Can't believe I missed your response at the time Bruce but I didn't include Zeb as he had signed a deal (albeit the work permit issue had come to light).

Chris Buttery now confirmed as not returning for 2009.

Craig Farrell to remove - not now joining for 2009.

Craig Cook to add.

What about Mark Castle ?

Good to see the return of Craig Cooks disco boots..

Still not heard anything re Mark.

Had a go at putting together how the first team might look with the players we currently have and came up with the following ...

1 Lee Mapals
2 Dean Colton
3 Shaun Leaf
4 Andreas Bauer
5 Wayne Reittie
6 Kyle Briggs
7 Josh Weedon
8 Alex Benson
9 Craig Cook
10 Craig Lawton
11 Ross Divorty
12 Ryan Steen
13 Peter Green

14 Michael Haley
15 Nathan Freer
16 Scott Jones
17 Craig Holt

Clearly the Club is still on the lookout for a Scrum Half which in theory would allow Josh Weedon to play 13 with Peter Green (probably) replacing Ryan Steen in the second row leaving Steen, Scott Jones and Craig Holt vying for two spots on the bench.

Food for thought ...

It doesn't look half-bad.

I agree, but until we get one or two more players into the Club, there's little room for manoeuver if we get injuries and not too much competition for the bench.

We need a 25 man squad for me , if we havent big money to spend we will have to stick to the budget. I am sure the budget should cover 25 players who will be pushing for a first team place.

You never know our scouting system may come up with a Gayle,Wood or another Briggs.


We need a scrum half soon .

Yes, top priority a No7.

That team for me looks a lot weaker than last seasons team that just finished 4th in nat league 2. I am really worried about are chances this season and without the addition of another 4-5 players, i really carnt see us winning a game this season.

Cheer up.
Not one game?
Surely not?
I personally think that last season's side would have done OK in NL1.
The standard is not fantastic in NL1.
I am not feeling all gloom and doom in the slightest.
I will wait to see how we play and take it from there.
Why shouldn't we be able to compete?

I think that the team we already have will be more successful than the ''superstars'' we had in the Lakers, for the simple reason that they are here to play, not to get rich at some mug's expense ! Come On You Dons. and thanks to Dave and the team for keeping it real.

I really hope your right but we have lost out 4 best players from last season ( cory,zeb,gale and wood) and not replaced them with anywhere near the same quailty so think we will struggle big time. If you look at teams like widnes,halifax,leigh,whitehaven then batley sheffield,fev,barrow have all strengthen alot then toulouse are the unknown and it leaves us and gateshead so i think at this stage with this squad we look very thredbare and weak in key areas.

I can confirm that Castle has signed for next year,