As it stands what’s the team?

Only confirmed signings included no speculation or targets that aren’t yet signed!
No doubt the line up will change as we make confirmed signings but as of now I think it’s looks something like this
Jowitt
Kershaw
Lynne
Hall
Murphy
Kay
Lino
Bowden
Hood
Whitbread
Tanginoa
Ashurst
Crowther

Bowes
Windrow
Eseh
Battye

Slightly off my own topic, looking at Poptarts squad from 2020 it’s amazing how many have now gone from the club
From a squad of 33 there are only 7 left at the club while 26 have left

1 - Alex Walker GONE
2 - Tom Johnstone. GONE
3 - Bill Tupou . GONE
4 - Reece Lyne
5 - Ben Jones-Bishop . GONE
6 - Jacob Miller (C) . GONE
7 - Danny Brough . GONE
8 - David Fifita . GONE
9 - Kyle Wood . GONE
10 - Tinirau Arona . GONE
11 - Matty Ashurst
12 - Danny Kirmond . GONE
13 - Joe Westerman . GONE
14 - Jay Pitts
15 - Craig Kopczak . GONE
16 - James Batchelor . GONE
17 - Chris Green . GONE
18 - Adam Tangata . GONE
19 - Jordan Crowther
20 - Joe Arundel . GONE
21 - Max Jowitt
22 - George King . GONE
23 - Josh Wood . GONE
24 - Jack Croft
25 - Brad Walker . GONE
26 - Titus Gwaze . GONE
27 - Lee Kershaw
28 - Ryan Atkins . GONE
29 - Ryan Hampshire . GONE
30 - Yusuf Aydin . GONE
31 - Connor Bailey . GONE
32 - Ollie Greensmith . GONE
33 - Kelepi Tanginoa
37 - Romain Navarrete (Loan) . GONE

Shaw is currently out of contract and not with trinity for 2023.

Players with contract for 2023 are…

Jowitt
Taufua
Kershaw
Murphy
Lineham
Hall
Lyne
Gaskell
Lino
Bowden
Whitbread (did you forget him?)
Battye
Eseh
Ashurst
Tanginoa
Hood
Crowther
Kaye
Bowes
Windrow
O’Donnovan

You can choose your team from the above currently.

My team would be….

Jowitt
Murphy
Gaskell
Hall
Kershaw
Kaye
Lino
Whitbread
Hood
Bowden
Ashurst
Tanginoa
Crowther

Bowes
Eseh
Battye
Windrow

Of the out of contract trinity players I would re-sign only Shaw and Croft.

Think both Pitts and whitbread had options for 2023. A journalist a couple months ago reported Pitts option had been activated and Willie in the press interview a couple weeks ago implied so had whitbreads. Looking at numbers for similar sized squad from this year would imply around 10 new players coming before or during next season. Big shake up coming. Exciting times

Don’t believe that Pitts has been activated. I’ve certainly seen no confirmation of it.

As for Whitbread. Poching confirmed it in an interview. We have Tanginoa for right SR. Pitts would be okay back up but we need to be looking for the next Ashurst.

Personally I’d be looking at Jack Ashworth and I’m sure I read a rumour AJ Wallace could be trinity bound.

Dont know how true but been told mulhurn and tom briscoe signed

Pitts is still going to be academy head coach next year,

Aj wallace hmmmm the name rings a bell but not sure why

So Pitts has moved to coaching team? If he’s both he would be decent cover but we are clearly stronger with Tanginoa at second row.

Tom Briscoe is a very strange one for me. As a winger and is having Murphy, Taufua, Kershaw and Lineham o just can’t see where he would fit in. I’d much rather us look at Hardaker who can play centre/fullback which would kill 2 birds with 1 stone in positions we need depth and competition.

Wallace was at Leeds and like Ruan dropped down a league and has shown up well in league below. I’m all up for bringing in a few young championship players with potential.

Agree about briscoe,as i say its only what a rumoui heard could beca load of rubbish.
As for pitts hes been acad coach this season and is next too soo i would anticipate him playing next year

I did, I knew as I typed that I was missing someone

I went over my list as there’s always one! I think we are being linked with every man and his dog at the moment. We are probably talking to a lot too I would think.

I think we need some experience and some players in their prime too though mostly this should be in the forwards.

I don’t envy Poching as it’s going to be a task to get the right players in.

I don't agree that we are better with Tanginoa at right second row than Pitts.
Both bring qualities.

I also watched Elijah Taylor today. If we do sign him he would be a great addition. As captain too. He is everywhere and never misses a tackle. Turned the ball over twice in defense today.

We are better at second row for certain imo. It’s no coincidence that with Pitts and Lyne out of the right edge it was much improved overall. They bring qualities yes, Pitts brings defensive strength but Tanginoa brings the wide running and attacking quality. Pitts will be in his final year and I see him as rotation mostly who’s solid. Tanginoa is the future.

The issue I have isn’t that I don’t rate Pitts. I do think he’s solid but him and Ashurst are just too similar and we really do lack any attacking punch on the edges with those two on the pitch at same time. Add in Taylor who’s essentially a defensive workhorse and we have 3 defensive minded players in second row/LF.

Tanginoa just offers far far more in attack than what Pitts can offer. Personally though I’d rather us retain Pitts and play him at 13 interchanging with Crowther and not bother with Taylor.

Our run in last season Tanginoa was playing in second row. The run in this season Tanginoa was at second row. I just think we are harder to defend against for opposition teams with him on the edges.

It was a journalist report that said Pitts option for 2023 had been activated but no nothing official from the club yet although I do think he will be add to the squad for next year if true to help the promising youngsters coming through. We need a few experienced leaders (whether brought in or already in the squad) to step up next year after the big exodus

Gale going to HKR hope that one is true