This is what the squad looks like now
The ones in bold are the weak spots for me.
Happy with the players themselves but I'd like a stronger player in that position.
Pomeroy in at centre and Godinet or Moore at 14 would be nice
Also then add Tupou as a back rower, makes the team look a lot stronger

I still think we will be hovering around the bottom 4 but 8th isn't impossible.
I don't think we'll be cut astray like we were this week though.

1 Jordan Tansey
2 Tom Johnstone
3 Ashley Gibson
4 Joe Arundal
5 Bill Tupou
6 Jacob Miller
7 Liam Finn
8 Nick Scruton
9 Michael Sio
10 Scott Anderson
11 Jon Molloy
12 Daniel Kirmond
13 Mickael Simon
14 Stuart Howarth
15 Anthony England
16 Anthony Walker
17 Matty Ashurst
18 Reece Lyne
19 Andy Yates
20 Chris Annakin
21 Max Jowitt
22 Jordan Crowther
23 Sean Morris
24 Ben Shulver
25 Richard Owen
26 Craig Hall
27

Pretty much the same as that was getting smashed every week

Are we to presume Lee Smith won't be staying?

Yes you could say that if the rummors are true then he wont be returning. But rummers where of us signing a tupou and scott duraux and ben pomeroy . most of last seasons dead wood signed on apart from godinet who would of been first

When John Kear took over Tony Smiths side that was getting beaten week in week out back in 2006, how many new players did he bring in?

Pop tarts squad is around 90% of the team that got smashed most weeks. However we know another class player coming in Tupou
so that will add a little bit more class.

However when looking at the squad the area where we are the most weakest and really need more class is the halfbacks. We look shockingly light at half when compared to the rest of SL

Think we have been over this ground in the past, the team JK inherited would wipe the floor with our present bunch

Yes i know. I don't think you quite got the point I was trying to make.

You mean guys like Leo-Latu, Saxton and Evans? Or the sizeable batch he brought in the following season?

That squad needs at least three geniune class additions otherwise make space for another wooden spoon. And no i don't mean Scott Moore, although he would be a better bet than Howarth. The Tupou deal is done i believe which will help BUT i have big concerns about his durability. Going by the official NRL website the guy will be 33 very early on in the season and has played in about half of the games in each of the last two seasons because of various injuries. He's quality but has got plenty of miles on the clock, he will need to stay fit if we are to have much hope of improvement. The squad also needs another halfback. Surely Godinet will be signed.

Still waiting to here a top quality name ,other wise were watching the same team admitted a different coach who I rate but he won't work miracles

Agreed, we seem to be pinning our hopes on Brian Smith getting better performances from the same players.

I live in hope that the big names are being held back to push Christmas season ticket sales if not then I fear we'll be whipping boys again.

On the squad listed so far we can't be anywhere near full cap spend either.

Jordan Tansey ought to be bold.


The squad lacks quality throughout. Smith will have to get them all playing above themselves in the hope the team will be better than the sum of its parts.

Miller and Finn are hardly the most creative halves but as others have said an injury to either and it will be a real toil scoring points.

Pretty much agree with that but could you imagine if we added Rangi Chase into the mix? It becomes a different ball game again. He's available on a free, can't see the top clubs wanting or needing him and could be just the type of signing this club has thrived on in the past.

We have lost
Lee Smith
K Locke
T Smith
Mullally
Riley
Ali
Washbrooke

We have currently replaced them with
England
Shulva
Morris
Finn
Gibson

I have ignored those we have resigned. I may of missed one or two but I believe it to be the current changes from the end of season squad. I will leave it to others to make their own opinions regarding the quality and the B Smith factor on the squad.

We have lost
Lee Smith
K Locke
T Smith
Mullally/D Smith
Riley
Ali
Washbrooke
Collis
Kirke
Paea
McShane

Godinet??

We have currently replaced them with
Sio
England
Shulva
Morris
Finn
Gibson
B Tupou
Howarth

There will be probably Kirke to add to the lost and Sio to add to the gain.
Still looks to be a decent amount in the pot to make 2 or 3 significant signings.

We had Locke for a couple of games.
He was never ours to let go.

He was exactly the same as Toupou, Walker, Smith and Moore the fact he only played a few games makes no difference.

Looking pretty strong now.
I like how we are shaping up.
I'd like another centre though and either Moore or Godinet (or both)



1 Jordan Tansey
2 Tom Johnstone
3 Ashley Gibson
4 Joe Arundal
5 Bill Tupou
6 Jacob Miller
7 Liam Finn
8 Nick Scruton
9 Michael Sio
10 Scott Anderson
11 Jon Molloy
12 Daniel Kirmond
13 Anthony Tupou

14 Stuart Howarth
15 Anthony England
16 Mickael Simon
17 Matty Ashurst

18 Anthony Walker
19 Andy Yates
20 Chris Annakin
21 Max Jowitt
22 Jordan Crowther
23 Sean Morris
24 Ben Shulver
25 Richard Owen
26 Craig Hall
27 Reece Lyne

Pop Tart, I would suggest that on toughness, defense, durability, line breaks, aggression, ability to win the tackle, difficulty to defend against that England, Yates, Walker, Anakin and Shulver are all way ahead of Soft Anderson who on previous performances would not get our match day squad.

You just wouldn't let it lie

Oh no they're not!
Seriously, how can you even include Shulver - he's nowhere near Andesons ability - he may be one day but certainly not now. Oh and Annakin is not a prop.

You can suggest it all you like, but it doesn't make it true.
Whatever Anderson did to upset you must have been really bad.
Whatever it was he wasn't on the pitch at the time, as I was watching all those games.

I'm sensing a Carney-esque situation, involving Scott Anderson and Mrs Bellycouldtackle.