Hudge did a bit of contract work for Brisbane!

Picking thro the various responses to the Qs I posed, before it was derailed by the usual Rovers v FC squabbling , there appears to be a consensus* that Rovers 2013 squad is weaker, and will struggle to reach the play-offs.

The main concern is the lack of depth in the squad, and in particular the lack of experienced leaders. This last point underlines a concern that perhaps there is too much reliance on youth.

With regards to improvements, most posters have flagged the defence and would (perhaps) see Rovers prospects for next season improved if they were to sign an experienced prop and a full back.

In conclusion, then, this is probably the first time I have felt a wave of negativity from Rovers supporters. Perhaps this is understandable considering the NH/RC-led debate on Rovers future and the selling of two of the clubs prize assets. However, and accepting the strength of argument about the lack of depth in the squad, the spine of the team has been retained which is somewhat overlooked IMO. Also, Rovers replacements for Clinton and Webster are a vast improvement although it remains to be seen if Burns and Paterson will be the impact players CS hopes they will be.

I am actually confident and positive about Rovers 2013 squad.
On paper it doesn’t appear to be skewed to the left, which is a huge positive, and whilst I agree great expectations are being placed on youth, the SL experience they gained last season cannot be discounted (a point I was trying to put across in my response).

Even though I am hopeless at predictions I feel 7/8th is a realistic target, but I would be a lot happier if the squad were bolstered by at least 2 experienced players.

*the consensus is not what one would safely call a representative sample although IMO the ‘respondents’ are of the more learned type compared to others on these threads .

How many have you released/sold and how many coming in?

Just wondering about your depth next year.

Come on now.
You know the answer just as well as I do.
As proved by your next line.
If you were any more transparent you would be made of glass.

Now these have gone, your depth is even thinner. Has Sandy made any noises regarding bringing anyone else in? And who is your back up halves? Fat boy Murrell did before, now he's gone. Hall? Who's your U20s half, are they ready?

We are going to be thin on depth of experience, it's true. We're limited in how many players we can bring in from outside as a good few of the departures came from our club-trained (qualified) contingent. O/T this might become an issue for Hull btw in 2014, if Horne retires and Briscoe goes to the NRL - you'll hope Crooks, Lineham et al kick on, obviously.
Anyway, Withers and Hall will cover the hb positions, I imagine. I notice Hudds are putting Robinson back at 7 and Hull used Heremaia there at the end of the season just gone - a trend I can imagine SL will see more of, given the shortage of halfbacks around. Beharrell (sp?), one of our young halfbacks got some decent reviews iirc - but it is very difficult to extrapolate up to SL, especially at 6/7. Top Championship halfs have come up to super league and made little or no impression - Kyle Briggs, Gareth (?) Moore, Jamie Ellis.
Hopefully (from our POV ) improvements in other areas will mitigate the effects of having a thinner/less experienced squad, but it is bound to be an issue at some point. Unless we've got a couple of medium-large signings up our sleeve, but I doubt it - there's nobody available.

As others have alluded to, our first choice 17-20 isn't too bad. However, it would be pretty naive to think we won't get injuries - so our depth will be tested at some point.
I'd guess the chances (right now) of anyone with any real SL pedigree being available is pretty slim, so I'd hope we aren't just going to make any signings just for the sake of it. Maybe we can look to sign/loan players as and when required during the season, if we don't have the resources available in house. Wigan being an obvious target. This is of course, also the cheapest way to go.

Moving on to more important issues for next season.

Whoever is in charge of Rovers' prematch/half time or any form of entertainment. Pls can the Robinettes be put out to pasture. They're rubbish. The money we have gained from transfers, should be used to target the Wakefield Dolls or some other International Dolls - I believe we should have space on our quota for this.
Secondly, the music the players enter field is and has been jenk for sometime. Emo/Metal or whatever we've had is not a crowd winner in my eyes.
Thirdly, all remaining budget should be put aside for Rufus to learn how to skydive.

I find myself at a crossroads. I see no significant improvement in league position but find myself tingling with anticipation for the first time since we entered superleague.
The team has a youthful look about it, all English back division, two tenacious halves and the prospect of a massive mobile and off loading pack.
The pressures off as FC are the 'team' to watch.
I quietly think we may finally have a buggar them mentality about our team.
Looking forward to a hungry, snapping, come and have a go Rovers team.

I think in a nutshell CS has assembled a far younger, bigger, stronger, faster and more durable set of athletes but there are question marks about how good some of them can be as Rugby League players.

As long as they put in an honest shift in, that's what matters to me mostly.

Far bigger and stronger?
Watts 106kg
Clinton 105kg
Taylor 103 kg
Netherton 104kg
Wheeldon 105kg

Paterson 102 kg
Tuimavave 105kg
Walker 110kg

Webster 100kg
Gleeson 91kg

Green 89kg
Burns 86kg

The wingers look bigger, but to say the squad overall is "far bigger and stronger" could be stretching it. Arguably.

Are they all "far more durable?". Tuimavave for example. In 2009 he suffered a serious injury and did not play until Round 21. In 2010 he tore his achilles in round 10 which ruled him out for the rest of the year. In 2012 injuries and loss of form meant he made only 3 first team appearances. "Since then, Tuimavave has battled a nagging foot injury and been in and out of Newcastle’s NSW Cup side."

Paterson has also had issues, in 2010 he battled an AC injury playing with injections until July, when he had a season-ending shoulder reconstruction. In 2011 he had knee surgery, and later that year, although cleared of serious vertebrae damage, he suffered ligament damage resulting in needing a neck brace. In 2012 he played only 3 matches "due to injuries and indifferent form".

References to perhaps Walker being injured earlier this season, as he was expected to get more first team action.

Younger and faster, fair enough. Apart from Walker, who's a plodder apparently but a like for like with Clinton therefore.

Ah well jobs a good 'un then, you shoukld stroll the derbies. Enjoy, we always did back when we were the top team in the city.

Look, according to Zod you have the competition's best half back pairing plus Hall as one of SL's most gifted players at FB. Gleeson's going to be the comp's best centre, it says in the HDM. Add in this massive and robust pack of yours and a coach who's not made a single error in a year and I think your dominance will be regained. Just challenging a couple of the rather sweeping generalisations by my very good chum, the Zodster.

Mobile and off loading. Did you miss that point?
Hows your halves compare with ours?