2017 Featherstone Rovers squad.

[jamescolin]

Biblically Jacob had 12 sons. With commitments like that he will be looking for more money then he will have a fair bank. On that basis he will sign for us. Of course that was to do with tribes not bribes. There I go again writing rubbish.

[Blue Pike]

With the early tough fitness programe that Fev run I have no doubt whoever player we get will turn out to be much fitter than he was and JS has a knack of getting the best out of and improving the players he gets.

[haskey]

Nothing would surprise me about Oxy boy?

[painkiller]

Honestly I would not be fussed if we kept him. We fought tooth and nail to keep him last season after he had agreed to sign for Sheffield and he was in tears after one particular game after discussions with our coach and board as it looked like he would have to follow through with that agreement. This season his performances have not warranted the faith that was put in to the decision to try and keep him.

Ive never heard so much ###### in my life he dislikes fev he was in tears he agreed to join sheff sounds like a pubesent teenager who has been dumped by his childhood sweetheart for being imature..if hes reading these quotes from you he must be boiling with embarrasment or maybe hes in tears who knows ...you perhaps ...give him our regards and a cuddle ...tum tum 

[jamescolin]

Perhaps it is all Oxydental.

[The Phantom Horseman]

Might be some good news coming at the fans' forum on Thursday - League Express says they understand we have finalised a deal with Frankie Mariano (must admit I'd assumed this one had fallen through having been rumoured earlier).

 

If that turns out to be true, I'd say it's a gamble but one well worth taking - he clearly has been injury-prone but he's a quality back rower who can break the line, most Cas fans seem to think it's only his injury record rather than his ability that led to his release.

[Monkeymagic22]

Looks like a done deal...

[painkiller]

I hold my hands up i didnt see this coming but i think its worth the risk he proved for scotland he is capable and according to a recent interview he did in RL express  he has something to prove .... oh and also he like fev .....that helps 

[PonteBlue]

Might be some good news coming at the fans' forum on Thursday - League Express says they understand we have finalised a deal with Frankie Mariano (must admit I'd assumed this one had fallen through having been rumoured earlier).

 

If that turns out to be true, I'd say it's a gamble but one well worth taking - he clearly has been injury-prone but he's a quality back rower who can break the line, most Cas fans seem to think it's only his injury record rather than his ability that led to his release.

 

When Powell brought him here a few years ago think he played at centre?

 

Would make an impact in this league out wide.

[Monkeymagic22]

Needs to play second row for me, which presumedly he will be doing, given Sharp is looking for another outside back.

[The Phantom Horseman]

When Powell brought him here a few years ago think he played at centre?

 

Would make an impact in this league out wide.

We were really struggling for centres that year though, even more than we seem to do most years. Smeaton was still out and we alternated Hardo & Jonny Hepworth between centre and full back for the first part of the season, and at one stage away to Doncaster I think we had both Bostock and Lamont Bryan filling in at centre.

 

Mariano's really a 2nd row but I suppose an added advantage if we do sign him is that he could provide cover at centre if Misi/Ulugia weren't available for any reason.

[Monkeymagic22]

Personally I think that second rowers get found out for lack of pace when playing in the backs, but I guess it's an option if we are struggling. Hopefully we should pick up some dual reg backs from Leeds to offer cover as well.

[marklaspalmas]

Personally I think that second rowers get found out for lack of pace when playing in the backs, but I guess it's an option if we are struggling. Hopefully we should pick up some dual reg backs from Leeds to offer cover as well.

 

WIth Hall, Briscoe, Handley and Goulding (cover) Leeds are good for wingers. SO are we with Briscoe, Turner, Duckworth and Johnson.

 

After Moon & Watkins, who is LEeds next best centre? Keinhorst? I dont know.

 

Our back up centre could still be Hardman even though he should be at FB.

[The Phantom Horseman]

WIth Hall, Briscoe, Handley and Goulding (cover) Leeds are good for wingers. SO are we with Briscoe, Turner, Duckworth and Johnson.

 

After Moon & Watkins, who is LEeds next best centre? Keinhorst? I dont know.

 

Our back up centre could still be Hardman even though he should be at FB.

I think Luke Briscoe's role could be flexible this year despite having played almost exclusively on the wing for us so far. He has played all sorts of positions in his pro career though - he started at centre for Wakefield, he can also play full back, he played a few games in the back row for Hunslet and he even came off the bench to play at hooker for Leeds once.

 

So I could see him being this year's version of Danny Craven in terms of being a utility player, especially because, as you say, we have so much potential cover on the wing. Otherwise, it wouldn't make much sense having four wings on the books, as well as the Leeds lads.

 

Also, using Briscoe as a utility player might not be a bad thing if it means Hardman can concentrate on playing at full back rather than being shuffled in at centre whenever we have an injury at that position.

[marklaspalmas]

I think Luke Briscoe's role could be flexible this year despite having played almost exclusively on the wing for us so far. He has played all sorts of positions in his pro career though - he started at centre for Wakefield, he can also play full back, he played a few games in the back row for Hunslet and he even came off the bench to play at hooker for Leeds once.

 

So I could see him being this year's version of Danny Craven in terms of being a utility player, especially because, as you say, we have so much potential cover on the wing. Otherwise, it wouldn't make much sense having four wings on the books, as well as the Leeds lads.

 

Also, using Briscoe as a utility player might not be a bad thing if it means Hardman can concentrate on playing at full back rather than being shuffled in at centre whenever we have an injury at that position.

 

Could be. LB played one game for Fev at the back end of last year at centre. I didn't know he'd played full-back. That could be an option too.

 

I'd certainly rather see backs at centre than Tagg/Cording or Mariano (admirable though Brad & Jamie were in that position at times last year).

[jamescolin]

Davies looked lively enough last season to play centre.

[marklaspalmas]

Sorry I was going to add that if Luke emerges in 2017 as our best winger, then using him in a utility role as well could be problematic. Let's see. With Goulding first choice FB at Leeds, and with Hall, Briscoe, Moon & Watkins staying fit, Jimmy Kleinhorst could be a player we'll be seeing in 2017 at Fev?

[The Phantom Horseman]

I think if it goes like it did last season, the Leeds players we use will be decided largely by our injury situation and theirs. If they don't suffer many injuries in their pack, you'd think Baldwinson & Ormondroyd will be regulars for us, but looking at our squad, I'd be surprised if we regularly brought other players in for selection rather than injury/suspension reasons.

 

Aside perhaps from Luke Cooper missing out a couple of times for Mullally near the end of the season, there weren't many times when established members of the starting 17 were dropped for DR players, and Luke himself is a still-developing player (I don't think he has actually started a Championship game for us yet).

 

So I'd see Jordan and Jack as likely regulars and the likes of Keinhorst, Handley, Mullally, Walters, Lilley/Aston maybe brought in when we are short of numbers (and at least a couple of those might be needed regulalrly by Leeds anyway). That's all just guesswork though, might be totally wrong.

[marklaspalmas]

I think if it goes like it did last season, the Leeds players we use will be decided largely by our injury situation and theirs. If they don't suffer many injuries in their pack, you'd think Baldwinson & Ormondroyd will be regulars for us, but looking at our squad, I'd be surprised if we regularly brought other players in for selection rather than injury/suspension reasons.

 

Aside perhaps from Luke Cooper missing out a couple of times for Mullally near the end of the season, there weren't many times when established members of the starting 17 were dropped for DR players, and Luke himself is a still-developing player (I don't think he has actually started a Championship game for us yet).

 

So I'd see Jordan and Jack as likely regulars and the likes of Keinhorst, Handley, Mullally, Walters, Lilley/Aston maybe brought in when we are short of numbers (and at least a couple of those might be needed regulalrly by Leeds anyway). That's all just guesswork though, might be totally wrong.

 

Yes. DR is pure guesswork but I think you're not far wrong.

 

DR 'worked' for Fev in 2016 largely for the reason you outlined. WE (mostly) got players as and when we needed 'em rather than being forced to accomodate some fringe Leeds player needing game-timing requiring a first team regular at Fev to be dropped. Perhaps Kyran will feel he was edged out by Hnadley/Goulding/briscoe but TBH he got a decent run before being farmed out to Hunslet. There was one odd game against Haven when LIlley got a shout and there were rumours about Thackers but that all went quiet.

 

The obvious worry is us perhaps counting too much on having Baldy and Jack O all season. They are not our players and it might not work out like that at all. I think we are sincerely hoping that it will though.

[marklaspalmas]

Oh aye, Corey Aston is a reasonable shout too. He will need a development spurt to be in the Leeds 17 from the off and I cant see that. He'll need to play and learn and with more news of Kyle Briggs still being dogged with ankle trouble (just how many bad injuries has this poor lad had to bounce back from??) we could see as much of Tubby's lad as any other Loiner in 2017.

[The Phantom Horseman]

Oh aye, Corey Aston is a reasonable shout too. He will need a development spurt to be in the Leeds 17 from the off and I cant see that. He'll need to play and learn and with more news of Kyle Briggs still being dogged with ankle trouble (just how many bad injuries has this poor lad had to bounce back from??) we could see as much of Tubby's lad as any other Loiner in 2017.

Yes, it will be interesting to see if anything is said about Cory at the fans' forum on Thursday. There's part of me still thinks Tubbs wouldn't want him at Fev and it would be interesting to know if there were any "conditions" to his sale to Leeds.

[marklaspalmas]

Yes, it will be interesting to see if anything is said about Cory at the fans' forum on Thursday. There's part of me still thinks Tubbs wouldn't want him at Fev and it would be interesting to know if there were any "conditions" to his sale to Leeds.

 

Stranger things will have happened but I would find it hard to believe that Tubby would do/say that.

 

Part of the success of DR last year was that it worked for Leeds too with Goulding, Mullally Walters and Handley all feeling the benefit.

 

That's not to say it won't all go breasts up in 2017. It's a precarious business is DR. I'd be happier without it, but here we are.

[Robin Evans]

Ou est le cappeur?

[Monkeymagic22]

Davies looked lively enough last season to play centre.

I wouldn't have Davies has a centre, great worker, but surely hasn't the skills or pace to be and effective centre.

It's strange really, we wouldn't be suggesting backs to play in the forwards, of our strength was in the backs.

For me, we need another specialist three quarter, not a convert from the pack.

[jamescolin]

I was meaning in case of emergency. If injury and no DR available. Watching Davies last year showed I thought that he had skills in all fields of play. Of course we need a real centre that can do the job but it would be interesting to see where Davies is used this season