Yeah but 29 thru to 33 are academy promotions, we (in theory), could promote 5 from ours and then we have the same squad size, will just have to wait until squad numbers are released.

I think we need to try and recruit the very best youngsters and spend more money on developing players with a genuine chance of making the first team.
Upsets me when Yorkshire born players go to the north west teams.

Doubt we will be at 28. Lachlan Miller, Maika Sivo, Harry Newman, Jake Connor, Ash Handley, Brodie Croft, Matt Frawley, Mikolaj Oledzki, Andy Ackers, Keenan Palasia, James Bentley, James McDonnell, Cameron Smith, Jarrod O’Connor, Sam Lisone, Tom Holroyd, Cooper Jenkins, Morgan Gannon, Ryan Hall, Jack Sinfield, Tom Nicholson-Watton, Alfie Edgell, Riley Lumb, Ben Littlewood, Ned McCormack, Toby Warren, Max Simpson, Presley Cassell, Marcus QareQare, Jack Smith, Joe Diskin

Do the last four on the list count as first team squad.

1 Lachlan Miller 2 Maika Sivo 3 Harry Newman 4 Ash Handley (CC) 5 Ryan Hall 6 Brodie Croft 7 Matt Frawley 8 Mikolaj Oledzki 9 Andy Ackers 10 Keenan Palasia 11 James Bentley 12 James McDonnell 13 Cameron Smith (CC) 14 Jarrod O’Connor 15 Sam Lisone 16 Morgan Gannon 17 Cooper Jenkins 18 Jake Connor 19 Tom Holroyd 20 Jack Sinfield 21 Alfie Edgell 22 Tom Nicholson-Watton 23 Riley Lumb 24 Ben Littlewood 25 Ned McCormack 26 Max Simpson (27 Warren, 28 F.McCormack, 29 P.Cassell, 30 J.Smith) Pretty much as was expected in terms of squad numbers I reckon the club have held off announcing any of the other young players who haven’t made their debuts yet as we are still in talks with Harvey Livett apparently 2 other clubs have come in for him so doesn’t look a straight forward signing.

Handley at centre is still a concerning prospect to me. But Arthur presumably knows what he's doing.

Gannon in the 17 is a nice indication hopefully of what he's been showing in training, especially as Arthur hasn't seen him play.

Whilst we could have better quality here or there, the only area we look short in is the back row. We must finish in the playoffs this season.

[quote="batleyrhino":28ef8zla]Whilst we could have better quality here or there, the only area we look short in is the back row. We must finish in the playoffs this season.[/quote:28ef8zla] Top class stand offs are hard to come by. Seriously though, I honestly think he'd be an established first teamer now were it not for the concussions. He's got a lot of potential.

[quote="Seth":1b9nwb8g]Gannon in the 17 is a nice indication hopefully of what he's been showing in training, especially as Arthur hasn't seen him play.[/quote:1b9nwb8g] There is no doubt that Gannon and Holroyd, if they’re back and fit and firing, will be like two extra signings on top of the surgery that’s gone on in the pack. Anyone know if there’s been anything else about Jarrods injury. Arguably look a bit light at 9 in his absence.

[quote="Barrie’s Glass Eye":3ac0eh64]There is no doubt that Gannon and Holroyd, if they’re back and fit and firing, will be like two extra signings on top of the surgery that’s gone on in the pack. Anyone know if there’s been anything else about Jarrods injury. Arguably look a bit light at 9 in his absence.[/quote:3ac0eh64] Apparently he’s done his MCL he’s out until about round 6 is what’s initial been said.

[quote="MjM":20iexgef]Handley at centre is still a concerning prospect to me. But Arthur presumably knows what he's doing.[/quote:20iexgef] I vaguely watched the first half of Boxing day via the stream and I felt Handley tended to drift towards the wing when receiving the ball and taking Sivo's space away. Hopefully I am wrong as this would waste Sivo's main asset.

If all the backs are fit and therefore Connor misses out, who is kicking goals?

[quote="Simmo71":3lh42ejr]If all the backs are fit and therefore Connor misses out, who is kicking goals?[/quote:3lh42ejr] Good point, who is kicking? Who in the 17 is better than Connor? If the answer is no one, then for me Connor has to start. He has plenty to offer in the rest of his game and the importance of going up in 6's rather than 4's cannot be overstated.

Miller can kick goals, IIRC.

[quote="Exeter Rhino":skdpkeid]Miller can kick goals, IIRC.[/quote:skdpkeid] He does, around 68%. Nowhere near good enough imo.

[quote="YosemiteSam":1v7v28vx]He does, around 68%. Nowhere near good enough imo.[/quote:1v7v28vx] Where’s that stat from? Id expect miller to kick but then Connor to take over shen hes on the pitch. All depends on how Connor gets utilised. Croft can apparently kick goals too Interesting that Martin has been given the 17 shirt at KR

[quote="christopher":3sn5bxar]Where’s that stat from? Id expect miller to kick but then Connor to take over shen hes on the pitch. All depends on how Connor gets utilised. Croft can apparently kick goals too Interesting that Martin has been given the 17 shirt at KR[/quote:3sn5bxar] His NRL record plus SL to the middle or so of last year - Total RL iirc. How we use Connor will be critical. He's a talent, and one assumes BA hasn't brought him in to warm the bench.

[quote="christopher":10lpfle3]Where’s that stat from? Id expect miller to kick but then Connor to take over shen hes on the pitch. All depends on how Connor gets utilised. Croft can apparently kick goals too Interesting that Martin has been given the 17 shirt at KR[/quote:10lpfle3] My worry with giving Miller the kicking would be the pressure of the role. I'd rather him focus on being the best full back he can be without adding the expectation of being the kicker. Connor is certainly now the most natural place kicker (with the exception of Sinfield) at the club, it's just a question of whether he starts. If he continues to play like he did on Boxing Day that won't be much of an issue because we'll have to find a place for him. I thought Frawley played well on Boxing Day, but if young O'Connor does miss the start of the season I could see him (Frawley) doing a Dunneman 2004 type role for us off the bench.

[quote="ArthurClues":17h1ecuz]My worry with giving Miller the kicking would be the pressure of the role. I'd rather him focus on being the best full back he can be without adding the expectation of being the kicker. Connor is certainly now the most natural place kicker (with the exception of Sinfield) at the club, it's just a question of whether he starts. If he continues to play like he did on Boxing Day that won't be much of an issue because we'll have to find a place for him. I thought Frawley played well on Boxing Day, but if young O'Connor does miss the start of the season I could see him doing a Dunneman 2004 type role for us off the bench.[/quote:17h1ecuz] I think we’ll see Frawley start at 7, connor on the bench, then when he comes on Frawley to nine to give Ackers a break. I agree re Miller by the way but I think he’ll be first choice kicker when Connor isn’t on Loads of noise on X about Rhys Martin not happy at KR, I reckon its rubbish though.

[quote="christopher":8mpelo7l]I think we’ll see Frawley start at 7, connor on the bench, then when he comes on Frawley to nine to give Ackers a break. I agree re Miller by the way but I think he’ll be first choice kicker when Connor isn’t on Loads of noise on X about Rhys Martin not happy at KR, I reckon its rubbish though.[/quote:8mpelo7l] I agree that Arthur will start Frawley at 7 at least for the few weeks of the season, but personally I'd give Connor a go in the halves, with is goal kicking being a deciding factor in my thinking.

Only 26 squad numbers, players with first team experience or have already made there first team debut. Thin squad IMO, needed a gun centre not another winger. Second row needs a blockbuster. Kicker who will play every week.

Hopefully Jake Connor makes it impossible for the team to not have him starting. Full back , halves or centre does anyone know his kicking stats?

[quote="Chesterrhino":zewdyzm1]Only 26 squad numbers, players with first team experience or have already made there first team debut. Thin squad IMO, needed a gun centre not another winger. Second row needs a blockbuster. Kicker who will play every week.[/quote:zewdyzm1] Correct. We're still 3 players short of challenging top 4. An actual second centre. A powerful second row. And a goal kicking, organising half.

It’s interesting around who will be first choice kicker. Has Connor often been first choice kicker in the teams he’s played. He’s only got 157 goals over his career according to the super league stats website. I know he has been a Huddersfield the last couple of years. I’d imagine it will be Miller or Connor depending on who’s on the pitch. I’d be really surprised if our 1-7 back line is fit for the majority of the season so imagine Connor/others will be a regular without having to do too much creative stuff such as Frawley to hooker. I hope we can push on slightly this year. See us battling for the lower playoff spots. A real gun second row and a year for everyone to bed in might be enough to push on further the year after but I imagine we will be looking for a new coach then as well.