Leicestertinytiger wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 11:22 am
Yep Saints fans all rated Van Wyk at scrum time. Can’t imagine he’d let the side down with Montoya and Cole beside him in the set piece.
Given our success this season, can’t imagine many incoming players for next season. I could see about four more additions.
- loosehead to replace Genge
- backrower to replace Brink who can cover 6,7,8
- centre to replace Taute/Socino like Gopperth/Hughes
- winger to replace Van Wyk, Radwan would be dream scenario
We may even promote from within for some of those too.
Ilione and Manz for example could be promoted to cover the Brink role with Chessum, Martin, Wells to an extent covering 6/8
Cusick could join someone like Gopperth to replace Taute/&Socino
Then Browning perhaps alongside someone like Radwan to replace KvW with SAR, Olowofela and Simmons also unlikely to be kept.
I'm a big Browning fan but it should be noted he didn't excel with Nottingham earlier this season.
I think the Sevens move could be brilliant for him. He's fast enough to play in the backs in Sevens but is definitely big enough to slot into the forwards there as well. I think that could suit his talents perfectly and help him develop further. If he does well enough I could see Browning sticking with Sevens for a couple of years for a tilt at the 2024 Olympics.
There have been rumours from Nottingham fans for a while that David Williams will rejoin Tigers next season. I'd be very happy with that. He'd keep the squad depth without costing a huge amount, knows the club and performed well when here on loan previously.
Williams remains prolific at Championship level as well. 8 tries in 11 apps this season. Compared to 2 tries from 9 apps for Browning for instance. Strike rate isn't a perfect measure but tends to be a good indication with Championship wingers I think. It certainly worked with Jonah Holmes.
I'm more looking for some of the renewals more than new signings.
In the new signings:
Experienced starting Loosehead for next year or two to help ease pressure on Whitcombe.
no.7/8 to add depth as a squad player rather than starter.
Back to replace K Van Wyk
Used to run around with an 11, 14 or 15 on my back.
ABClub wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:05 pm
I'm a big Browning fan but it should be noted he didn't excel with Nottingham earlier this season.
I think the Sevens move could be brilliant for him. He's fast enough to play in the backs in Sevens but is definitely big enough to slot into the forwards there as well. I think that could suit his talents perfectly and help him develop further. If he does well enough I could see Browning sticking with Sevens for a couple of years for a tilt at the 2024 Olympics.
There have been rumours from Nottingham fans for a while that David Williams will rejoin Tigers next season. I'd be very happy with that. He'd keep the squad depth without costing a huge amount, knows the club and performed well when here on loan previously.
Williams remains prolific at Championship level as well. 8 tries in 11 apps this season. Compared to 2 tries from 9 apps for Browning for instance. Strike rate isn't a perfect measure but tends to be a good indication with Championship wingers I think. It certainly worked with Jonah Holmes.
I wouldn't mind Williams returning as a winger. He's a solid player now (and previously). Browning needs more development time. At 21, it's not ideal, but I don't think it spells the end of his time here.
Renewals wise from the players rumoured out of contract I'm hoping for extensions from:
Leatigaga
Wigglesworth
Scott
Moroni
Kini
If Saumaki was a one year deal I'd definitely hope to keep him as well. There's a lot of raw ability there with his pace and power.
From the rumoured players chatting to Tigers I'd be delighted with any of:
Kruis
Gopperth
Radwan
A LH is vital as well. Goodrick-Clarke could be a shrewd target there.
If Calum Chick is similarly upset with the England payments situation to Radwan then he could be another good EQP target that would slot into the back row options well as a good carrier who could keep up with Sinfield's defensive systems.
Old Hob wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 9:14 pm
Agreed. Not certain about this. Solid player, no doubt, but 38 on a one year contract? I hope it's not Moroni or Kelly or Socino we're losing.
I'd rather it be Socino than Scott
Used to run around with an 11, 14 or 15 on my back.
Old Hob wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 9:14 pm
Agreed. Not certain about this. Solid player, no doubt, but 38 on a one year contract? I hope it's not Moroni or Kelly or Socino we're losing.
I concur, would much rather we put recourses into keeping Moroni and Scott.
Why is it one or the other?
Just due to the fact that both have confirmed to the media that they are out of contact at end of season and we haven’t announced any re-signings yet. Obviously only time will tell though.