Re: 2023 Squad : Mon Nov 14, 2022 6:02 pm  

Fantastic Mr Catpiss wrote:

i was hoping he'd have a clean slate for this year, but he's been given the harvey livett treatment under price.

it does seem that if your face doesn't fit under this coaching staff, yer gone.

The phrase "face doesn't fit" suggests that it is a bit personal. But perhaps they have just watched him (for hours and hours as coaches do) and decided that in a salary cap sport you can't keep 'em all. In the relatively small amount of time that I have seen him I can't really see why there is such a fuss ... but that might be unfair as I haven't watched him that much. Some might have spotted much more than me.
I totally agree that the squad is unbalanced. I am expecting a quick offload of a prop early on in the season. This won't be difficult as usually clubs are crying out for props.

Re: 2023 Squad : Mon Nov 14, 2022 6:14 pm  

Alffi_7 wrote:

Powell seems to rate Holroyd very highly, so Longstaff's appearances were going to be limited, sensible decision for him to go get some gametime elsewhere.

Currie / Nicholson first choice with Holroyd, Harrison and Whitehead in that order able to fill in.

Yes, the squad has a bit of an unbalanced look and back row certainly looks light in terms of experience, but Powell obviously has a lot of faith in Nicholson and Holroyd and keeping Longstaff wasn't going to change that experience issue anyway.

I'd like to see what Joe Bullock would be like wider out. When we have so many grunters, who are most definitely props, you have to think differently.

Re: 2023 Squad : Mon Nov 14, 2022 7:02 pm  

Barbed Wire wrote:

My issue isn’t that he’s being moved on, it’s the lack of forward planning. He hasn’t played (by choice, the Catalan away incident forced him to be selected) since Hull away, that was the Easter weekend. The coach made the decision then that he had lost his trust and he wasn’t part of his plans. Granted we go and sign Nicholson, but then lose Holmes, King/Wardle and Wrench for a significant part of the season and don’t backfill the positions.

We have one spare back, Minikin, with any experience until Wrench returns. The back row/centre cover has a combined total number of games in single figures and as it stands have no halfback despite training starting today.

Clearly the plan for centre was for Wardle to come in, but Huddersfield wanted too much from us in terms of the player swap. We have the cap space but the biggest issue is the lack of a quota spot. I’m looking forward to seeing Kasiano in a Wire shirt, and the impact he will bring, but I can’t help but think the spot could have been better spent on an excellent left centre. I

Re: 2023 Squad : Mon Nov 14, 2022 10:16 pm  

So most are back in preseason, kassiano, Vaughan and Dufty due next week. So if it’s to be Drinkwater when is that being announced and then him getting into early training, ofc Williams will get extended time off.

Re: 2023 Squad : Tue Nov 15, 2022 1:16 am  

I don’t know what it is, but the team on those photos by the Guardian just looks different this year. Maybe it’s so many new faces, but it looks like a team that’s trim and focussed.

I hope it’s not just the camera angle or my mind playing tricks.

Re: 2023 Squad : Wed Nov 16, 2022 8:17 am  

Looking at training pictures who is the next to last photo of ?

Re: 2023 Squad : Wed Nov 16, 2022 8:31 am  

Sandwich Wire wrote:

Looking at training pictures who is the next to last photo of ?

James Harrison. He just looks a bit older with his head shaved.

Re: 2023 Squad : Wed Nov 16, 2022 12:38 pm  

Thank you, blimey he has had a bad paper round in the off season.