Quote: NickyKiss "It's obviously a fine balancing act and you're right about potential uproar. I don't want wholesale changes but I do believe we're in desperate need if a big, experienced prop. He would help guide lads like Bretherton who I agree is a superb prospect. He is a fabulous size for a young prop but I still wouldn't want to throw him in on a regular basis alongside our current set of props.'"
I agree. I don't think we're actually too bad IF we have Lockers and Joel in the back row as that does give us some size and Lockers has that ability be run like a prop, second row or be a ball handler. The problem is of course we can't rely on his fitness for more than 60 - 70 % of the games.
I'd like to see Bretherton used a bit like Ryan Sutton has this year, a couple of games played than rested or dual reg'd for few. A big rough prop would be a handy acquisition though.
To answer Jonh. We have put a lot of the younger players out on loan/dual reg this season. Logan Tomkins to Salford, Burke and Greenwood to HKR all on loan. Then Tierney, Doran, Connor Farrell, Powell etc have all been used on dual reg at Workington. I'm guessing we'll have to do the same next year.
Hampshire has had quite a few games this year, I was hoping for around 15 - 20 but he is in a strange/unique position as being a very valuable squad member and back up for #1, #6 and even #7 and there haven't been many injuries in those areas to date.