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

[sk 88]

However that article saying we had signed him also listed two other names that we'd signed

Exactly, and we aren't usually driven by the papers printing anything. It's not like it's particularly amazing news where we'd want to confirm it to get positive press either e.g. when we signed Pollard to replace Ford.

[sk 88]

One thing I am a little surprised by is that Beets was a solo announcement. We usually like to store up good news & release in a little run. Especially for players who are quite low profile.

Think someone mentioned earlier Tigers announcement seemed to be a reaction to the news coming out in the press. They probably didn't want to announce it at that point but were forced....

Edit: beaten to it.

But they normally don't care, why would they be forced to confirm a 20 year old with no senior experience just because the Telegraph reported it? They also reported the Smith & Perese signings & they've not confirmed either of those!

[TigerFeetSteve]

https://twitter.com/LeicesterTigers/sta ... ee4bw&s=19

Smith confirmed

[Rugbygramps]

Good signing upgrade on existing loose heads him Cronin and Whitcombe strenin depth

[GB72]

One thing I am a little surprised by is that Beets was a solo announcement. We usually like to store up good news & release in a little run. Especially for players who are quite low profile.

Think someone mentioned earlier Tigers announcement seemed to be a reaction to the news coming out in the press. They probably didn't want to announce it at that point but were forced....

Edit: beaten to it.

But they normally don't care, why would they be forced to confirm a 20 year old with no senior experience just because the Telegraph reported it? They also reported the Smith & Perese signings & they've not confirmed either of those!

Perhaps they have been trying to get agreement with the other clubs once the article broke to make a formal statement. They may have done that with one yesterday, another today and perhaps Perese's club does not want an announcement yet.

[sk 88]

TBH looks more like an old fashioned scoop & Tigers trying a slightly different strategy on their announcements of spacing them out now!

[Leicestertinytiger]

Good signing that - old school LH when it comes to scrum time. Him and Cronin are a decent combo.

Miss the popcorn day though when they were all announced together.

[Rugbygramps]

Few highlights of him ball in hand too including him stepping out of a Ben Earl tackle

[markharbtiger]

Now official: https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/ti ... _XSykbZglo

Sweet!

[Postiger2]

Smith is a great pick-up imho, solid signing.

I don't profess to know much about Beets, but it sounds like he has huge potential. Will hopefully be a big player for us in the future.

With that in mind, I'm hoping we might still sign another quality number 8. Losing Jasper is massive, we've been at our best when he's had the ball in his hands, making carries that (respectfully) our other options at 8 just can't / don't do. I still feel we need another quality, specialist 8 there to share the load with, and help bring on Beets.

[longlivethecrumbie]

Perese confirmed by the club

[TigerFeetSteve]

https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/ti ... aia-perese

[Rugbygramps]

Excellent though not unexpected news re Perese.
On Beets personally I would be surprised if we spent cap money on another back rower. If the coaches feel he has the ability then sometimes youth needs to be given its head as Baxter has proved at Exeter.

Slight aside a poster asked for explanations of the initials used. As a starting point I’ve got :

JVP - Jack Van Poortvliet
OHC - Ollie Hassell-Collins
FTT - Finn Theobalds- Thomas
CCS - Chandler Cunningham-South
LRZ - Some welsh bloke who moved to America

[longlivethecrumbie]

Excellent though not unexpected news re Perese.
On Beets personally I would be surprised if we spent cap money on another back rower. If the coaches feel he has the ability then sometimes youth needs to be given its head as Baxter has proved at Exeter.

Slight aside a poster asked for explanations of the initials used. As a starting point I’ve got :

JVP - Jack Van Poortvliet
OHC - Ollie Hassell-Collins
FTT - Finn Theobalds- Thomas
CCS - Chandler Cunningham-South
LRZ - Some welsh bloke who moved to America

YBY - Young Ben Youngs
OTY - Old Tom Youngs

[TigerFeetSteve]

Excellent though not unexpected news re Perese.
On Beets personally I would be surprised if we spent cap money on another back rower. If the coaches feel he has the ability then sometimes youth needs to be given its head as Baxter has proved at Exeter.

Slight aside a poster asked for explanations of the initials used. As a starting point I’ve got :

JVP - Jack Van Poortvliet
OHC - Ollie Hassell-Collins
FTT - Finn Theobalds- Thomas
CCS - Chandler Cunningham-South
LRZ - Some welsh bloke who moved to America

I'll add in

YBY - (not so now) Young Ben Youngs
DK - Dan Kelly