LEICESTER TIGERS 2019/20 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACT THREAD PART 3

[Mark62]

Itoje is not a captain. AWJ is the best captain but not necessarily one of the two best 2nd rows.

I would disagree Itoje is very much a captain he just hasn’t been appointed yet.
There was another Lions tour to South Africa where an untried captain was selected, which they won. Can’t quite remember the blokes name though.
To assume a Lions captain has to be his country’s captain is a mistake imo

MJ captained his club before the Lions though. Has Itoje ever captained a side before?

He captained the world champions u20 side he was in

[MurphysLaw]

Getting back on topic - there are a couple of snippets in the latest LTTV interview with Geordan Murphy and Dan Cole.
It's worth a listen - some chat about Holmes and Scott, and a little from Dan on Steve Borthwick.
Also - Archie Vanes and Jack Roundtree will make the next step.
- Geordan has said that there will be more announcement(s) on signings next week.
- He confirmed that there will also be additional coaching added, but was not specific as to when that would be announced.

[Mark62]

Getting back on topic - there are a couple of snippets in the latest LTTV interview with Geordan Murphy and Dan Cole.
It's worth a listen - some chat about Holmes and Scott, and a little from Dan on Steve Borthwick.
Also - Archie Vanes and Jack Roundtree will make the next step.
- Geordan has said that there will be more announcement(s) on signings next week.
- He confirmed that there will also be additional coaching added, but was not specific as to when that would be announced.

Good point about getting back on topic, but all those points have already been mentioned on the previous page

[MurphysLaw]

Ooops! Got blindsided by the AWJ/Itoje chat - Sorry for the repetition!

[kk20gb30]

Zack Henry... oh my holy goat.

I’ve finally got round to watching a few videos of him in action, if he brings half of those skills to the prem we’ve got a hell of a player on our hands.

Literally can’t wait to put this season to bed and crack on with next year.

New coach, good signings and even a new kit supplier! Whats not to get excited about?

Cautiously optimistic about the end of this season (if played out) and next.Would agree too on Henry having potential, but am also very wary of the highlight reel - as we know , it can distort the truth.

[RagingBull]

So who do people think left are to be announced as leavers?
Cortes
Polota-Nau
Clare and/or Stevens
Spencer
Kalamafoni
McPhilips
Thomas
Thompstone

If those go we will need IMO
2 x outside backs
1 x Lock
1 x Back Row (Don't mind the position)
1 x Prop (From the championship maybe)
1 x Hooker (If both go suspect we will keep one or the other)
Would mean 11 In and 11 out.
Hoping it will be the final time Tigers have a biggish transfer movement.

I am slightly concerned about what will happen with Reffell, I don't think he has any interest in leaving currently though, BUT Pivac is clearly putting pressure on welsh qualified players abroad to come back.
I guess play it by ear and who knows Gough might be ready and if not try to target another young 7.

[RagingBull]

2017 signings
Kalamafoni - Scarlet 2020
Joe Ford - Yorkshire 2019
Holmes - Wales 2020
Ryan - Retired 2018
Owen - Falcons 2019
Malouf - Aus 7's 2018
Mapapalangi - Rouen 2019
Baumann - Aspen 2018
May - Gloucester 2020
Polota-Nau - N/A 2020
(stayers Ford, Kerr, Gigena)
13 signings 3 remained longer than 3 years (Assuming Gigena stays)

2018
Spencer - N/A 2020
Thompson - Ealing 2020
Denton - Retired 2019
Voss - Coventry 2019
Feao - Queensland 2019
(Stayers SAR, Eastmond not confirmed Cortes and Stevens)
9 signings potentially 2-4 longer than 2 years

So of the MOC signings
22 signings potentially 5 might be here next season.
22% retain rate.

[Mark62]

So who do people think left are to be announced as leavers?
Cortes
Polota-Nau
Clare and/or Stevens
Spencer
Kalamafoni
McPhilips
Thomas
Thompstone

If those go we will need IMO
2 x outside backs
1 x Lock
1 x Back Row (Don't mind the position)
1 x Prop (From the championship maybe)
1 x Hooker (If both go suspect we will keep one or the other)
Would mean 11 In and 11 out.
Hoping it will be the final time Tigers have a biggish transfer movement.

I am slightly concerned about what will happen with Reffell, I don't think he has any interest in leaving currently though, BUT Pivac is clearly putting pressure on welsh qualified players abroad to come back.
I guess play it by ear and who knows Gough might be ready and if not try to target another young 7.

Viljoen could possibly be added to that list. He is in contact for another year but doesn’t seem to have made any strides forward, as Coley and Geordan said last night the Tigers way doesn’t suit everyone.
Re Reffell, it’s the top 38 the WRU want playing in Wales, and he wouldn’t fall into that bracket yet, so imo a move wouldn’t be advantageous for him at present

[Wayne Richardson Fan Club]

We really should try & get Reffell to sign a long contract, we need to protect our interest, plus he potentially is a world class 7 & possible captain.
As long as I have watched Tigers we have always looked better as a team with a genuine No.7 (excluding the freak Moody/Croft combo)

[JP14]

A lock partnership of Itoje and Ryan would be ideal, I have faith that leaving Wales has broadened Gatland’s horizon enough to at least not have Whinge Jones as captain.

[Leicestertinytiger]

2017 signings
Kalamafoni - Scarlet 2020
Joe Ford - Yorkshire 2019
Holmes - Wales 2020
Ryan - Retired 2018
Owen - Falcons 2019
Malouf - Aus 7's 2018
Mapapalangi - Rouen 2019
Baumann - Aspen 2018
May - Gloucester 2020
Polota-Nau - N/A 2020
(stayers Ford, Kerr, Gigena)
13 signings 3 remained longer than 3 years (Assuming Gigena stays)

2018
Spencer - N/A 2020
Thompson - Ealing 2020
Denton - Retired 2019
Voss - Coventry 2019
Feao - Queensland 2019
(Stayers SAR, Eastmond not confirmed Cortes and Stevens)
9 signings potentially 2-4 longer than 2 years

So of the MOC signings
22 signings potentially 5 might be here next season.
22% retain rate.

Oh wow, that really does put things into perspective, especially over the last few seasons. No one can deny that under Murphy, our recruitment has dramatically improved and he was fighting an uphill battle in trying to right the wrongs from the previous management. Telling that no one had any real faith in the signings or squad that O’Connor had assembled.

For me, for signings to be truly successful they have to have three elements, quality, personality and commitment to the club. Quality is obvious, but for me a player also must have a personality that fits the Tigers way and have a vision of a long term future at the club. Too many players under O’Connor obviously had no real connection to the club or weren’t willing to commit long term to Tigers.

Hence you can’t blame Murphy in bringing back players like Green, whom having proven themselves at other clubs deserve their spot and is a player who I think will shine under Borthwick. McGinty seems very switched on and I think he’ll be able to assemble a very effective but also hopefully committed squad.

[sam16111986]

2017 signings
Kalamafoni - Scarlet 2020
Joe Ford - Yorkshire 2019
Holmes - Wales 2020
Ryan - Retired 2018
Owen - Falcons 2019
Malouf - Aus 7's 2018
Mapapalangi - Rouen 2019
Baumann - Aspen 2018
May - Gloucester 2020
Polota-Nau - N/A 2020
(stayers Ford, Kerr, Gigena)
13 signings 3 remained longer than 3 years (Assuming Gigena stays)

2018
Spencer - N/A 2020
Thompson - Ealing 2020
Denton - Retired 2019
Voss - Coventry 2019
Feao - Queensland 2019
(Stayers SAR, Eastmond not confirmed Cortes and Stevens)
9 signings potentially 2-4 longer than 2 years

So of the MOC signings
22 signings potentially 5 might be here next season.
22% retain rate.

The Ford deal was agreed before MOC joined as I think was Kerr as hadn't be gone to Loughborough Uni?

The MOC period really took a club struggling and made everything worse. An even worse appointment than Loffreda.

If those go we will need IMO
2 x outside backs
1 x Lock
1 x Back Row (Don't mind the position)
1 x Prop (From the championship maybe)
1 x Hooker (If both go suspect we will keep one or the other)
Would mean 11 In and 11 out.
Hoping it will be the final time Tigers have a biggish transfer movement.

I am slightly concerned about what will happen with Reffell.

I think you're right with the required incomings. We could maybe get away with just one outside back of Zach Henry really can play 15 but that would be a risk. If we could get one of the Notts wings (Williams or the other one Spittle?) plus someone a bit more experienced like Lewington that would be ideal.

I'd have thought we'll keep Clare as 4th choice, he stayed fit and was reliable when needed this season. A decent stop gap until Vanes develops sufficiently. Whether we go for another prop might depend on whether Dimen from the development squad is considered ready for covering if not then I agree go shopping in the Championship, Heffernan the Notts and former Leinsterman is supposed to a big and handy tighthead and only 23.

Lock the position where we need to spend cash and as you say backrow is just some experienced coverage.

With Reffell I hope we take a leaf out of Chiefs book and sign him on a rolling contract so as long as both sides are happy he can stay indefinitely and avoid being forced back to Wales.

[Scott1]

AWJ is a very good captain and gets that extra 10% out of Wales but as a player I don't believe hes ever bettered an elite opposite number. You compare that with Itoje who iirc has played Retallick (one of the greatest locks I've ever seen) 4 times with the Lions and England and has got the better of him 4 times. There really is no comparison between the 2!

[sk 88]

So who do people think left are to be announced as leavers?
Cortes
Polota-Nau
Clare and/or Stevens
Spencer
Kalamafoni
McPhilips
Thomas
Thompstone

If those go we will need IMO
2 x outside backs
1 x Lock
1 x Back Row (Don't mind the position)
1 x Prop (From the championship maybe)
1 x Hooker (If both go suspect we will keep one or the other)
Would mean 11 In and 11 out.
Hoping it will be the final time Tigers have a biggish transfer movement.

I am slightly concerned about what will happen with Reffell, I don't think he has any interest in leaving currently though, BUT Pivac is clearly putting pressure on welsh qualified players abroad to come back.
I guess play it by ear and who knows Gough might be ready and if not try to target another young 7.

On props we have:
LH: Genge, Gigena, Bateman
TH: Cole, Leatigaga, Heyes

as proven options, generally we require 8 props for all our games but until now we also generally lose Cole to England every game which I doubt we will next season.

Development options include: Lines, Whitcombe, Dimen and Rowntree jnr. We are looking at bench in Challenge Cup and Prem Cup level use, with maybe an odd Prem game (unless they prove good and demand game time ahead of the others).

If the coaches back the development players for those games I'd be fine with it. If we get a run of injuries we could then dip into the transfer market if needed.

Hookers we often use 5 or 6. Youngs, Mamakashvili, Kerr are three decent but not outstanding options. Clare is a solid option and we are likely to need a 4th hooker. I think for the money you are going to be spending on a 4th choice hooker you are better off keeping a player and building familiarity. Alternatively a "bolter" option would be interesting. The Tongan from the RWC that was an amateur roofing in Christchurch for instance.

[FrontRowUnionMember]

Prop - I think until Gigena’s future is resolved, we’re in limbo a bit. I still hope something could be out to Mulipola for a season or two as Cortes’s replacement, to help provide quality depth whilst Whitcombe & Dimen etc develop. Would give us 7 senior options.

Lock - we need another starter. Many looking more to a lineout specialist. We perhaps need to be mindful of nationality given we have Mamukashvili and Lavanini likely to regular starters. Hopefully room to keep/bring in Batley also, but given we’ve added Henderson and Chessum, how much room do we have to hold development locks. Ideal, try and get Kruis if he hasn’t signed in Japan. Other options, not sure. South Africa seems to be churning out gargantuan locks lately, who’s available over there?

Back Row - I think we’re still a player short there. Whether we retain Coghlan and/or Boladau, or invest some additional salary cap on a higher profile player, suppose it depends on what positions are given preference within the budget. Fearns would be good if available, but may still be looking for decent money. Gorgadze from Bordeaux would be a slightly different option but equally effective, if Bordeaux are looking to move within their overseas limits, but again, budget could dictate. Maybe look at a Pacific Island wrecking ball from a tier two club somewhere. McGinty was rumoured to be quite good at sourcing Fijians when north of the border.

Wing - with our No1, No2 and potentially No3 wingers all leaving, we need to seriously look at this area. Nadolo brings a real level of X-Factor, but we need to add two more. McGinty’s comments around looking to play with one power winger and one pacey, we’re not currently set up for that. One of the two additional outside backs would need to be a power winger. Lewington would be a good pickup, but more of a Holmes alternative, not exactly a Nadolo type. Again, maybe some McGinty Southern Hemisphere knowledge required. Talk of a championship winger as Thompstone’s replacement, wouldn’t be against that, but mindful of the style.

Outside of that, hooker I suspect Clare will stay as a solid No4 hooking option for now until Vanes is ready.

Let’s see what this week brings. From Murphy’s comments about signings this week, suggests more than one, but there aren’t many solid links about, at least not that I’ve seen in the media. Could be some left field additions, or could be Batley/Boladau announced as coming back again. Murphy seems confident about the additions. Equally, the additions this week could be coaching rather than playing.