I've been looking forward to the confirmation of these two players. The squad is coming together now.

It's interesting what you say about Addy. I do think it's worth considering that it is probably easier to find backrowers than halfbacks, though. Also, after the last couple of seasons a 'lightweight' backrow is is not a concept many Rovers fans will be quick to buy into again, I imagine. With Blair, Clarkson and Lawler already signed up, I think I'd rather see Addy as stand-off/utility, instead of taking one of the remaining backrow spots in the squad. Depending on who else signs, whether Lawler focuses more on developing as a hooker etc.

Blimy mild rover do you work shifts or can you not sleep your post 3.22am

It will be interesting to see how we use Addy. If 2017 is to be used to develop Matty Marsh then Marsh & Addy are not a half back partnership to lead use out of the championship.
I think we will find Addy filling the gap left by Donaldson who seems to be doing is best to find a new club down-under.
We still need an experienced half to dictate the rhythm of the game and complement Marsh's youth and enthusiasm.

I’d say having Addy and Donaldson in your backrow leaves it too light. When both players were with us we got bullied a bit in the pack. That wasn’t just down to them by any means but they’re on the small side.

Of the two I’d say Addy offers more in attack. He makes more ground with ball in hand and can pass and kick. Donaldson’s defence is better than Addy’s. Addy can put in the occasional big hit but he’s also guilty of shoulder grabbing too much and has been a defensive weakness for us at times. Donaldson I remember has a better tackling technique.

Addy should not be played in either halfback position if you have any ambitions of getting promoted. He can pass and kick well but he can also do it badly so can’t be consistent in either of those positions. Wide running second row who can put a man through a gap or as a back up kicker in general play if needed is a better bet.

I've always thought if Donaldson was 6 inches taller and 3 stone heavier he'd be a world beater

So far.....

Staying/new:
Cockayne
Wardill
Salter
Minns
Oakes
Addy
Marsh
Clark
Lunt
Scruton
Clarkson
Blair
Lawler
Jubb
Harris

Confirmed leavers (or from media comments)
Thornley, Kelly, Walker, Green, Campese, Boudebza

Probably going but no word yet:
Sio, Larroyer, Tilse, Greenwood

Unknown:
Mantellato, Dixon, Allgood. Horne, Donaldson, Shaw, Mulhern, Moran, Cator

Thin that's it for now.

Shaw's a decent championship level fullback. Good goalkicker too in case you lose Mantellato.

My sleeping pattern is all over the place!



Moran mentioned as a Rovers player in the Scotland squad on the Rovers website, so I'd guess he's probably staying.

With, I'm guessing, roughly 10 spots left in the squad and 5 non-fed places available, the next few announcements will be very interesting. I wonder if we'll hold an overseas place or two for strengthening mid-season.

Some serious work still to be done, your team will be good enough to finish top 2, but it's way off your side last year, which went down, Salford apart all your competition looks stronger. Hard to do recruitment at this late stage, when you didn't expect to be the championship, time for Sheens and Peacock to start earning their money.

Bit harsh on Sheens to say start earning your money he's only been here 3 days

You would hope he has been working on recruitment since it looked like you might not come up, He was appointed unofficially months ago.

Hard to gauge until the recruitment is confirmed, but I would assume that we will be no-where near cap this year, or at least at the start of it. I envisage that the side that starts the season will likely be very different to the one that contests the 8 (I'm obviously assuming we make the middle 8s).

I have no knowledge of how the salary cap works - and the next part is balls if the cap is pro-rated, but if you can get 4 players on a £200K pa contract that you pay for 3 months rather than 1 on £200K for a full year. You can see how the system can be played come the business end of the season.

Sheens money will be earned in moulding what we have into something that can win the league or make the top 2. Which will likely be a trickier task than I would like.