Baxter and Royce have got quite high up squad numbers. The 25 being left open is quite conspicuous though.
Baxter and Royce have got quite high up squad numbers. The 25 being left open is quite conspicuous though.
Forwards win games. The backs decide by how much.
I think a winger or spine cover would be useful either way.
If we signed a winger, you can move Bennison or Hopoate to 1 and Welsby in the halves if one of the halves went down for example. If we signed spine cover you could use Bennison / Hopoate on the wing rather than moving them to full back to cover any hole left in the halves.
It's good that we're keeping the spot open. We'll see what comes up.
Originally Posted by Despondent Dave
What you need to understand is that "when" Hopoate has played he has shown more skill with a sound defence better than Hurrell, good decision to sign Hurrell but an injury free Hopoate will always be first choice. If we get Dodd, Percival and Hopoate back for most of next season its like effectively signing 3 new players.
I think the point is even without signings we are as strong if not stronger than going into last year. We had a large amount of disruption in the group last season with 10 new faces in the senior squad, and there were still question marks about us potentially missing Fages and Coote (which Welsby and Dodd have well and truly silenced). If (and it’s a big if) we avoid the same luck as we had last year with injuries and suspensions, we should be putting out much stronger teams, and even if we don’t, the majority of the players who are coming in to replace them are the same but with another years experience and training under their belt.
If Grace had been staying, he would miss most of the year anyway and thus would be in the same position, yet up to the cap, so we’re in a stronger position than that.
This is how I see it too. The shirt numbers between Hopoate and Hurrell are irrelevant here. I think if we don’t sign anyone then we start the season with:
Welsby
Makinson
Hurrell
Percival
Hopoate
There’s no way Hurrell gets dropped for that opening game, regardless of what number he has been given.
NEVER WRITE OFF THE SAINTS
How many times did we have our first choice back line out? When Grace was out early on Hopoate was the 1 moved on to the wing because we had no other wing option. When Hopoate has been fit Hurrell hasn’t kept him out the side, because of Hopoates versatility hes played centre, wing and fullback, Hurrell can only play centre and at a push second row.
25 will be tee ritson