SQUAD DEPTH Can Your Club Compete?

[OMEGA]

A lot of stock gets placed in the quality of depth in a squad, most teams will be hit by injury at some stage and for some it can plague a whole season.

When making predictions for the season many pundits state “lack of squad depth” as a reason for saying ‘X’ team will do well or ‘Y’ team will struggle.

So, how does your club squad measure up?

WAKEFIELD TRINITY

First Choice 13

1. Hampshire
2. Jones Bishop
3. Lyne
4. Tupou
5. Johnstone
6. Miller
7. Brough
8. Kopczack
9. Wood
10. Fifita
11. Ashurst
12. Kirmond
13. Arona

Second Choice 13

1. Jowitt
2. Kershaw
3. Arundel
4. King
5. Croft
6. Hooley
7. Reynolds
8. Huby
9. Randal
10. England
11. Horo
12. Batchelor
13. Crowther
14. Pauli Pauli
15. Anakin
16. Hirst
17. Baldwinson

[ELBOWSEYE]

Warrington 

1 rachford 

2 lineham 

3 Atkins 

4 Goodwin

5 Charnley 

6 Austin

7 Brown

8 Hill

9 Clarke

10 Cooper

11 CURRIE

12 Hughes

13 J Clark 

Second 13

1 Mamo

2 johnson

3 king

4 Davis

5 l johnson

6 Livett

7 Patton 

8 TASI

9  walker 

10 Philbin

11BMM

12 Akualo

13 Westwood

[Gates1]

4 minutes ago, OMEGA said:

A lot of stock gets placed in the quality of depth in a squad, most teams will be hit by injury at some stage and for some it can plague a whole season.

When making predictions for the season many pundits state “lack of squad depth” as a reason for saying ‘X’ team will do well or ‘Y’ team will struggle.

So, how does your club squad measure up?

WAKEFIELD TRINITY

First Choice 13

1. Hampshire
2. Jones Bishop
3. Lyne
4. Tupou
5. Johnstone
6. Miller
7. Brough
8. Kopczack
9. Wood
10. Fifita
11. Ashurst
12. Kirmond
13. Arona

Second Choice 13

1. Jowitt
2. Kershaw
3. Arundel
4. King
5. Croft
6. Hooley
7. Reynolds
8. Huby
9. Randal
10. England
11. Horo
12. Batchelor
13. Crowther
14. Pauli Pauli
15. Anakin
16. Hirst
17. Baldwinson

Cas

1.Matauti 

2. Eden

3. Shenton

4. Minikin

5. Claire

6. Roberts

7. Trueman

8. Watts

9. Mcshane

10. Millington 

11. Mcmeeken 

12. Holmes

13. Milner

2nd

1. Turner

2. Gill

3. Egodu

4. Foster

5. Carr

6.  Rankin

7. Ellis 

8. Moors

9. O Neil/Clarkson

10. Clark

11. JSL

12. Cook

13. Massey

Obvious that outside backs are our weak point.

The other thing thing to consider with depth is versatility, Cas seem to have a fair few versatile players that can cover key positions:

Matauti (FB, C)

Foster (BR, C, P)

Rankin (HB, FB, C, W)

Roberts (Physios table, HB, H, C)

Mcshane (H, HB)

Milner (LF, H)

Moors, Cook, JSL, (BR, P)

 

 

 

[Gates1]

6 minutes ago, ELBOWSEYE said:

Warrington 

1 rachford 

2 lineham 

3 Atkins 

4 Goodwin

5 Charnley 

6 Austin

7 Brown

8 Hill

9 Clarke

10 Cooper

11 CURRIE

12 Hughes

13 J Clark 

Second 13

1 Mamo

2 johnson

3 king

4 Davis

5 l johnson

6 Livett

7 Patton 

8 TASI

9  walker 

10 Philbin

11BMM

12 Akualo

13 Westwood

Strongest squad in SL by a good bit imo.

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

Yes, Leeds have a big squad this year, I expect Fev to do very well as a result of dual reg.

1 Walker

2 Briscoe

3 Watkins

4 Hurrell 

5 Briscoe

6 Lolohea 

7 Myler 

8 Cuthbertson

9 Parcell

10 Singleton

11 Ward

12 Abblet 

13 Merrin

2nd 13

1 Golding

2 Sutcliffe

3 Sutcliffe

4 Newman

5 Handley

6 Mclellan

7 Johnson

8 Peteru

9 Dwyer

10 Oledski 

11 Ferres

12 Smith

13 JJB

14 Crosby

15 Donaldson

16 Holroyd 

17 Trout

18 Mustapha 

19 Mullally

20 Ormonroyd 

[Toby Chopra]

Wow that Wire second xiii could turn over a few first teams

[paulwalker71]

Bradford Bulls

1. Pickersgill

2. Ryan

3. Webster

4. Gibson

5. Hitchcox

6. Keyes

7. Chisholm

8. Kirk

9. Wildie

10. Crossley

11. Garside

12. Minchella

13. Wood

 

1. Stephenson

2. Foggin-Johnson

3. Oakes

4. Evans

5. Grant

6. Milnes

7. Lilley

8. Peltier

9. Flanagan

10. Magrin

11. Farrell

12. Storton

13. Milton

14. Green

15. Hallas

16. Hodgson

17. Wilson

[Chris22]

Saints First 13

1. Coote
2. Makinson
3. Naiqama
4. Percival
5. Grace
6. Lomax
7. Richardson
8. Walmsley
9. Roby
10. Thompson
11. Taia
12. Peyroux
13. Paulo

Second 13

1.  Costello
2. Hutchings
3. Bentley
4. Simm
5. Swift
6.  Fages
7.  Welsby
8. Lees
9. Smith
10. Douglas
11. LMS
12. Ashworth
13. Knowles

No room for Amor or Batchelor in either the first or second 13 for me! We've got great depth in the pack, but are a little light for a backup centre. I imagine that in the event of an injury, Costello would play there although it's not his natural position. I'd be reluctant to move Makinson there and bring Swift in on the wing like we did at times this year.

If Coote gets injured, then Lomax would probably switch to 1 and Fages may come in. Although, Fages did start at 7 in the friendly last week and rumours suggest that he goes into the season as our first choice scrum half.

I hope that we see plenty of Aaron Smith this year who looks promising, as does Jack Welsby, but he may be one for next year.

[GeordieSaint]

1 hour ago, Gates1 said:

Strongest squad in SL by a good bit imo.

It’s amazing what two salary caps can pay for... 

(Runs for cover...)

[OMEGA]

2 hours ago, SL17 said:

So which player doesn't count on the cap? You have a squad of 26, not two squads.

Genuinely, you’ve lost me

please explain what you mean

[Cdd]

Hardaker/Escare/Mullen
Manfredi/Marshall
Gildart/Hankinson
Sarginson/Forsyth
Burgess/Davies
Williams/Shorrocks
Leuluai/Sammut/Woods
Flower/Tautai
Powell/Ganson
Clubb/Bullock
Greenwood/Navarette
Farrell/Isa/Wells
Lockers/Hamlin

Not sure anyone can compete with Wigan in Super League for depth. 

We have quality back up in every single position if needed. There’s more young players even beyond the ones mentioned here who already have super league experience... plus the young players who will no doubt come along the conveyor belt this season who are currently unknown.

[Oliver Clothesoff]

Coote, Makinson, Naiqama, Percival, Grace, Lomax, Richardson, Walmsley, Roby, Thompson, Taia, Peyroux, Paulo. 

LMS, Douglas, Amor, Knowles, Fages, Swift, Lees, Ashworth, Aaron Smith, Bentley, Costello, Batchelor and Welsby to call upon should we need to. 

Quite happy with our squad, though from the original XIII, we may see Fages in it at 7 rather than Richardson, which I’m not too sure on. 

[bobbruce]

9 hours ago, OMEGA said:

Genuinely, you’ve lost me

please explain what you mean

He thinks you’re only allowed 25 players in you cap. It’s just the top 25 earners are automatically counted beyond that it’s down to the number of games you play.  

[burke]

Warrington, Saints and Wigan must be nailed on for top three, their squads look miles stronger ( on paper ) than anything else in the League. The fight for fourth is going to be epic 

[Quinskolar]

The Broncos can put out a reasonable 17 but nothing like these teams with two teams !

[Kirmonds pouch]

21 hours ago, SL17 said:

So which player doesn't count on the cap? You have a squad of 26, not two squads.

Does it really matter, anyone but a total pedant gets the idea.

[Old Frightful]

Nope.

Next question.

[Hammerless Nail]

Salford.

First choice 13:

1. Evalds
2. Chamberlain
3. Sa'u
4. Welham
5. Bibby
6. Lui
7. Hastings
8. Mossop
9. Wood
10. Dudson
11. Jones
12. Griffin
13. Flanagan

Second choice 13, apparently, courtesy of expert analysis, expertly conducted by internet experts:

1. Winner of the "Win a chance to play for Salford" charity draw
2. The eldest son of one of the club's sponsors
3. Dr. Devil
4. A mate of one of the players
5. Some bloke who turned up at training a few weeks ago saying "he fancied a go"
6. Martin Gleeson
7. Ian Watson
8. A season ticket holder who's a bit on the large side
9. Malcolm Alker, coming out of retirement to play for free in a Kris Radlinski like manner
10. The warden who has to escort him on day release
11/12. Two blokes Ian Watson met in the pub who seemed keen, although one of them can only play second half on Sundays because he has to pick his daughter up from swimming at two
13. Ian Blease

[OMEGA]

OK

next question

does anyone think they’ve posted a second choice 13 that would beat another clubs First 13?

[Denton Rovers RLFC]

3 hours ago, Old Frightful said:

Nope.

Next question.

Let's hope players like Fash - whom I think is a great asset yet maligned by fans, Thompson (another undervalued player), Bienek, Scott, Miloudi et al can exceed expectations.

I don't think it's the squad per-se, it's just that the coach still hasn't learnt, still thinks that the Bradford Bulls method will work, still can't change the issues that has blighted us since he took over and since the 'real' coach left (Ellis) the moral fibre has dropped like a stone.

That said we'll go and win it all and Radford will be held up as a demi-god ... hahahahaha, not a chance in Hades!

Shaul/Wynne (another 18yr old with no experience)

Faraimo/Dawsen Jones/Graham (RU lad)/Brown

Tuimuvave/Logan/Buchannon

Connor/Scott

Talanoa - but is probably finished so maybe Miloudi/Sanderson

Kelly/Connor

Sneyd/Harris

Taylor/Green/Matongo/Nzoungou

Houghton/Litten

Bowden/Paea/Bienek/Fash

Hadlee/Thompson/Lane

Minichello/Griffin/

Westerman/Manu

Washbrook is used everywhere by Radford, he preferred him over Litten last year at 9, in fact he preferred him at centre as well instead of playing the squad replacement which as seen by the utterly dumb use of Kirk Yeaman last year instead of the squad player! 

36 in the squad all told. 

[Anonymouse]

the only thing this thread proves is the sham of SL for not having reserve teams and a reserve league because they can rely on DR 

[Kirmonds pouch]

20 hours ago, burke said:

Warrington, Saints and Wigan must be nailed on for top three, their squads look miles stronger ( on paper ) than anything else in the League. The fight for fourth is going to be epic 

Wigan certainly don't nor do Saints look all that strong, Warrington look good - I'll have what you're taking please.

[Wolford6]

I don't think there is any such thing as first-choice and second-choice props. Every match squad has four, they rotate and there is always one injured.

 

It will be interesting if the anticipated prop-selection changes this season with there being a reduction in the number of substitutions per game.

[Barry Badrinath]

On 1/22/2019 at 7:51 PM, Toby Chopra said:

Wow that Wire second xiii could turn over a few first teams

i dunno, he's got a back rower at centre and a back row/prop at wing.

 

We did have a skinny squad last year, about 24 players, i think we've got about 29 now including promoting a few kids as well, including ellis robson and eribe doro.

[Saint Toppy]

1 hour ago, Kirmonds pouch said:

Wigan certainly don't nor do Saints look all that strong, Warrington look good - I'll have what you're taking please.

Overall i'd actually say Saints squad is stronger than last year.

It remains to be seen whether Coote can bring as much as Barba but as for the rest of the changes they're all definate upgrades. Add in the likes of Batchelor as an addition and other youngsters like Lees, Bentley & Smith having experience now.