Got to remember that our u19's are actually mostly u18's. The gap between Bowden & Green to the likes of Logan, Lancaster etc. highlight the chronic lack of investment in the academy Pearson alluded to when he took over. There's only really BTW.
Hooker is an area we definitely will need to invest in, as there's nothing (even at 16's) coming through.

I have been impressed with Cunningham, I just wish that Radford would give him more gametime, than his token 15 minutes, Brad Parker looked good when he was younger, but haven't heard much of him recently.

im with you on that one, he hasn't looked out of place when on and without being spectacular he's done the right things well. It will give Houghton more rest time to keep him fresh and on his toes, which a fresh Houghton can only be a good thing for us

Have said before I like the look of Cunningham and IMO could turn out a gud un

Have said before I like the look of Cunningham and IMO could turn out a gud un

If you look at Green's stats he has consistently been one of our better players for metres per carry over the course of a few seasons. This season he is our strongest forward in this department by quite a distance. He also doesn't make many errors (one this season) and concedes very few penalties (none this season).

If he can up his work rate a little, and if Radford gives him some more game time, I think he can be really effective.

Bowden I'm not sure about.

Paea, Taylor, Watts, Thompson, Green and BTW would be a good set of props imo. We could do with a top class hooker, although I'm optimistic about Cunningham, a centre is a must, and a more skillful second rower wouldn't go amiss (I like Turgut but let's not forget he's barely turned 19). Other than that it's not a bad squad.

We just need a coach.

Pearson has being investing in the youth set-up for 3.5 years, it isn't as if it was non existant beforehand so that doesn't really hold up as an excuse, whilst it isn't long enough to say having the production line that Wigan seem to have we should be having at least 2/3 a year knocking on the door and this year we just don't, next year will be much the same so why the dearth?

If young lads like Cunningham are not getting much game time (as mentioned above) whom already has a wealth of SL experience via London then what hope the like of Adbul, Lancaster, Logan, the Tyson Wilson's? The continual progression of the young guns to become potential first 17 players is essential and that just isn't happening unless we have the direst of injury situations, last year was a prime example by bringing in Colbon and Carvell after just a cuple of injuries instead of trusting to the youth which made no sense whatsoever.

If we are as suggested above binning off the likes of Green and Bowden because they are 'not good enough' what does that say about our development of young players especially props whom as we know don't mature until later. Radford himself stated that he wants to build the side around the likes of both these lads (though he said that about Crooks too..kiss of death..lol) We can't all have a Burgess that is immense at a young age, that just isn't how it works.
Without game time their progression is just going to go backwards compared to their counterparts at other clubs and as a consequence we will yet again be lagging behind and scratching for good level cover when the injuries start to come

We MUST promote the youth in a way that gives them a chance to test themselves & improve, on this thread we are talking about bringing in so many players..yet again, more change, more new faces, you can only buy/import yourself out of trouble for so long.

International class Hooker but Houghton is going no-where so that's a non starter
2 props on the basis of Feka/Paea leaving, Taylor is one if the rumour is true but I'm not buying it until I see the shirt on his back, too many false promises in the past. Do we really want Ellis in the front row..not for me so A.N. Other
Centre if Sa is still a liability
Do we actually need anyone else?

I think that's pretty much it. 3/4 new signings max (depending on what Paea does). Prop & Centre are priorities, then hooker.


With regards to our youth, I don't think we're quite as bad at giving the young lads game time as you make out. We have a number of players on the edge of our squad, most of them having had some game time this year. But they're still very young:

Naughton (20)
Logan (19)
Turgut (19)
Abdul (19)
Cunningham (21)
Lancaster (1icon_cool.gif
BTW (20)

To use your comparison to Wigan & the young players getting game time over there, you'll see that they are generally a year or so older than our lot.

Hampshire (20)
Manfredi (21)
Sutton (19)
Tierney (20)
Williams (20)
Conor Farrell (21)


Be patient, they are coming through. Lancaster, Logan, Abdul and Turgut are teenagers still. Cunningham & Naughton are getting game time, BTW has been out on loan. We're still feeling effects from the years of underinvestment in our youth setup. You can't magic youngsters from nowhere.

If Taylor and Paea are signed, I don't think a prop is a priority, nearly every single game this year (Even ones we have lost) we have made more metres than the other teams, we need some players who can break (or get over) the line, that's why I think we need a centre (maybe two) and a backrower in the style of Willie Manu.

Before we go rushing out and get a hooker I still think Cunningham could be the answer.

I agree with a lot of the comments here. I'm also impressd with Cunningham in the limited time he has had, I remember him playing stand off for London last season at Huddersfield and scoring a fantastic try down the blind side. showed real pace. I agree with the props, we always make easy metres down the pitch and if Taylor joins up, no worries here really.

It's the fringes, no strike players in the centres at all and lacking a Manu type in the back row. To me, we are lacking real 'footballers' - the nous and ball handling skills are just not good enough in these areas. Two new centres for me is the big priority.

1000% This. We've sorely missed Manu since he left.

Just got back home after 8 days in Manly
all over the press there Thaiday to UK, and Shillington also Cronk has been spoken to by three SL clubs, all three out of contract apparently

My daughters boyfriend is a big manly fan and was reading I think it was League week had a piece in there which surprised me that there is if i remember correctly nearly 170 NRL players all OOC this time round..... lots of mahooosive names in the piece too...
really damning piece about HKR and the way they have treated aussies over here too ...

Would love to sign Thaiday, just the type of player we need, doubt it would happen though, especially after reading this, www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 7305323973

Would love to sign Thaiday, just the type of player we need, doubt it would happen though, especially after reading this, www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 7305323973

Quote: Dave K. "Would love to sign Thaiday, just the type of player we need, doubt it would happen though, especially after reading this, www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 7305323973'" Interesting piece isnt it? another one off contract i remembered just now is Gallen too!!

Quote: Dave K. "Would love to sign Thaiday, just the type of player we need, doubt it would happen though, especially after reading this, www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 7305323973'" Interesting piece isnt it? another one off contract i remembered just now is Gallen too!!