Okay, so with the majority of the squad nailed down it is rumoured that another 3 will complete the squad and will be announced in the coming weeks. A centre is a must IMO and Chris Dean has been mentioned on numerous occasions and would fit in well in a fast back line. Another position to be filled IMO is another second rower/Loose forward. This would enable some considerable impact from the bench for someone like Varkulis. Lets hope although a little doubtful that Jon Clarke can find his way in at Loose Forward. The last position to be covered is a a utility back, someone who can cover the centre and wing and even full back if needed. Perhaps Lomax from Saints.



Based on the above if it were to come off or we could get players similar would give us a great balance of a squad and massively improved on last year.



[uFull Back[/u

James Ford
Scott Yates

[uWing[/u

Paddy Flynn
Dean Gaskell
Matt Gardner

[uCentre[/u

Toa Kohe Love
Chris Dean
Jonnie Lomax
Dean Thompson

[uStand off[/u

Anthony Thackeray

[uScrum Half[/u

James Webster
Danny Hulme

[uProp[/u

Steve Pickersgill
Gareth Haggerty
Jim Gannon
Ben Kavanagh
Dave Houghton
Anthony Mullally

[uHooker[/u

Mark Smith
Thomas Coyle

[uSecond Row[/u

Dave Allen
Lee Doran
Richard Varkulis
Shayne Grady
Matt Strong

[uLoose Forward[/u

Jon Clarke
Chris Gerrard



There are other rumours of Kevin Penny coming back so perhaps that would enable Gardner to play centre?


Thoughts?

Yea I think if add Clark permanent... then Dean, Penny & Lomax dual reg the squad will be spot on!

As you say and loose only slight weak spots now, Penny puts Gardner at plus you have Dean, Varks & Grady who can all play / 2nd row!

I agree mate.Strong squad who can beat anyone in this league even the big headed fax fans who some have us below top 6.

Yeh I'm sure can also beat your squad SB, tad hypocritical ain't you?

There's a shock, TA Boy's thrown his rattle out of his pram again. Closest league yet in my book and I can't even start to think of league table positions.

i know i'll probably get shot down, but i really think we need another prop/second row forward
last year was were we seemed to be beaten most through the middle and having 2 academy lads out of the 5 props worry's me a little as they're not always consistent enough to warrant a first team place.

you really do have a grudge against fax dont you.

you have a very good squad. it looks good, it will defonatley be competitive at the top.

i put you to finish 3rd. everyone has a different view. it wouldnt suprose me at all if some of the fax fans that put you to finish below 6th just to rile you up. stop taking the bate mate.

IMO if there is a weakness it would be in the centres. We all know how good TKL can be, but he's bound to miss the odd game if not more. Varkulis looked far better in the forwards this year and when he did play in the centres, IMO he didn't make much impact.

Dean Thompson could turn out to be a great player, but he is completely unproven so it would be great if we could get someone like Dean.

Looking at that squad that is the weakest backline you've had in years. I take it your going try to bash it up the middle this season?

1 - Ford
2 - Gaskell
3 - Gardner
4 - Kohe
5 - Flynn

Not amazing but i'd say good enough for this league, Gardner scored hat load playing for Salford the other year!

Wing wise we have the best we have had in years with the expception of Blanch who was class. Ford at Full Back has pace to burn and will cause teams trouble. Centre is a position in which we need to strengthen and we will do, TKL is still one of the best in this division.

alond with mr Jon Goddard of cause

Damn those big headed fax fans and their country miles.

Toa was past it at Leyth, you admitted as much yourself. Always going to get 100% from Deano, but he's hardly going to rip up the record books. Flynn I will give the benefit of the doubt, despite Chris Hill catching him on Good Friday, though I will concede that Gardner will be a revelation at this level.

Your strongest area is certainly in the halves, though one must question what will happen if Thackeray and/or Webster get injured.

Come off it! Gaskell is a decent kick returner but doesn't offer anything else. Flynn has a good turn of speed but is still learning the game and Cullen keeps droppng him at the turn of a hat if he can get hold of a loan signing for a couple of weeks. kohe-Love is good in the 5 or 6 games a season he plays but is as slow as a cart horse. Matt Gardner what can I say about him??? Well he has had three clubs in three years and none of them have extended the deal. A lot of Widnes fans refer to Ben Blacks "bombed try". What about Gardners "bombed try" for Salford in the Grand Final against Celtic!! FFS! You have released Dodd, but Dodd is Steve Hampson under the high bomb compared to Gardner. Wake up and smell the coffee Cullen is going for smash and grab rugby this season, I hope the off-licence outside the ground has put in bumper orders for Swan Vistas for next season, because the Chemic fans will need them to prop their eye-lids open!

Thomas Coyle?

Up until last season due mainly to injuries Gaskell has been the best winger in there division and virtually always beats the first man... I mean though Rob Worrincy is safe as houses of course!

There will be no predictable inside passes that allow the forwards to get smashed by the opposition?

You'd then be expecting Smith to do 80 minutes, something I'm not sure he's capable of doing these days.


Don't forget we're the ones that have signed Duffy

1) Gaskell scores 20plus tries a season..................er no.
2) Gaskell always defuses the bomb against an opposition winger who is above 5ft 2" tall..........er no.
3) Gaksell will always chase down and catch any line break......................er no.
4) Gaskell will always beat the first man on a kick return...........yeh baby Gaskell is truly the best winger in the division bar none.

Water carrier

Jeez mate your on the bounce tonight aint ya, we dont here a peep all year from the Leythers and bang we get you pair on a posting fest.



If i had the pick of any wingers in the division i would always pick Deano as one of them, his ability to beat a man is second to none. As for Toa Balboa well last year he was great when he played, he had a problem at Leigh with some floating bone behind his knee and still had it last year thus he missed a fair few as his knee flaired up. He had a minor clear out about a month back on this and is now raring to go, still one of the toughest defenders in the division and still has the classy feet near the line. Im glad we have him.

Our pack is easily our stongest point along with the half backs, we have another 3 to arrive yet though in them back positions and it will only boost an already solid squad.

Oh and BTW Duffy as good as he can be is a concusion monster, hopefully Wobbie at 34 can inspire you to greater heights.

That's when our youth system comes into play

Not many sides have more than four top quality hookers / halfs in this league without being weak elsewhere!

Leigh by a coutry kilometer

Not ta you idiot.I keep to myself and i bite your nose off.