigger squad in 2022 than we had this year, say 28, compared to 26 this year. This will depend on finances. On this basis, there are still a few signings to be announced, which hopefully will include 3 or 4 more forwards,
Frank, being a prop isn’t solely about how much you weigh. Grady has never played prop, Gerrard has played most of his career at prop.
Wouldn’t have any problem with us signing Gerrard, just the sort of player we need (ie. a prop).
Really ? Another south stand signing ? Wasn't it him who was happy to be used as a doormat at Warrington a few years ago ?
Alex Gerrard 16st 7lb/Shane Grady 16st 1lb – one can be a prop and the other cannot be a prop. Why? Not all props are 18st. A prop is the battering ram of the team and will play 10-20 minutes in each half just running as hard as he can, preferably into the smallest opposing player and able to offload if the chance arises. Also able to bring down the battering rams in the opposing team. No scrummaging skills required. Oh and the wingers will take on the battering ram role from kicks. Yes I hope we can sign a couple of 18 stone props who are not injury prone and can run like Alex Walmsley or Luke Thompson or even Ollie Partington (at a mere 15st), but cannot see why a player like Grady cannot play at prop. We have currently signed 6 back rowers – Wilde, Brown, Grady, Smith, Baker and Lawton – 4 “specialist” props (5 if you include Tilleke) – Farnworth, Nzoungou, Dupree, Bent and Tilleke; and 4 hookers – Fozard, Tomkins?, Hulme? and Gregory. In the squad this year, excluding loans, we had 6 props – Farnworth, Tilleke, Clough, Jewitt, Cook and O’Neill – 6 back rowers – Grady, Smith, Baker, Lawton, Dwyer and Wilde – and 3 hookers – Tomkins, Else and Hulme. I am hoping that we are not planning on loans to make up the squad numbers and will be looking at having a bigger squad in 2022 than we had this year, say 28, compared to 26 this year. This will depend on finances. On this basis, there are still a few signings to be announced, which hopefully will include 3 or 4 more forwards,
Frank you need to go the games Grady and Baker played prop last year and an where crap end of. Will is a squad player, the Bradford lad is injured , Bent isn't a prop.
Finnigan reckons that we will have a squad of 27 or 28, so still some to go yet and not the end of the present contracts.
Lets not unfold the white flag yet, eh?
Baker had some good games at prop imo.
Frank you need to go the games Grady and Baker played prop last year and an where crap end of. Will is a squad player, the Bradford lad is injured , Bent isn’t a prop.
I have been watching Widnes since I went to Simms Cross, when Sammy Butterworth introduced us to rugby and cricket but, like others, was not able to go to games this year. I have watched games on Our League and listened on Merseyside, so do have some idea.
You have little positive to say about Widnes, the Coach or the Chief Executive, so I am not surprised at your views on Baker and Grady. I actually agree with you that they are both better as back row forwards and that would be a good reason for not playing them at prop, but that should not preclude them from ever playing in that position. The problem we had this year was that we did not have enough fit forwards and were putting backs on the bench. This meant forwards playing for longer spells
I can remember when props had a specialist role in the scrums, as well being aggressive and hard running, with a decent pass and off-load. The emphasis in the modern game is on power and aggression. I believe that Baker and Grady have the experience, power and aggression to play at prop, perhaps not at the top level, but certainly at Championship level.
I hope and believe that we will sign a few more big experienced forwards, which means that Grady and Baker can play in their best positions, but that should not preclude them from playing at prop if necessary.
Bent is described as a utility forward on the Oldham web site and as a prop on Love Rugby League, so presumably has some history of playing as a prop. My guess is that of the current signings, Farnworth, Dupree and Nzoungou will be regulars in the match squad, with Tilleke and Bent as squad players providing cover. If we can sign another couple of "specialist" props, then there will be no need to use Grady or Baker.