I know at least one poster who used the signings comparison of Hall v Leilua as criticism of our club. Lets see how they develop.

Leilua can be a decent player... but he’s also prone to massive brain farts and often compounds with error on error.

Not seen much of Hood but from what I see I don't think he'll produce the darting runs that Woody used to do, but I'm prepared to see how he goes, probably a different type of player to Woody. Does he look a tad overweight, or is that how he always looks?
I completely agree re Hall, although Minns may be given a run first - who knows what WP thinks?

Tricky one, Minns has the experience but personally I feel like Hall has played himself into contention with his pre-season performances and the shirt is his to lose.
Like you say though, Willie may see it differently

Hall has probably earned the right I agree but I hope we are patient with him. With BT out I think he starts the season in the centre but is rotated and rested before he is over utilised. He looks a very good talent and both a natural athlete and wingers centre, however physically I think he has a little way to go (which at his age and stage of development generally goes without saying).

I hope he starts the year and the plan is to play 8-12 games across the course of the year whilst focusing away from the pitch on adding to his frame as he clearly could carry more weight with his build.

Similar in frame to a certain young Reece Lyne when he first came to trinity. Hall seems to have it all and I agree he only seems to lack that bit of physicality/muscle that comes with age. Looking forward to see him develop and I agree that he deserves to start the season. When he’s coming up against big units week in week out it will test him but I’m sure he will do good. I’ve also been impressed by Minns too though, he’s got his head down and looked good in pre season.

Am in my 70s now, have seen the good the bad and the damn right ugly. Always hoping for the best and never shocked at the worst. We are all hardened to it. I feel starting a season without props is nuts. Lacquer it any way you want but you would expect to be easily steam rollered by some teams. If DF is injured, we are in the poop. Not seen Lino yet and against Fev we were really shocking. The six unvaccinated will mean capitulation of the French games due to Covid rules, particularly if all are overseas players which we don’t know of course. I am a 100% glass half full person but this time have a negative feeling and want desperately to be 100% wrong. The Whitbread signing just seems plain daft to me. There had to have been a young prop looking to come over and cut his teeth in Super League. Playing people out of position is a massive gamble and often unsuccessful. There’s a bit of boom and bust about Fev and exactly the opposite from us. Maybe we will look at things again mid season. Vasty, I would love this re- posted to show I am completely wrong later in the season and I know there will be plus points like Hall (Craig still looks good by the way!) someone said a good big un will always beat a good little un. Against FC will be a barometer as they have a few missing. First time I have felt like this sadly. Sorry!

Whilst I do believe we are 1 prop light I don't think we really need to panic quite like the above would suggest.

Battye/Arona/Tangianoa/Whitbread/Fafita are all experiened senior prop forwards. We then have Aydin and Adebiyi as back up, both who have a number of senior appearances under their belts. The prop market has been very lean this offseason. Even the traditionally bigger teams have had to go a little left field to recruit n that department and to what is no doubt an inflated market in regards salary.

Trinity are a money ball side. We don't have the cash slushing around to pay over the odds for players. If we are to push up the table we need to get players in who provide more value than their cap value not less so paying over the odds really isn't an option.

We clearly are not going into the season with no props. We have a set of capable props and some with promise. The issue is we only really have one stand out prop, the others are all fairly similar in style and stature. We may well be waiting for a mid season move rather than panic and bring in the wrong type of person and player.

I think we are OK going into the season with the Prop options we have. In an ideal world we add some size later in the season when players become available on loan etc.

So you think you know better than Willie Poching?

Interesting.

It's not about knowing more, it's about knowing less.
We can all wax lyrical about what we'd like but we don't know what restrictions Willie has in terms of available cash to spend, current wage bill or what us available.

Let's see how it goes against Hull. That's the starting point. I'm optimistic but realistic as well.

Well put.

We as fans see 80 minutes per week for two-thirds of the year, so we know the punch line but none of the build-up.

However, you don't need to know much to know that anyone who thinks Fifita is our only prop is talking nonsense, he's our best but all teams have a best.

Posters should listen to the WP's podcast, there is a very realistic man who nonetheless believes totally in his ability and that of his team. You can be realistic but this desire to be negative before a ball is kicked frankly makes me puke, especially the line 'and want desperately to be 100% wrong.' I don't believe that line, to be honest, I think they love it. Put simply I personally wear my heart on my sleeve and have no time for defeatism or self-pity, certainly not for something as relatively trivial as sport, I find it nauseating and an easy way out for those lacking conviction. I'm sure I'll be lambasted by some for saying that but hey.

Never mind nobody knows better than WP Vasty, you think nobody knows better than you and nobody has an opinion. I hope you do puke, it may clear some of the bile from your system.
Tanginoa, Whitbread and Arona are not props. End of. This is a forum where opinions are expressed, you need to get out more.

Quote: Manuel "Never mind nobody knows better than WP Vasty, you think nobody knows better than you and nobody has an opinion. I hope you do puke, it may clear some of the bile from your system. Tanginoa, Whitbread and Arona are not props. End of. This is a forum where opinions are expressed, you need to get out more.'" You're right and I've just expressed mine. Whitbread is a prop, he's played there all his career at prop, for some reason people have decided after one game to call him a LF. Still, as I say Coach knows best and you don't. I realize you're clearly living in a dream world but for your information, the following players are props or can play there with ease. Fifita Battye Whitbread - is a prop see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jai_Whitbread Aydin is probably a scrum-half in your book Adebiyi SR/Prop Tanginoa SR/Prop Shaw That's 7 props, all at various stages in their career, about the same as most clubs.

Quote: Manuel "Never mind nobody knows better than WP Vasty, you think nobody knows better than you and nobody has an opinion. I hope you do puke, it may clear some of the bile from your system. Tanginoa, Whitbread and Arona are not props. End of. This is a forum where opinions are expressed, you need to get out more.'" You're right and I've just expressed mine. Whitbread is a prop, he's played there all his career at prop, for some reason people have decided after one game to call him a LF. Still, as I say Coach knows best and you don't. I realize you're clearly living in a dream world but for your information, the following players are props or can play there with ease. Fifita Battye Whitbread - is a prop see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jai_Whitbread Aydin is probably a scrum-half in your book Adebiyi SR/Prop Tanginoa SR/Prop Shaw That's 7 props, all at various stages in their career, about the same as most clubs.

I did, sorry

I accept some of those 8 lack experience but the potential is there in them all.