Not sure on Green's handling ability.

I'm worried about our front row tbh. I think that Poore would have been a great addition and the Dobbins have made a very good signing there. They'll certainly have some mongrel in their side next season which we desperately lack.

oh thank god we are safe

Only a good signing if he cuts out the pens tbf

I think Bobby Tyson Wilson won't be far off the first team either TBH.
At least it seems our young players will now have a pathway to the first team.
I don't think it matters what the club do sometimes to be honest, as any signing is met with negativity on here.
I was sceptical of the new coaching set up, but I'm prepared to give it a chance.
What we do have in our favour is the best owner we've had for many years.

You should go back to school and learn to count again

Of course but every pack needs at least one big rough bastrd that inevitably gives away the odd penalty. We haven't got one and IMO our front row is severely lacking.

Green and Bowden - Unsure if either of them will actually improve enough to make a big enough impact but have both looked promising at times.

Watts - Gone massively backwards and seems to be mirroring his HKR career. He has everything but attitude has to be doubted.

Paea - Great signing and just what we needed

Feka - He didn't find himself on that French scrap heap by accident.

Poore doesn't give away 'the odd penalty' though. He gave away 28 in 23 appearances last season. That places him second only to Ben Westwood in SL. And he doesn't appear in the top 10 for any other stat.

Poore by name...

You don't rate Poore, Kosh?

I think he will prove to be a very good signing for the dobbins.

Regardless of penalties, I'm sure that every single fan would have Westwood.

Also, I really don't take too much notice of stats, within reason. This season's stats would probably tell us that Houghton is head and shoulders above every other hooker in SL which would be farcical.

I can't imagine what Dowes' stats would also encourage us to think.

I don't rate players who give away that many penalties unless they are exceptional. Poore isn't exceptional.

And I'd suggest that the last thing a side with a discipline problem needs is Justin Poore.

I kind of agree with that but don't you agree that we are lacking a big rough pack leading prop?

Think again.


Stats don't make value judgements. They just give you facts. It's up to you to use your brain and interpret them properly. I generally find that people who dismiss stats out of hand don't actually understand them.

All the stats tell you about Houghton is that he makes a lot of tackles and runs from dummy half - which you can see for yourself in every single game he plays. Since there are no stats for speed or accuracy of distribution - a key part of a hooker's game - the stats alone won't tell you who the best hooker in the league was.

I think we've lacked a pack leader, and I'm not sure we've got one now. We do have some size and impact at last, which is going to help. I'm not as downbeat about our props as some are - I think we're better off than last season overall. Although a lot is going to depend on how our youngsters develop.

IMO, Westwood is much better than any backrower that we currently have.

As far as stats go, I understand them but I really don't give them that much importance. I would much rather watch the game and make up my own mind based on my criteria of what makes a good or bad player.