League Weekly are reporting that Paul Cooke has a former Wakefield youngster on his radar.

Wonder if PC is considering an experienced player in a player/coach role ?

i know there is another friendly being announced on Tuesday as Carl Stated on the latest in the dug out but an added bonus of a new signing would be good too

The current squad for 2015 looks stronger and more robust than last season but there still appear to be a few gaps that need filling.

We were sometimes exposed as being low on numbers in the prop department last season. With Mark Castle leaving, we look even more vulnerable now. Craig Robinson and Steve Snitch can cover but I'd like to see two more props added or else injuries to the front-rowers could be costly - as we found out when missing Brett Waller last season.

Mike Emmett and Kyle Kesick are the only two recognised proven hookers. Do we need more cover there or has PC got something in mind, such as converting a present player to that role?

Has Tom Carr been signed to play at full-back? If so does Dave Scott revert to the wing? If Dave Scott stays at full-back, where does Tom Carr slot in?

Do we have a specialist loose forward?

Could PC play in that position freeing up a slot for a more pacey half-back, or do we need PC to stay in the halves to control things? Do we need another experienced half-back with Scott Spaven not having re-signed, especially as he was our hooker cover too?

I'm sure PC has all of this covered and more but I'll especially feel better when we get the props problem sorted. I strongly believe that you win matches by controlling the forward battle, creating a platform for the backs to build on.

How does everyone feel about the squad to date?

Props - Agreed another couple required yet ... I personally wouldn't use Steve Snitch there, I see him as loose forward unless Paul Cooke elects to play there.

Hooker - The other cover there is Rich Wilkinson but at the moment it does look like he and PC would have to be the starting half backs.

Full Back / Winger - I would expect Tom Carr to play at Full Back and Dave Scott revert to the Wing but it looks like both players could be used in either role (something to explore in the pre-season games).

We have a crop of players at the Club who are currently unknown by us but the pre-season games might show one or two of these are more than ready. Brad Foster for example is one I'm looking forward to seeing turn out for the Dons.

like most of the postings on this subject Im also concerned at the lack of BIG props in our squad (I have have just looked at Hunslets website they have some big lads including Mark Castle who can be a beast at times) whats happened to the giant of a signing that will make Pas Dunn look like Ronnie Corbett,?. I think we are ok for hookers (no such thing as hookers anymore anyway ,, in either code.) think the back line will be very good to watch next season players will have to be on good form to get in the team. Cant wait for the friendlies, hope the weather does,nt spoil it for us. Has anyone got a full(up to date) list of all the players signed up now to put on here. Cant wait for next year COYDs.

dons Wikipedia is up to date with 2015 squad

See 'sticky' thread Doncaster 2015 squad.

I keep reading in Dons emanating reports that we have a big squad (unfortunately not size, but numbers) ...25 is a big squad???
At the risk of someone coming on and saying this is one or two more than normal, am I missing something?

I've been thinking this for weeks, unless for some inane reason we have a clutch of signings we haven't announced we have a small squad, so why do we keep hearing 'big squad' and that we have 'recruited well' but as of yet I don't see it. As has been said before we recruit some big props and a hooker or two and I'll start to believe it.

Particularly when you factor in how a sizable chunk of the squad are youngsters that need a lot of work.
Still Wilko was a real find amongst last year's youngsters.
So there may be one or two to be discovered.

Can't help thinking they are going to take a battering in the process.

As the squad stands at the moment, we've lost three players who featured regularly in the first team (Tom Hodson, Mark Castle, and Scott Spaven), along with Ryan Wilson who played some of the time.

In effect, we've swapped Liam Cunningham for Danny Cowling, and Dave Scott will probably cover Tom Hodson's place on the wing, with Tom Carr playing at full-back.

As S/O pointed out, the youngsters will take some developing. If a couple are of the quality of Richard Wilkinson, then that will be great, but I think our concerns are that whilst we have slightly larger numbers to start the season with than last season, we have fewer players who are proven at this level, and I believe the quality of our league will be considerably higher than last season, which will make the challenge an even greater one.

We don't know if there's going to be any dual reg with Hull but I'm sure we'd all like us to be self-sufficient if possible.

I strongly believe we need to sign three or four more players with experience, especially some additions in the prop department. Even if we stay injury free with the squad we've got now, it doesn't have the feel of being the finished article. If we lost a prop to injury, as happened to Brett Waller last season, we'd be even more exposed.

I would prefer to see Waterman back at centre with his size and power and playing 80 mins.
He troubled teams when he was on last season but never on long enough.
And get a specialist experienced second row in.

Don't know about the rest of you but the longer we go with no news of a couple of good front row signings the more I worry about next season, as in previous postings we may be up on numbers compared to last season but the lack of size and quality up front is not good. When you look at the teams in our league next year realistically l cannot see us being any higher than 7th maybe 8th. Not trying to put a downer on things Im still very excited about the new season but will the youngsters ( nearly all backs) be able to compete at that level, Anyway keep smiling and COYDs..

Featherstone seem to have struck a deal with Leeds Rhinos that appears to be better than the dual reg as we know it.

I wonder what arrangements we'll have with Hull?

rlhttps://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/sport/featherstone-rovers/featherstone-sign-four-rhinos-players-1-6967697rl