Bump

Based on last year's mid season slump, our most important signing could be a psychologist.

To be honest I would definitely invest in the sports science and sports psychology part of our game.
Very under valued asset.

I agree I think it would show a very open-minded attitude at a club willing to try anything to move forward. However I bet it isn't cheap and there I suppose is the problem, an extra Prop or an experiment that may or may not bere fruit.

Think our 1-13 pretty much picks itself


1- walker (possibly jowitt)
2 - TJ
3 - Tupou
4 - Lynne
5 - BJB
6 - miller
7 Brough
8 Big Dave
9 Wood
10 kopczak
11 Ashurst
12 KT
13 Westerman

Gets more interesting there after

Arona always starts or on bench for me but at moment we have no other out and out props so surely we are going to sign 2 specialist props - at moment see pitts more as a small prop/back row plus cover for half back and or a hooker

outside back cover is stronger than it was this time last season in atkins, kershaw, arundel croft
back row, crowther batchelor, king, pitts

but having lost and not replaced 3 big units and one waste of a skin in huby, england, hirst and pauli couple big props a must

For me King should play prop first and be a good backup at 13 whereas Arona is the other way around.

I'd have Crowther as equal choice 13 before King TBH.

King is not a prop and that is currently our problem, trying to fit players into position they are not suited or in this case big enough for. Pitt’s is no half or number 9 once again we are just covering our inaccuracies in the current squad.
We need at least two props and a half back but I believe I read that Chester believes Westerman can cover that position, in the past maybe but he is not the player he once was.

Agree with a couple of props but also think an interchange hooker is required also to get the best out of woods, worked a treat for me when he came on after Randall had done a spell

Who said Pitts was a half or number 9? King's a back-row who's played a lot at Prop in his career and can do a job there if needs be. Don't you think the Club knows we need Props, after losing 5 if you include Baldwinson from the squad that started last year.Same goes for halfbacks, last season we started with 4, we now have 2. Also lost Randall. Ateotd the season hasn't finished properly yet so there's plenty of time.

Also apart from when we had serious injuries this season and we had no choice, when have we gone into a season 'trying to fit players into position they are not suited'? don't ever remember that happening in the last few years.

I think you'll find King is a prop, has played often at prop and is a pretty good one at that. He can play back row but to me, he looks an out and out prop, I certainly have no problem with him as one of our four first-choice props, he's the best prop we have after Big Dave for getting his head down, running it straight and hurting the opposition.

I'm guessing we'll get an overseas prop, a championship quality prop, a hooker to share chores with Wood and cover at half back, unless CC intends using Jowett there?

I completely agree.
When he plays 13 he just plays as a slightly more mobile prop.

His stats show that he makes good yardage, few mistakes and good defensive stats. They can't all be Fifita. If you watch he always lands on knees and elbows and get's a quick play the ball. He's just what we need to balance the more erratic play by Dave.

Yeah probably is the way we'll go. Only thing that may happen is we have 2 Non fed/overseas places left and I can't remember a time we didn't use them all so may get 2 from overseas.

Think King is more than adequate at prop...he’s a straight replacement for England for me... maybe he could bulk up a little with another half a stone or so but he’s got the size to do a job there...his game looks a pretty simple one, runs hard and tackles well...

Arona is another I’d have no problem with as a prop...he’s played plenty of 13 too so I’d like to see him develop his game a little more as a ball handling prop...he can do the hard yards and his tackling and work rate is second to none...I’d have him as not too far off say a Mike Cooper in stature and he’s a very effective prop because of his ball handling skills...Arona has it in him to be the same for me and shouldn’t be needed as a 13 with Westerman and Crowther in the squad.

I’d still like us to sign two more props at least though and as most have said a back up half and number 9...