True, we have been luck with injuries though. Are you suggesting we should let them all go and not replace any of them?
We have got the pathway for our youth to step in, and we have a few almost ready for the step up in Eckersley, Astley, Forber, Hill, Douglas & Makin. I’d be happy with these being promoted with a few more signings for next season with what cap space there is.
We don’t have the best record bringing backs through compared to forwards though and I’m not entirely sure why.
It’s definitely harder to blood them in as you rarely have a back on the bench and have the opportunity to introduce them with limited minutes or when the games won like with forwards.
Backs probably only get opportunities when there are injuries whereas the forwards have the chance to play limited minutes.
Unless Astley switches to FB on a permanent basis I can see him leaving as Farrimond looks a far better prospect as a half-back.
It could also be interesting to see whether we retain Forber or Ratchford as hooker. I think that baring in mind ages of current squad players/signings that Ratchford may be the lucky one as I don't see there being a space available for Forber when he comes to the age that he will be looking for a first team starting / bench spot somewhere.
True, we have been luck with injuries though. Are you suggesting we should let them all go and not replace any of them?
We have got the pathway for our youth to step in, and we have a few almost ready for the step up in Eckersley, Astley, Forber, Hill, Douglas & Makin. I’d be happy with these being promoted with a few more signings for next season with what cap space there is.
We don’t have the best record bringing backs through compared to forwards though and I’m not entirely sure why.
It’s definitely harder to blood them in as you rarely have a back on the bench and have the opportunity to introduce them with limited minutes or when the games won like with forwards.
Backs probably only get opportunities when there are injuries whereas the forwards have the chance to play limited minutes.
Not sure though!
In the past we have converted backs into forwards.
doc wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2023 7:59 pm
Unless Astley switches to FB on a permanent basis I can see him leaving as Farrimond looks a far better prospect as a half-back.
It could also be interesting to see whether we retain Forber or Ratchford as hooker. I think that baring in mind ages of current squad players/signings that Ratchford may be the lucky one as I don't see there being a space available for Forber when he comes to the age that he will be looking for a first team starting / bench spot somewhere.
I'm at a loss to understand the signing of Leeming. O'Neill, Forber and Ratchford would have done fine for me.
We can’t just strip out any experienced back up from the squad and run with 17 senior pros and then when one injury hits, you’re putting a kid in. The fact Hampshire and Thornley haven’t featured much is simply down to luck and that’s great but you won’t always be that fortunate. I’d let Thornley go but keep Hampshire if possible. That way Eckersley and Douglas move closer to a game, especially when you factor in Cust going and French probably being a full time stand off.
In the forwards we’re looking strong-ish but we definitely need a second rower as things stand. You can’t go in to a season with just Farrell and Nsemba as specialist second rowers. Walters may well be playing there and I think we’ll see Chan there at times as well. I think we’ll see Powell go and in that case, we needed Leeming. You can’t run with 3 hookers, aged 21, 20 and 18, with about 30 Superleague games between them (all for one of them) going in to a full Superleague season.
NICKYKISS wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2023 10:29 am
We can’t just strip out any experienced back up from the squad and run with 17 senior pros and then when one injury hits, you’re putting a kid in. The fact Hampshire and Thornley haven’t featured much is simply down to luck and that’s great but you won’t always be that fortunate. I’d let Thornley go but keep Hampshire if possible. That way Eckersley and Douglas move closer to a game, especially when you factor in Cust going and French probably being a full time stand off.
In the forwards we’re looking strong-ish but we definitely need a second rower as things stand. You can’t go in to a season with just Farrell and Nsemba as specialist second rowers. Walters may well be playing there and I think we’ll see Chan there at times as well. I think we’ll see Powell go and in that case, we needed Leeming. You can’t run with 3 hookers, aged 21, 20 and 18, with about 30 Superleague games between them (all for one of them) going in to a full Superleague season.
I fully understand your point Nicky. In my view we would have been better served keeping Powell and integrating our young hookers. I just don't see what Leeming brings and, given he has got a four year deal it means that we are going to see some exciting talent move on. I wasn't suggesting that we should run with 17 senior pros. I think Thornley, Cust and Hampshire are likely to go, for different reasons, and given we have only signed Keighran we will need to recruit. The forwards are well stacked but I agree we need to recruit another experienced forward, and I think we will if Isa leaves.
doc wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2023 7:59 pm
Unless Astley switches to FB on a permanent basis I can see him leaving as Farrimond looks a far better prospect as a half-back.
It could also be interesting to see whether we retain Forber or Ratchford as hooker. I think that baring in mind ages of current squad players/signings that Ratchford may be the lucky one as I don't see there being a space available for Forber when he comes to the age that he will be looking for a first team starting / bench spot somewhere.
I'm at a loss to understand the signing of Leeming. O'Neill, Forber and Ratchford would have done fine for me.
I can understand the signing of Leeming if Matty Peet wants two different hookers, with two different styles and two different levels of experience.
What I do not understand is the 4 year length of contract as it basically tells any of our academy hookers there isn't much chance of getting into the 1st team in the next couple of years at least....Given the reports of Forber being a great prospect, this really worries me.
NICKYKISS wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2023 10:29 am
We can’t just strip out any experienced back up from the squad and run with 17 senior pros and then when one injury hits, you’re putting a kid in. The fact Hampshire and Thornley haven’t featured much is simply down to luck and that’s great but you won’t always be that fortunate. I’d let Thornley go but keep Hampshire if possible. That way Eckersley and Douglas move closer to a game, especially when you factor in Cust going and French probably being a full time stand off.
In the forwards we’re looking strong-ish but we definitely need a second rower as things stand. You can’t go in to a season with just Farrell and Nsemba as specialist second rowers. Walters may well be playing there and I think we’ll see Chan there at times as well. I think we’ll see Powell go and in that case, we needed Leeming. You can’t run with 3 hookers, aged 21, 20 and 18, with about 30 Superleague games between them (all for one of them) going in to a full Superleague season.
Is Logan Astley not going to be ready to be backup in the halves next year? He made his debut last year, he will be 21 next May.
NICKYKISS wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2023 10:29 am
We can’t just strip out any experienced back up from the squad and run with 17 senior pros and then when one injury hits, you’re putting a kid in. The fact Hampshire and Thornley haven’t featured much is simply down to luck and that’s great but you won’t always be that fortunate. I’d let Thornley go but keep Hampshire if possible. That way Eckersley and Douglas move closer to a game, especially when you factor in Cust going and French probably being a full time stand off.
In the forwards we’re looking strong-ish but we definitely need a second rower as things stand. You can’t go in to a season with just Farrell and Nsemba as specialist second rowers. Walters may well be playing there and I think we’ll see Chan there at times as well. I think we’ll see Powell go and in that case, we needed Leeming. You can’t run with 3 hookers, aged 21, 20 and 18, with about 30 Superleague games between them (all for one of them) going in to a full Superleague season.
I fully understand your point Nicky. In my view we would have been better served keeping Powell and integrating our young hookers. I just don't see what Leeming brings and, given he has got a four year deal it means that we are going to see some exciting talent move on. I wasn't suggesting that we should run with 17 senior pros. I think Thornley, Cust and Hampshire are likely to go, for different reasons, and given we have only signed Keighran we will need to recruit. The forwards are well stacked but I agree we need to recruit another experienced forward, and I think we will if Isa leaves.
I wasn’t levelling the 17 senior pros comment at anyone in particular mate, it’s just that I’ve seen comments of ‘what have Hampshire and Thornley brought’. They provide senior back up and you need a bit of that. If we did release Hampshire, Cust and Thornley, we’ll be one injury away from Douglas, Eckersley or Astley starting. If you then get 2 or 3 in the backs (and you could get more), you’re really struggling.
I’m not really against you on the Powell comment. I think we’ll lose an experienced and well respected leader if and when he goes. I do think Leeming will provide a bit of that though and he’ll add more threat from the bench.
NICKYKISS wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2023 10:29 am
We can’t just strip out any experienced back up from the squad and run with 17 senior pros and then when one injury hits, you’re putting a kid in. The fact Hampshire and Thornley haven’t featured much is simply down to luck and that’s great but you won’t always be that fortunate. I’d let Thornley go but keep Hampshire if possible. That way Eckersley and Douglas move closer to a game, especially when you factor in Cust going and French probably being a full time stand off.
In the forwards we’re looking strong-ish but we definitely need a second rower as things stand. You can’t go in to a season with just Farrell and Nsemba as specialist second rowers. Walters may well be playing there and I think we’ll see Chan there at times as well. I think we’ll see Powell go and in that case, we needed Leeming. You can’t run with 3 hookers, aged 21, 20 and 18, with about 30 Superleague games between them (all for one of them) going in to a full Superleague season.
I fully understand your point Nicky. In my view we would have been better served keeping Powell and integrating our young hookers. I just don't see what Leeming brings and, given he has got a four year deal it means that we are going to see some exciting talent move on. I wasn't suggesting that we should run with 17 senior pros. I think Thornley, Cust and Hampshire are likely to go, for different reasons, and given we have only signed Keighran we will need to recruit. The forwards are well stacked but I agree we need to recruit another experienced forward, and I think we will if Isa leaves.
I wasn’t levelling the 17 senior pros comment at anyone in particular mate, it’s just that I’ve seen comments of ‘what have Hampshire and Thornley brought’. They provide senior back up and you need a bit of that. If we did release Hampshire, Cust and Thornley, we’ll be one injury away from Douglas, Eckersley or Astley starting. If you then get 2 or 3 in the backs (and you could get more), you’re really struggling.
I’m not really against you on the Powell comment. I think we’ll lose an experienced and well respected leader if and when he goes. I do think Leeming will provide a bit of that though and he’ll add more threat from the bench.
I dunno - there have been times this season where it seemed obvious Hampshire should have been in the side, but the coaching staff just didn't want to put him in. Its no good having a backup that the coaches won't play even when there's a need. I think they did trust Thornley, we've just not needed him in the second half I think.
