i know there is another friendly being announced on Tuesday as Carl Stated on the latest in the dug out but an added bonus of a new signing would be good too

The current squad for 2015 looks stronger and more robust than last season but there still appear to be a few gaps that need filling.

We were sometimes exposed as being low on numbers in the prop department last season. With Mark Castle leaving, we look even more vulnerable now. Craig Robinson and Steve Snitch can cover but I'd like to see two more props added or else injuries to the front-rowers could be costly - as we found out when missing Brett Waller last season.

Mike Emmett and Kyle Kesick are the only two recognised proven hookers. Do we need more cover there or has PC got something in mind, such as converting a present player to that role?

Has Tom Carr been signed to play at full-back? If so does Dave Scott revert to the wing? If Dave Scott stays at full-back, where does Tom Carr slot in?

Do we have a specialist loose forward?

Could PC play in that position freeing up a slot for a more pacey half-back, or do we need PC to stay in the halves to control things? Do we need another experienced half-back with Scott Spaven not having re-signed, especially as he was our hooker cover too?

I'm sure PC has all of this covered and more but I'll especially feel better when we get the props problem sorted. I strongly believe that you win matches by controlling the forward battle, creating a platform for the backs to build on.

How does everyone feel about the squad to date?

Props - Agreed another couple required yet ... I personally wouldn't use Steve Snitch there, I see him as loose forward unless Paul Cooke elects to play there.

Hooker - The other cover there is Rich Wilkinson but at the moment it does look like he and PC would have to be the starting half backs.

Full Back / Winger - I would expect Tom Carr to play at Full Back and Dave Scott revert to the Wing but it looks like both players could be used in either role (something to explore in the pre-season games).

We have a crop of players at the Club who are currently unknown by us but the pre-season games might show one or two of these are more than ready. Brad Foster for example is one I'm looking forward to seeing turn out for the Dons.

like most of the postings on this subject Im also concerned at the lack of BIG props in our squad (I have have just looked at Hunslets website they have some big lads including Mark Castle who can be a beast at times) whats happened to the giant of a signing that will make Pas Dunn look like Ronnie Corbett,?. I think we are ok for hookers (no such thing as hookers anymore anyway ,, in either code.) think the back line will be very good to watch next season players will have to be on good form to get in the team. Cant wait for the friendlies, hope the weather does,nt spoil it for us. Has anyone got a full(up to date) list of all the players signed up now to put on here. Cant wait for next year COYDs.

dons Wikipedia is up to date with 2015 squad

See 'sticky' thread Doncaster 2015 squad.

I keep reading in Dons emanating reports that we have a big squad (unfortunately not size, but numbers) ...25 is a big squad???
At the risk of someone coming on and saying this is one or two more than normal, am I missing something?

I've been thinking this for weeks, unless for some inane reason we have a clutch of signings we haven't announced we have a small squad, so why do we keep hearing 'big squad' and that we have 'recruited well' but as of yet I don't see it. As has been said before we recruit some big props and a hooker or two and I'll start to believe it.

Particularly when you factor in how a sizable chunk of the squad are youngsters that need a lot of work.
Still Wilko was a real find amongst last year's youngsters.
So there may be one or two to be discovered.

Can't help thinking they are going to take a battering in the process.

As the squad stands at the moment, we've lost three players who featured regularly in the first team (Tom Hodson, Mark Castle, and Scott Spaven), along with Ryan Wilson who played some of the time.

In effect, we've swapped Liam Cunningham for Danny Cowling, and Dave Scott will probably cover Tom Hodson's place on the wing, with Tom Carr playing at full-back.

As S/O pointed out, the youngsters will take some developing. If a couple are of the quality of Richard Wilkinson, then that will be great, but I think our concerns are that whilst we have slightly larger numbers to start the season with than last season, we have fewer players who are proven at this level, and I believe the quality of our league will be considerably higher than last season, which will make the challenge an even greater one.

We don't know if there's going to be any dual reg with Hull but I'm sure we'd all like us to be self-sufficient if possible.

I strongly believe we need to sign three or four more players with experience, especially some additions in the prop department. Even if we stay injury free with the squad we've got now, it doesn't have the feel of being the finished article. If we lost a prop to injury, as happened to Brett Waller last season, we'd be even more exposed.

I would prefer to see Waterman back at centre with his size and power and playing 80 mins.
He troubled teams when he was on last season but never on long enough.
And get a specialist experienced second row in.

Don't know about the rest of you but the longer we go with no news of a couple of good front row signings the more I worry about next season, as in previous postings we may be up on numbers compared to last season but the lack of size and quality up front is not good. When you look at the teams in our league next year realistically l cannot see us being any higher than 7th maybe 8th. Not trying to put a downer on things Im still very excited about the new season but will the youngsters ( nearly all backs) be able to compete at that level, Anyway keep smiling and COYDs..

Featherstone seem to have struck a deal with Leeds Rhinos that appears to be better than the dual reg as we know it.

I wonder what arrangements we'll have with Hull?

[urlhttp://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/sport/featherstone-rovers/featherstone-sign-four-rhinos-players-1-6967697[/url

I would guess that with the fans' forum coming up, we won't get to hear of any new signings until then.

Hopefully, they may have a couple of players lined up to be revealed on the night.

If they have, I hope they make an announcement about it soon in order to boost attendance numbers on the night.

I've been taking a closer look at the Hull squad to see who might be on Paul Coooke's wanted list.

Firstly, here's a bit of background with regards to rules and regulations:

Only 25 Super League players can be registered to play for a Super League team at any one time. (Rule B.1:icon_cool.gif. Providing medical evidence is provided a player from outside the 25 can be drafted in. (B.1:13).

The rules are slightly different for our league but a 25 man list had to be submitted to the RFL for shirt number purposes but any player on the "training list" is eligible to play. (B.1:11)

There's a maximum of of five dual reg or loan players allowed in any match day 17. Players from Under 17 or Under 18 squads can't be Dual Registered (C.12:23). A Dual Reg agreement may be rescinded at any time.

Hull have already allocated provisional squad numbers to their players. Perhaps we can assume the 1 to 17 are the intended starting line up and won't be coming our way. Of the rest who may be the candidates?

Props: (icon_cool.gif Mickey Paea age 28; (10) Liam Watts age 24; (14) Iafeta Paleaasina age 22; (15) Chris Greed age 24; (22) Josh Bowden age 22; (30) Bobby Tyson-Wilson age 20.

The most likely DR candidate from the group would be[i[u Bobby Tyson-Wilson.[/u[/i He's an England Academy international.

Hookers: (9) Danny Houghton age 26; (23) James Cunningham age 20.

Hull look a bit light in the hooking department. Unless they sign another hooker, as much as I would like it to happen, it's hard to see James Cunningham coming to us.

Second Row/Loose: (11) Gareth Ellis age 33; (12) Mark Minichello age 30; (13) Joe Westerman age 25; (17) Dean Hadley age 22; (16) Jordon Rankin age 23; (21) Richard Whiting age 29; (25) Jansin Turgut age 18; (26) Jack Downs age 19; (2icon_cool.gif Brad Fash age 18.

They seem well-catered for in this area. The three young lads look as though their first team chances could be limited. I don't know anything about the last two lads but[i[u Jansin Turgut[/u[/i could be a good addition for us.

Half-Backs: (6) Leon Price age 33; (7) Marc Sneyd age 23; (17) Jordon Thompson age 23; (29) Harry Tyler-Wilson age 17; (32) Jordon Thompson age 23; (32) Jordon Rankin age 22.

[i[uHarry Tyler-Wilson[/u[/i is thought to be a star of the future. Again first team opportunities could limited. He could do with some game time against the grown ups before playing Super League. I'd guess Hull might be keen for him to come to us. Could we manage with two youngsters (Rich Wilkinson) and HTW playing in the halves? PC shifting to play at 13 in a more central role to guide both of them?

Centres: (3) Setaimata Sa age 27; (4) Kirk Yeaman age 31; (19) Steve Michaels age 27; (24) Jack Logan age 19; (32) Jordon Rankin age 22.

The only candidate for a visit to the Keepmoat could be the young lad [u[iJack Logan[/i[/u. Don't know much about him.

Wing: (2) Tom Lineham age 22; (5) Fetuli Talanoa age 27; (31) Callum Lancaster age 18.

[i[uCallum Lancaster[/u[/i scored a hat-trick of tries against Warrington last season. Unless the main wingers get injured he could be in need of some game time and experience. He'd be an excellent Dual Reg player for us.

Full-Back: (1) Jamie Shaul age 22; (20) Curtis Naughton age 19; (32) Jordon Rankin age 22

I'm not sure we have a vacancy at full-back with Tom Carr coming and Dave Scott as cover.

Hull look to have plenty of cover in the back row but we have plenty of players ourselves for those positions.

=#0000BFThe most likely candidates for Dual Reg appear to be:

=#FF0000Prop: Bobby Tyson-Wilson: =#FF0000Back Row: Jansin Turgut: =#FF0000Half Back: Harry Tyson-Wilson: =#FF0000Wing: Callum Lancaster.

These lads could offer some potential pace and class to our squad.

What do the Hull FC fans think? Who would you like to see get some first team experience at the Dons?

Excellent post fella

Thanks Jemmo!

As Jemmo says , good post that mate!


The list you have there for the most likely candidates for DR are realistic but they are more young inexperienced lads to go with our young inexperienced lads. This makes me think that any signings we do make from now on have to be players who have been around the block and have plenty of seasons under their belt.

Also if Iafeta Paleaasina is 22 then im a chinaman! He was playing for the Pies years ago when he was a fat lad!

I agree, we don't need more young lads at all.
The Hull players that came and changed games for us last term were the established ones like Crooks and Whiting.
Once we lost them we were pants, as the play-offs showed.

Well spotted Karlos.

Paleaasina was born on 10th February 1983 - which makes him 31.

I'd actually typed his age as Josh Bowden's squad number. I'd got them next to each other on my piece of paper as I made my notes and got them mixed up!

In Carl's latest "In The Dugout" interview, he's hinted that there may be some new players for us to meet at the fans' forum:

[urlhttp://www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/article/41301/in-the-dugout-with-carl[/url

Whilst I think Lancaster is probably the most likely, I agree that, with all the youngsters the Dons have signed, it would seem a backward step to give Hulls youngsters game time over our own. Would actually prefer it if we stood on our own, but may be tied to some agreement to play Hull players.

i think we should keep away from D/R
just causes trouble we don't need. We've got plenty of young players to bring on ourselves.

As well as the announcement during the week that Club Doncaster will be starting a rugby academy next year, with the aim of running it alongside the Dons..

Four Hull lads in the England Academy squad:

[urlhttp://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-FC-lads-England-Academy-squad-face-Australia/story-24984077-detail/story.html[/url