Nick Scruton?

Fielden is a risk either way. Even on a pay per play contract it protects us losing money if he is injured but we'll still be a front line prop down if he is injured.
If you get someone to cover him and he does play you end up paying twice.

He is a big risk as he has no form on the board since coming back. But I'd be tempted....maybe....
Depends who else is around.

Heard that Ewan Dowes is back from Australia & is looking for a new club and could come cheap. Is he worth a punt? He's big enough and has the experience.

Think there was a bit of a fallout last time round we considered signing him?



Also in the news - 'Bradford Bulls’ fans have called for clarity after the Rugby Football League revealed it has made no decision about what it will do with the slice of £1.2 million cash the club’s new owners sacrificed in return for Super League status.'...... I'd have thought they probably can't afford some of the big signings they currently haveout of contract or can't offer long term deals for them. This may present us with an opportunity to take on one of their 'big' players?

I would be happy if we were to look in bulls direction for the right signing.

The centre (lualua?) and Manukafoa of most interest.

Think the above two could certainly add to the team.

"Ewan Dowes ‏@EwanDowes
Well the day has arrived, time to head back to the motherland. Gutted to be leaving, made some awesome friends. Hopefully get back one day.x "

Anyone take him at Wakey?

What does it have to do with them?

I know they've been through the mill up there, but there seems to have developed a rather unseemly culture of entitlement...

Would be suprised if we signed Dowes as he put himself in shop window last time and Agar didn't seem keen.

Do we need to sign a first choice prop, or just a backup prop?

Oliver Wilkes - 6ft 2" & 16st 12lb
Andy Raleigh - 6ft 2" & 16st 7lb
Kyle Amor - 6ft 2" & 16st 5lb
Matt James - 6ft 2 & 16st 4lb
(Taken from wikipedia)
Now the props we have at the moment are more than capiable of doing the job, they all have experience in SL and not exactly small.

And all British if you wanted to look at it that way.

Midgets

Indeed.

Never got all this we have a small pack short of numbers stuff. Seems to be an obsession with some Trinity fans who seem to think every position can be covered by 10 first class players.

If I had and issue it's that we don't have an obvious big lad at prop in the youth set up who may be worth a few run outs this season. That for me is the real issue - there should be a player at the club now who is roughly where Amor or Johnson were two seasons ago - that's where your depth comes from.

Like most Wakefield fans I listen carefully to the coach who is doing a good job. It has come from Agar himself on more than one occasion that he wants another big prop giving real punch up the middle of the park. We were getting easily rolled down the field in the earlier part of the season & out muscled in the middle although our recent run of form showed we held our own.

Yes we have some decent props but no one can deny someone like Manuakafoa at 6 foot 5 inches tall and 18 stone would not add to the quality, size and strength of the Wakefield pack. I hope he signs for us on a 3 year deal.

I think even in the recent run of form, teams were getting too far done the middle.
I think our scrambling defense was good and we tightened up at points in the game but a Stosic type tackler and runner would do for me.

With Aiton back that middle order will obviously tighten up even more.

I would definately say we needed a bit more punch up the middle. It was something we lacked last year, mainly when Raleigh and Amor were off the field. To the point where at the end, during the good run, RA appeared to be trying to make sure one of them was on the field at all times.

Is Matt James signed on for this year?? Thought he only got a 1 year deal??

I thought Kear had signed James on a 3 year deal?

James signed a two year deal.

Not watched the 20's then?

Wakefield Express says that we have been in talks with Trevor Thurling (as mentioned in another post) and several other possible Australian signings.

Also says we are looking to offload Southern, which I don't think is any surprise, as it wasn't working. Shame as I think he could have been a very good player considering his first few performances.

Was Motu Tony on our quota as well?

Think our quota/non-fed players are Southern, John, Smith, Aiton & Collis. Lauitiiti, Mellars & Tony were all off quota. Agar's quoted as hoping to bring 'two or three' of his overseas targets in. I guess we are trying to shift John as well as I can't see the other three going anywhere unless for some reason Collis is going.

Eric, if you think there is one then tell me - I'll be more than happy to go with you on it.

Personally have not seen one I think is ready but only seen a handful of games, but it is notoriously hard to tell at that age as you know. I am talking out and out prop here rather than a big lad like say Walshaw who I'm lead to believe is a S/R.

Trust me I want it to be the case.

Without wanting to be too pesumptious I would guess he is talking about Tom Lillycrop.
He has done well whenever I've seen him and won a couple of the end-of-season awards for the under-20's I think.

However as we all know it's a big step up to play prop at SL level and whether he is ready for that soon is a big ask.

I wasn't thinking of Tom.

Don't want to rush a young prop in too early- Tom Lilycrop is a great prospect, but we don't want to ruin him by pushing him too early.

Agar seems to be searching quite hard for a new prop, hopefully someone who can improve our pack!

since gledhill left for salford last year he doesn't seem to have featured much for them.

if we are looking for a cheaper / young option as backup to the 4 mentioned then maybe he could be the answer + count as club trained

I did say it was a guess.

If not Tom, then who? Adam Gledhill?