LEICESTER TIGERS 2023/24 - KANGAROO MCKELLER: Do you come from a land down under? (Squad thread pt 2)

[RagingBull]

Actually disagree about TH and our locks, mainly down to two Scots.

Hurd I think is massively underrated and for me is better in the scrum that Heyes. Also think he’s got the potential to be our first choice TH in the future and needs minutes on the pitch.

Agree with comments about Wells. But Henderson will be back next season and has shown he more than good enough to be starting for us.

Lewis Chessum is also a massive prospect and will want minutes too next season. He was alongside CCS with the U20s as two players who looked physically ready for the next level. So we have four locks not including Wells who are good enough for the premiership.

I think Hurd has potential to be that good. But for me TH is like the cornerstone for us.

Henderson is class don't disagree but it's an rough position lock, Martin and Chessum both with England, Henderson prob with Scotland when fit. I just feel we need one more option at lock with that dog in him, like I have said it multiple time but Sale lock signings
JL du Preez
Cobus Wiese
Ernst van Rhyn
That frame of player I just feel would really be handy to have.

Like Lewis Chessum is a great prospect but I feel more confident having some like Martin in terms of power option next to him for a season or two.

[ay2oh]

I thought that there won’t be any clashes with international /premiership matches next season so don’t think we need another lock with Martin, Chessum x2, Henderson, Wells + Hatherall able to play there

[Greenwhiteandred]

We will miss the internationals during the AI’s

[TigerFeetSteve]

We will miss the internationals during the AI’s

That will be when the prem cup group stages are surely?

[sam16111986]

With a development squad stacked with young lock options, three international locks and then a solid clubman in Wells if we are signing another lock then need to show a real point of difference. We don't need just a lock, a 20+ stone monster who won't last the full 80 mins but will provide impact for instance.

Carnduff looks like a real talent and should be pushing into th senior squad as a lock/6 for next season.

[Scott1]

With a development squad stacked with young lock options, three international locks and then a solid clubman in Wells if we are signing another lock then need to show a real point of difference. We don't need just a lock, a 20+ stone monster who won't last the full 80 mins but will provide impact for instance.

Carnduff looks like a real talent and should be pushing into th senior squad as a lock/6 for next season.

Like an Olly Kohn type? Don’t know why he came into my head

[TigerFeetSteve]

If Smith is coming in and Van Wyk is going, where does that leave the Eloff/De Bruin rumours? Are they set to come in as a TH, both have the majority of starts on that side?

[Leicestertinytiger]

Surely if N.Smith signs then we don’t need any more props.

1. Smith, Cronin, Whitcombe
3. Cole, Hurd, Heyes

Then we’ve still got Richardson and Hoyt. If Eloff comes in too then maybe McKellar doesn’t rate Whitcombe as much as some posters on here.

Speaking of Sale type players, Hatherell can cover 4,5,6,8. Surprised he isn’t used in the 19 shirt more given the amount of positions he can cover off the bench. Plus he’s actually impressed in the last couple of games and his physicality is a point of difference.

[RagingBull]

With a development squad stacked with young lock options, three international locks and then a solid clubman in Wells if we are signing another lock then need to show a real point of difference. We don't need just a lock, a 20+ stone monster who won't last the full 80 mins but will provide impact for instance.

Carnduff looks like a real talent and should be pushing into th senior squad as a lock/6 for next season.

Is it that "stacked"?
Lewis Chessum
Finn Carnduff who is mostly a 6.
Thomas looked good in the U20's but really should be looking at the championship next season

great potentials though I will say.
Disagree about being a 20 stone monster I would take anyone of Sale's lock hybrid types.

We will miss the internationals during the AI’s

That will be when the prem cup group stages are surely?

I mean won't England still have rest requirements?
Martin and Chessum are basically nailed on for England.

Also factor in the toll of International rugby.

and this isn't without considering Henderson is coming back from back to back nasty leg injuries.

[RagingBull]

Surely if N.Smith signs then we don’t need any more props.

1. Smith, Cronin, Whitcombe
3. Cole, Hurd, Heyes

Then we’ve still got Richardson and Hoyt. If Eloff comes in too then maybe McKellar doesn’t rate Whitcombe as much as some posters on here.

Speaking of Sale type players, Hatherell can cover 4,5,6,8. Surprised he isn’t used in the 19 shirt more given the amount of positions he can cover off the bench. Plus he’s actually impressed in the last couple of games and his physicality is a point of difference.

Yeah I agree with that I guess though he's currently valued more as back rower more than anything else.
I don't think Richardson we be kept.

[RagingBull]

I think something like would be good
1. Smith, Cronin, Whitcombe, Van Der Filer, Miell, Kingsley-Mellowes
2. Montoya, Dolly, Clare, FTT, Vanes, Clarke,
3. Cole, Heyes, Hurd, Hoyt, Crane, Mountford, Maka
4. Martin, N/A, Wells, Thomas,
5. Chessum, Henderson, Chessum,
6. Hanro, Carnduff, Manz, Williams
7. Reffell, Ilione, Beddall, Perkins, Adediran
8. N/A, Hatherell, Cracknell, Koroiyadi,
9. JVP, Youngs, Whiteley, Edwards, Allen, Dickens
10. Pollard, N/A, Meredith, Threfell
11. OHC, Simmons, Satala
12. Kata, N/A, Woodward, Myall
13. Kelly, Perese, Cusick, Davies
14. N/A, Bassett, Kinder
15. Steward, Shillcock, Brown, Gourlay

I don't know if Junior Kpoku would really be a option but would love to sign him.

[OakhamTiger32]

I think something like would be good
1. Smith, Cronin, Whitcombe, Van Der Filer, Miell, Kingsley-Mellowes
2. Montoya, Dolly, Clare, FTT, Vanes, Clarke,
3. Cole, Heyes, Hurd, Hoyt, Crane, Mountford, Maka
4. Martin, N/A, Wells, Thomas,
5. Chessum, Henderson, Chessum,
6. Hanro, Carnduff, Manz, Williams
7. Reffell, Ilione, Beddall, Perkins, Adediran
8. N/A, Hatherell, Cracknell, Koroiyadi,
9. JVP, Youngs, Whiteley, Edwards, Allen, Dickens
10. Pollard, N/A, Meredith, Threfell
11. OHC, Simmons, Satala
12. Kata, N/A, Woodward, Myall
13. Kelly, Perese, Cusick, Davies
14. N/A, Bassett, Kinder
15. Steward, Shillcock, Brown, Gourlay

I don't know if Junior Kpoku would really be a option but would love to sign him.

Looks tasty to me! Is Cokanasiga off then? Might have missed something but I’d say he would be in the mix too

[ay2oh]

And Rogerson

[TigerFeetSteve]

I think something like would be good
1. Smith, Cronin, Whitcombe, Van Der Filer, Miell, Kingsley-Mellowes
2. Montoya, Dolly, Clare, FTT, Vanes, Clarke,
3. Cole, Heyes, Hurd, Hoyt, Crane, Mountford, Maka
4. Martin, N/A, Wells, Thomas,
5. Chessum, Henderson, Chessum,
6. Hanro, Carnduff, Manz, Williams
7. Reffell, Ilione, Beddall, Perkins, Adediran
8. N/A, Hatherell, Cracknell, Koroiyadi,
9. JVP, Youngs, Whiteley, Edwards, Allen, Dickens
10. Pollard, N/A, Meredith, Threfell
11. OHC, Simmons, Satala
12. Kata, N/A, Woodward, Myall
13. Kelly, Perese, Cusick, Davies
14. N/A, Bassett, Kinder
15. Steward, Shillcock, Brown, Gourlay

I don't know if Junior Kpoku would really be a option but would love to sign him.

I see you have Rogerson off and Cracknell staying, I may have those two the other way round

[TigerFeetSteve]

I think something like would be good
1. Smith, Cronin, Whitcombe, Van Der Filer, Miell, Kingsley-Mellowes
2. Montoya, Dolly, Clare, FTT, Vanes, Clarke,
3. Cole, Heyes, Hurd, Hoyt, Crane, Mountford, Maka
4. Martin, N/A, Wells, Thomas,
5. Chessum, Henderson, Chessum,
6. Hanro, Carnduff, Manz, Williams
7. Reffell, Ilione, Beddall, Perkins, Adediran
8. N/A, Hatherell, Cracknell, Koroiyadi,
9. JVP, Youngs, Whiteley, Edwards, Allen, Dickens
10. Pollard, N/A, Meredith, Threfell
11. OHC, Simmons, Satala
12. Kata, N/A, Woodward, Myall
13. Kelly, Perese, Cusick, Davies
14. N/A, Bassett, Kinder
15. Steward, Shillcock, Brown, Gourlay

I don't know if Junior Kpoku would really be a option but would love to sign him.

Looks tasty to me! Is Cokanasiga off then? Might have missed something but I’d say he would be in the mix too

Pretty sure he's out of contract this season (he may be on a 2+1 deal so the question is has he done enough to get a new deal?)