If we're at 18 now I'd hope that's 7 more new faces to come in ... wouldn't put money on it but still....so with who's most likely coming in I'd be looking at ...
1...rhodri lyodd
2...Mike butt
3..nick gregson
4...prop
5...a decent stand off
6..prop..
7...back rower
If we pushed to a 26 man squad I'd like a specialist loose forward......and by specialist I mean just someone that normally plays there rather than shoving a hooker there or a lightweight back row...someone along the lines of Brad day ..
All ifs n buts ...could end up with squad of 23/24 and cadge players all season...finance obviously will dictate
@cumbria-viking Considering the condition he was in when he signed, I'm shocked there was a 2 year deal dished out.
Wouldn't hold your breath. Most likely the three Swinton lads and then it's loans/dual-reg. Sounds like Lyons will be taking over from Craven at number 6.
I don't think Jacob Jones from Leigh, who played for us on loan, has a new contract yet.
So, if we add in Reilly, and the supposed Swinton lads' signings:
Backs
- Jack Owens
- Ryan Ince
- Matt Fleming
- Kieran Dixon
- Tom Gilmore
- Joe Lyons
- Joe Edge
- Ollie Brookes
- Max Roberts
- Mike Butt
Forwards
- Matty Fozard
- Sam Wilde
- Liam Bent
- Jordan Johnstone
- Callum Field
- Sam Brooks
- Will Tilleke
- Ant Walker
- Liam Kirk
- Martyn Reilly
- Rhodri Lloyd
- Nick Gregson
That's 22.
And gives us a side next year along the lines of:
Backs - Owens, Butt, Fleming, Edge, Dixon, Lyons, Gilmore
Forwards - Reilly, Fozard, Brooks, Kirk, Lloyd, Gregson
Subs (from) - Ince, Brookes, Roberts, Wilde, Bent, JJ, Field, Tilleke, Walker
With potentially some DR to come. Thoughts?
A running 6 transforms that squad ...a proper running threat with skill....always said 25 for me ...a 6...a decent prop...another back rower ..
Eckersley? Wardle and Keighran are shoo-ins at Wigan unless injury.
So, if we add in Reilly, and the supposed Swinton lads' signings:
Backs
- Jack Owens
- Ryan Ince
- Matt Fleming
- Kieran Dixon
- Tom Gilmore
- Joe Lyons
- Joe Edge
- Ollie Brookes
- Max Roberts
- Mike Butt
Forwards
- Matty Fozard
- Sam Wilde
- Liam Bent
- Jordan Johnstone
- Callum Field
- Sam Brooks
- Will Tilleke
- Ant Walker
- Liam Kirk
- Martyn Reilly
- Rhodri Lloyd
- Nick Gregson
That's 22.
And gives us a side next year along the lines of:
Backs - Owens, Butt, Fleming, Edge, Dixon, Lyons, Gilmore
Forwards - Reilly, Fozard, Brooks, Kirk, Lloyd, Gregson
Subs (from) - Ince, Brookes, Roberts, Wilde, Bent, JJ, Field, Tilleke, Walker
With potentially some DR to come. Thoughts?
I would probably have Ince on the wing and Wilde in the back row. It be interesting how we do with the new coach. Expansive rugby as the backs are decent.
So, if we add in Reilly, and the supposed Swinton lads' signings:
Backs
- Jack Owens
- Ryan Ince
- Matt Fleming
- Kieran Dixon
- Tom Gilmore
- Joe Lyons
- Joe Edge
- Ollie Brookes
- Max Roberts
- Mike Butt
Forwards
- Matty Fozard
- Sam Wilde
- Liam Bent
- Jordan Johnstone
- Callum Field
- Sam Brooks
- Will Tilleke
- Ant Walker
- Liam Kirk
- Martyn Reilly
- Rhodri Lloyd
- Nick Gregson
That's 22.
And gives us a side next year along the lines of:
Backs - Owens, Butt, Fleming, Edge, Dixon, Lyons, Gilmore
Forwards - Reilly, Fozard, Brooks, Kirk, Lloyd, Gregson
Subs (from) - Ince, Brookes, Roberts, Wilde, Bent, JJ, Field, Tilleke, Walker
With potentially some DR to come. Thoughts?
It looks worse on paper than last season, and we finished 9th...
Butt would be our fourth best winger in my opinion.
So, if we add in Reilly, and the supposed Swinton lads' signings:
Backs
- Jack Owens
- Ryan Ince
- Matt Fleming
- Kieran Dixon
- Tom Gilmore
- Joe Lyons
- Joe Edge
- Ollie Brookes
- Max Roberts
- Mike Butt
Forwards
- Matty Fozard
- Sam Wilde
- Liam Bent
- Jordan Johnstone
- Callum Field
- Sam Brooks
- Will Tilleke
- Ant Walker
- Liam Kirk
- Martyn Reilly
- Rhodri Lloyd
- Nick Gregson
That's 22.
And gives us a side next year along the lines of:
Backs - Owens, Butt, Fleming, Edge, Dixon, Lyons, Gilmore
Forwards - Reilly, Fozard, Brooks, Kirk, Lloyd, Gregson
Subs (from) - Ince, Brookes, Roberts, Wilde, Bent, JJ, Field, Tilleke, Walker
With potentially some DR to come. Thoughts?
It looks worse on paper than last season, and we finished 9th...
Butt would be our fourth best winger in my opinion.
The team last year was better on paper and should have done better. But if coached well it doesn't matter and the attitude of some players doesn't help. Props look better now.
@jdgsport Possibly slightly weaker than last season but both Craven & Farnworth once again missed a lot of games so considering that the only big misses are Grady & Lawton.
I agree that I cannot understand why we have signed Butt. Lloyd may be more useful at centre at over 15 stone, but not sure how fast he is.
If we can get Dudson or a similar proven prop on board we should be able to be more potent near the opposition's line. However in the past we have lacked the guile to open up defences with Lawton being the only forward being able to break the line. That lack of guile in our halfbacks is my biggest concern unless the new coaches have something up their sleeves. Gilmore has a nice short ball on him but I feel he kicks a bit too much when on attack. Perhaps one or two of our new props will fare better running onto his short passes & break the line more.
I think our priorities with about 3 more unknowns to sign have to be a running half back with speed & elusiveness, a final large experienced prop (Dudson would do me) & another second row or loose forward.
With other sides strengthening more than us in most cases I cannot really see us make the top 6 with the present squad.
I will still support & have bought my season ticket. I just hope most others will too but from comments on here we may see less sold this time.
Meanwhile, Wakefield have signed Jermaine McGillvary.