Lol, no. There's more to this story. I'm sure it will all come out in the wash.

I've said it before but I'm firmly in the new regime clean slate camp.

My particular tuppence on Hughes is that he's a young guy that arrived at 23, having been previously loaned out by his parent club. He joined at a time when there was some bad dressing room juju, and things weren't all that great behind the scenes.

While elder players like Sims and Gidley can come into that environment and deal with it, you can't expect Hughes to do the same.

Couple that with practically the whole team being a stinking letdown last year, Hughes was obviously playing with zero confidence.

I'm excited to see how players like him, Lineham, Russel, Brown (yes not the future but still far better than he let on last season) and even Clark go under this new era, as these were all players signed during the latter embers of the Smith era, when things were never quite all there with us. Clark particularly, as we signed him at the beginning of our transition/slide, as the most exciting young British hooker, reigning MOS, and named in the 4 nations team of the tournament. That is unfortunately his pinnacle as things stand.

FINALLY been announced by the club. Not sure why they claimed he was staying when he gained a release weeks ago ? Maybe they now have a successor lined up ?

Maybe its to free up some cap space!

Doubt it’ll free up cap space as wasn’t he on a very low initial wage like the promoted academy lot? At least he gets himself a proper deal in his home country. No big loss, had potential but we can do better as well.

I am losing track of who is signed up and who has left but by my reckoning we have a pool of 24/25 players (excluding Pomeroy, Moran, Prell ). Three of those are fringe players (Johnson, Livett, Smith) so for me we are very light on numbers, particularly when you look at the injury lists we have been sustaining in recent years. A quick scan of 2017 looks to show around 7-9 injured players per week.

We need several more signings.

I don’t think Hughes will be getting a look-in unless he drastically improves out of nowhere.

Where does Harvey fit in?

You can't believe the newspapers.

He tried hard but was hampered by not a lot of pace or size. Wish him well, I won't lose any sleep.

His "undroppable" status may well be tested under Price.

Loose forward would be a good option for me.

Does anyone know where RD has gone ? He seems to have gone missing.

Stefan Ratchford
Tom Lineham
Ryan Atkins
Matty Russell
Kevin Brown
Chris Hill (c)
Daryl Clark
Ben Currie
Jack Hughes
Mike Cooper
George King
Dominic Crosby
Toby King
Declan Patton
Joe Philbin
Morgan Smith
Harvey Livett
Ben Westwood
Sitaleki Akauola
Bryson Goodwin
Tyrone Roberts
Ben Murdoch-Masila
Mitch Brown

Think that's everyone. 23 I make it.

Jack Johnson, Taylor Prell and Pat Moran I assume will still be here given they were contracted to 2018 / 2019 and I haven't heard about them leaving.

I make it 26 players, with discussions around a new hooker, and presumably Jullien's back row spot which would take us up to 28, which I think fits in with an interview Price did when he came over?

So in terms of squad cover:

Full Back: Mitch Brown / Johnson
Wing: Brown / Prell / Johnson
Centre: T King / Brown / Livett
Halves: Patton / Livett / Smith
Prop: Westwood / Philbin / G King / Moran
Back Row: Westwood / Livett / G King
Hooker: ???? / Smith

Livett & Brown seem to feature in that list quite a lot, which is worrying if we pick up injuries to either.

From the new salary cap rules any player under 21 and outside the clubs top 25 earning players isn't counted on the cap - I'd like to see us invest here in some good 18 - 20 year olds to provide cover and to play in the reserves - If indeed we have one next year...

Anyone in the youth teams ready to do a Livett and step up this year?

4 players from the academy are doing pre season with the first team, maybe a couple might stand out to cover first team injuries or reserves?

No idea what his position is really, does he have a preference?

I think he'd suit a bench place this year?

He could give BMM a rest and take a spot in the back row, but also be able to cover pretty much any position bar prop to a decent standard.

Hill
Clark
Cooper
Currie
Hughes
BMM

New Hooker / Smith
Sita
Crosby
Livett

Harvey is a bit of a conundrum when it comes to position. You would think he was a natural loose, and the U19 coaching staff have tried him there, but it wasn't a great success. Perhaps a year on and a bit more experience under his belt would allow him to make the transition. In the meantime he is a strong player, difficult to stop near the line, hard in the tackle and with good handling so yes, he could probably fill in for a number of positions. Plus he can kick goals and is as cool as a cucumber under pressure.

I am not convinced of Moran or Johnson I am afraid, and Prell is still just a vague possibility as we have not heard or seen of him for quite some time.

The academy lads that are doing pre season are 2x back row 1x hooker 1x wing/full back, I say give them a chance because one thing is for sure, they will give 110%

It may not be possible for Price to completely reverse the lack of playing quality he inherited in one close season. The decline took a few years, so will the recovery.

Livett reminds me of grix. I think he'll be quality wherever you put him. He would be in my 17 every single week if fit.

Shush.

Don`t tempt fate.

Quote ="Paul2812"Does anyone know where RD has gone ? He seems to have gone missing. '" https://www.aol.com/article/2016/07/25/ ... /21438643/

Quote ="Paul2812"Does anyone know where RD has gone ? He seems to have gone missing. '" https://www.aol.com/article/2016/07/25/ ... /21438643/

I would have like to have seen him given an extended run at Centre. He’s certainly got the speed at the moment, maybe not in a few years.

There is nothing new on Jules. It was said many weeks ago he was to join Catalans.