He appears to have joined us for next season. Most recently he’s been at Swinton and before that longer stints at Salford and London. A friend who coached him at Academy level at Warrington remembers him as a decent player, good lad and hard trainer. He’s 35 now which seems a little old but we’ll see.
Solid stop gap signing. gives us good depth in nearly all areas now. Hopefully doesnt take up too much salary, just reallocating the money from buckley. with Ince and Sumner out, saves having to do a big reshuffle with edge on the wing etc.
is getting on but scored 18 tries last year at Swinton. more than any of our players got last year. also played for Salford up until he was 33.
More competition for places is never a bad thing.
This takes us to 26 man squad with Doolan on trail. 27 is a healthy size
He had a decent ratio of tries at Swinton last year. Should not be too expensive at 35 and is a decent player who will bring experience. Sumner and Ince injured, so only Butt available on the wing and makes sense. Got 3 Centres and probably Bardsley Rowe from Warrington. Happy with our backs now just need some depth in the forwards which we will get from Leigh and Warrington through out the season to keep our players fresh.
I am a little surprised by this as I thought we were fairly well covered for wingers but I am more than happy for Coleman to have made this decision. In his first year he has been proved as making good decisions so this is probably the right one too.
Butt & Ince are first choice with Sumner & I thought the speedy Cameron Brown as utility cover. Perhaps the latter is now seen more of cover for half back & full back. Sumner is young & inexperienced so this could be a very wise move with Ince & Sumner injured. Perhaps one or both injuries are worse than first thought.
@geoffw the injuries to ince and sumner are described as week to week so could be out for any length. plus heaven forbid if Butt gets hurt as well.
Brown dropped a few on the wing but played well as a full back for a spell in the 2nd half
Good finisher.
He was our joint captain last term, but it was announced soon after season end that he was on his way.
Spelly.
Good to see a half back break on halfway line supported to the line by a prop!!!!!
I do not know for certain but it looks like due to injuries to Edge & Sumner we have approached him fairly recently. As he is 35 perhaps he had decided to concentrate on his new PE teaching course but then we came calling? He is being paid presumably with the money Buckley, the ex Saints player who chose to quit, leaves spare.Good finisher.
He was our joint captain last term, but it was announced soon after season end that he was on his way.
Spelly.
.
Not heard about edge injury - or do you mean ince ?
williams is obviously a fill in signing, not one for the future just for this season
mind you ah van is still going !
Ah Van is 37 in March so should still get at least a good year or 2 possibly. It is definitely Ince and Sumner injured. Edge is fine.
Remember AC saying at his first meeting with the fans that he would not sign aging players at the end of their career, just saying like.
Signing at this point, with fresh injuries to cover is hardly the same as build the team around one!
Ince is a power house for us taking the long kicks almost without error, being prominent in driving the ball out , and scoring Makinson type tries too demands experienced cover.
Backs are so unpredictable regarding recovery, ask anyone with backache!! Just hope that it's not too long.
As a guess I would think that AC wants cover for these early cup games and hopes for Ince back for the real season start.
@prisoner said he wouldn't sign ageing players dropping out of SL as he didn't see any value from them