I dunno Kirk for me I’m not convinced he played well for the final that was it for me

Before he stepped up into the first team, big things were expected of Kirk. Trouble is, we hit the wall and he was forced to step up much sooner than he should have been. It would have been better for him to be spelled into the team slowly, with experienced players around him. Didn't work out that way but hopefully he can keep moving forward and improving as a player

It takes time for a prop to mature. He looked great in his last year of 19s but open age in the Championship is a massive step up in that position. Agree with Roofaldo. I don't expect him to really look the part for a year or two.

This is what I mean he may grow into the physicality but for me he isn’t there yet which for me is why we need one more prop

He's a beanpole. Like Kopczak was at that age. When he fills out he will be hard to stop. Kopczak MK2

I definitely think we are ok for props now. Kirk won't let anyone down when called upon. He got a lot more respect from me at Dudley Hill when we played Wigan reserves and he got his nose splattered but still drove the team forward in an Andy Farrellesque way. Just needs to keep getting game time and plenty of breaks between as he is still developing. Our main 5 props are far and away top end championship as a team of props

Was just watching a podcast of an RL journo doing a short program on Widnes's starting 13 as things stand now. Now i know there is a long way to go and recruitment is no where near done yet, but we seem so far ahead of them looking at our squad list. I think our starting 13 would beat the one he put together. They did look a lot stronger when he added the "maybes" such as Gelling, Inu etc but they still didn't appear to have much depth. They have a lot of work to do. Looking at our squad list, we have a quality replacement for every positon. Pre-season starts this week and I'm looking forward to seeing how we'll perform as for the first time in years we have no off-field problems, have a FULL pre-season set by the coach who will be in charge for the season a head, we have kept the core last year squad with some quality additions so its not like a new team needs to gel and they'll qll be together early (apart from those who played internationals) clubs in a good place right now.

No Josh Rickett or Jamal Goodall in the squad number list. Have they left the club?

I thought Milton had left but named in squad numbers.

Rickett was on of group of players who haven't been given number yet. was said they will get a number after their first appearance

Thanks. Seems odd for someone who's played 6 games already for the first team. Must be a bit of a kick in the balls for him, but hopefully has the right effect and motivates him to push for a spot.

Rickett is in the squad. There was a Telegraph and Argus article recently where Kear said at the start of last season they only had Rickett and Ryan as wingers in the squad but now they have Rickett, Ryan, Grant, Hitchcox, Foggin-Johnson and Evans. So I assume he would have been left out of that list if he had left.

He doesn't have a number though and I guess most would think of those with a number as 'being in the squad'. Kear did say that a number younger players would get their chance through the season though and they would get a number when that happened. I strongly suspect Josh is amongst that group.

At the player presentation in the Southbank last Saturday the 31 members of the First team squad were introduced. Kear then brought out 7 players (including Josh) and said that these were the Reserve team squad for 2019. Presumably the side will be padded out with fringe first teamers, academy players and trialists. JK explained that these players would not have squad numbers until they had played a First team game (league or cup) in 2019. He said he'd discussed it with the 7 players and all had bought into it. I don't know if Josh has played first team previously.
Of the other 6 I think 5 are still academy players who haven't yet played first team and one is a new signing.
Anyway, Josh was there on Saturday and is still very much at the club.

Played one league game in 2016, 4 league games in 2017 and then the cup game at Hunslet in 2018.

He's certainly got a fight on to get in the side. You'd assume those that already have squad numbers are at least currently ahead of him in the pecking order, and as has been listed on this thread, there's no shortage of wingers in those numbers. At least the door has been left open for those not given numbers though.

Thanks for clarifying that. I remember him playing pre season but, shamefully, his first team games had passed me by. Agree he's got some stiff competition but hopefully having the regular Reserve team slot will give him some consistency and he can push on.

Scored a very good hat trick against Wigan in the reserves game at Dudley Hill, got potential but theres also Ryan Butterworth in the 19s who looks a very good prospect some of his trys have been remarkable

Absolutely. The lack of anywhere, within the club, for 'fringe' players to put on a 'please pick me' show or even keep up fitness levels has been probably the biggest home made disaster of RL in recent years. Good luck to all these players, it's about time.

Thought he looked good when he came on yesterday did young Rickett. Handled everything that was thrpown at him and returned/carted ball up strongly.

Foreshadowing their 40/20 attempt showed he could read a game too! Looked good!

Seemed a big lad too. Bigger than I can recall.

This list can now be updated with the squad numbers and recent news of GM leaving. thanks again

anyone know what’s happening with Gibson? Can’t believe he didn’t get a game over Easter and we are playing Mini in the centres above him?

Ok, so it looks like the squad for next year will be

1 Brandon Pickersgill
2 David Foggin-Johnston
3 Jake Webster
4
5 Jy Hitchcox
6 Joe Keyes
7 Jordan Lilley
8
9 Thomas Doyle
10 Steve Crossley
11 Connor Farrell
12 Matty Storton
13 Elliot Minchella
14 Evan Hodgson
15 Rowan Milnes
16. Joe Brown

So we're light in the forwards, especially at prop and we need a bit more experience at hooker. We also need some quality for the wing/centres. Certainly a centre on the other side of the field who can match Webster's contributions would be a big plus. Also, as Chalmers has said we're looking to sign 9 players, I'd assume it's this 9 who've played for the team this year but have yet to be announced as leaving

Liam Kirk
Mikey Wood
Ross Peltier
Sam Hallas
George Flanagan
Dalton Grant
George Milton
Ross Oakes
Rhys Evans

They'd help flesh out the side and give us a bit of competition for places. I'd be happier with a couple of new faces coming in, but it seems the RFL's plan to screw over our recruitment for 2020 has paid off for them and beggars can't be choosers and we'll have to make do with what we can get. Hopefully the DR partnership will prove to be a benefit - I'd prefer an established SL side to partner with.

If anyone is able n willing perhaps it's time for a new squad sticky list

Thanks in advance