What happened to this Schofield ?

Schofield is in the under 19s

What a fantastic squad
We really couldn't as for much more

Bring on 2018

Agree it really is. Just having those extra bits of quality added like Randall, who looked from what we saw looks like he's going be an excellent signing and takes the pressure off Wood. Plus another monster front rower in Pauli Pauli to add even more x-factor, size and power to what was already a big pack. Plus also Horo and Baldwinson to add even more depth is truly exciting. Hopefully, we have a little bit more luck with injuries, (although we didn't do too bad)and have Johnstone and Miller for the whole season. Although we now have good back up just about everywhere.

That squad looks good.

lots of back ups for injuries.

sio took a quota spot so do we still have one available?

No.

We don’t have any budget left either

Looking at that squad..... Who the hell do you leave out of the 17??? Best of luck to CC/JK making that weekly decision until injuries kick in.

Always comes as a shock to people doesn't it.

I think this demonstrates our limitations as a club and why the stadium issue is such a drag.

We are probably one or two player off the perfect squad but it's two too many. I suspect to even. E where we are now certain people will have had to empty there pockets of loose change.

That squad is a frickin miracle. Whether it will work who knows but I defy any club to do better on a similar budget.

The real hope this season is that should we get a real bad injury crisis those new youngsters might just be good enough to plug the odd gap. It's been many decades since we could say that.

It's a good team on paper and if we start with what we have I'm happy.

That is a great squad.
My main sele
Ction dilemma is Johnstone. Clearly top quality but his replacement last year did an outstanding job.
It'll be interesting to see how that works out.

Certainly is competition that's for sure.

Would maybe pretty much keep most of it as it was, probably bringing TJ back in place of MCG and Rendell starting, moving Wood to bench, with Horo taking up the last interchange place.

Not sure about Pauli yet as we don't know what his match fitness us like just yet.

One thing I would be tempted to do following their involvement in the World Cup would be to rest Finn and Grix on Boxing Day. Could get an early chance to see what Ackroyd is like.

I know that "the 1st name on the team sheet" is a bit of a cliché but who would it be?

As good as his cover was last season, it still would be Tom Johnstone for me.

Ashurst for me, perhaps Arona, maybe Finn, could be Tupou, might be Miller ..... Fifita .... Randell ... etc etc




What a good situation to be in!

Hmmm, strange having number 25 spare though, why didn't we initially move everyone from 26 down up a number?

Because I love seeing people coming up with conspiracy theories.....

I prefer to call it "urban myths" rolls off the tongue don't you think?

Troll

There is no dilemma imo the other two are good wingers, Johnstone was and I assume still is a brilliant winger, near world class imo.

The only competition is between the other two unless, Tom has had a personality transplant or his injury has failed to mend - neither appear likely.

So you are picking on reputation then?

You have 4 wingers if you include Tupou who have done a great job on the wing. All have had try of the round awards.
It's a nice dilemma to have.

Yes it is a nice dilemma
Never before in my long association with the club have we had so many 'true' wingers on the books.
It's very difficult comparing many of todays players with the great side of the 60's because it was a very different game then - the forwards for instance have a different role today BUT the wingers we have today would fit very nicely into those great teams of the past.....I hope they return!

No I'm picking on ability, nobody has any real form at the start of a new season.

Strong squad the worry for me is halfback and the lack of cover

Yes it's the one area where we haven't an established replacement like last year with Williams. But Wood can cover SH and Randall can cover SO and we have a young lad coming through Ackroyd as well. So we'd have to go with an 80 minute Hooker if anything happened to the halves.

If you look at other SL clubs they have no more genuine cover than us. Finn, Miller, Wood, Randell, Ackroyd and even Grix at a pinch can all play in the halves. I don't think many clubs have more pivot players than that tbh.

Like I said it would be nice but it isn't that worrying, especially as I forgot Grix can play in the Halves as well.



On the whole, when I look through the squad, I can't think of a time in my years of watching where we have as many places covered tbh. The pack is a monster with options in the front row, back row we have plenty, similarly the s, Wing & FB the same. I think the Club must have done some right wheeler dealing to get as much as we have.