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#Post#: 147612--------------------------------------------------
Re: Realistic transfer targets
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: January 9, 2026, 5:44 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I didn't watch the game, but... they lost 50% of their scrums
and Collier conceded 2 pens which I assume happened at scrum
time, soooooooo I dunno about smashing it against Bath?
He was a fabulous scrummager and I'd love to see him back at the
club, mind.
#Post#: 147613--------------------------------------------------
Re: Realistic transfer targets
DIR By: Quinaldo
Date: January 10, 2026, 3:00 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The more i think about it, the more i agree that Cotter would be
perfect for us. As people have said: he has a hard nosed edge to
him, but also likes to play an expansive style of rugby.
Basically exactly what we are asking for. Throw the cheque book
at him!
#Post#: 147614--------------------------------------------------
Re: Realistic transfer targets
DIR By: Quinston Churchill
Date: January 10, 2026, 6:12 am
---------------------------------------------------------
100% I’m definitely trying to manifest it. The article was
interview with Cotter so the interest in the Premiership was a
direct t quote not total speculation.
According to Neil Fissler (so take with a pinch of salt), Ronan
O’Gara is potentially leaving La Rochelle. I wouldn’t choose him
(I don’t like him or his brand of rugby) but he could be an
attractive option for Newcastle or Gloucester.
#Post#: 147616--------------------------------------------------
Re: Realistic transfer targets
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: January 10, 2026, 6:50 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Quinston Churchill link ---
>
> 100% I’m definitely trying to manifest it. The article was
interview with Cotter so the interest in the Premiership was a
direct t quote not total speculation.
>
> According to Neil Fissler (so take with a pinch of salt),
Ronan O’Gara is potentially leaving La Rochelle. I wouldn’t
choose him (I don’t like him or his brand of rugby) but he could
be an attractive option for Newcastle or Gloucester.
>
--- End Quote ---
O’Gara sees his next job as being at international level, of
course if he is sacked by La Rochelle that would probably force
his hand and make him take a club job.
HTML https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/there-is-only-one-irish-job-that-ronan-ogara-desires-and-it-is-not-leinster/
#Post#: 147621--------------------------------------------------
Re: Realistic transfer targets
DIR By: Quinky
Date: January 10, 2026, 1:46 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: KentQuin link ---
>
> I suspect Red Bull can offer more cash than we can...
>
--- End Quote ---
But it would mean living in Newcastle. Living in it near London
is quite a draw for many people.
#Post#: 147741--------------------------------------------------
Re: Realistic transfer targets
DIR By: mrpj1985
Date: January 12, 2026, 10:49 am
---------------------------------------------------------
It's a lengthy one of amateur musings, so apologies if this
TLDR.
However, after watching yesterday, I got to thinking that rather
than positions, we need to focus on profiles.
We've seen a lot of mention of the squad for next year being
smaller too.
Say we took it down to 35, what would the makeup of that be? Are
we planning on always being a 6-2 on the bench?
We'd definitely need more versatility in the backs, for example.
Outside of front row, in the back 5 of the scrum, we seemingly
want (as with most other teams) -
Big units, unafraid of contact (Dun/C-S)
Spoilers (Petti/Evans/Kenningham)
Carriers comfortable in space and close contact (Dombrandt/Carr)
In the backs, outside of halfbacks -
Big carrying centre who can cover 12/13 (Waghorn)
Centre who can cover wing (Beard)
At least one wing comfortable chasing (Isgro)
At least one wing with serious wheels (Murley/Cleaves)
2nd playmaker at FB (Furbank)
Where we currently stand, in my opinion, on each role -
Forwards
Hooker - We have Turner, Walker, Riley, Musk, with Dorey-Palmer
probably aging out of his academy contract. None of them set the
world alight, but whichever 2/3 you keep probably reflect which
type of profile you want to complete it, but a new senior type
seems needed.
Props - Wenger & Baxter make a good pair for Loosehead,
Delgado's done enough for at least 1 of the TH spots. Williams
hasn't embarrassed himself, but he's old and not elite. Is
Hobson now permanently a LH, or is he there in a pinch given our
injury problems. Definite need for clarity.
Units - Dun's coming in, Treadwell's there, Green is developing,
C-S on his day is a star.
Spoliers - Kenningham, WEV, Petti all great. Would be a big punt
to promote Elliott Williams at 19, but as a squad option that we
have high hopes for it might fit the role well.
Carriers - Dombrandt as club captain, Zach Carr as impact man
off the bench and successor. Probably could easily bring in
another veteran, or keep one of Lawday/Chisholm. As well as
that, the wheels on both Dombrandt and Carr could mean they
could cover 12 in a 6/2 bench situation.
Backs -
Scrum half - Porter & Friday, with one more senior scrum half.
Could easily be Townsend.
Fly half - Obvious Marcus is key and king. Being back-up is both
essential and tricky. I think Jarrod will probably head back to
Wales, Benson may well see his future elsewhere. Would be great
to see Slevin and Bellamy get some Prem minutes to see if they
can cover 10/15.
Centres - Waghorn and Beard seem quite set here, but definitely
need another strong carrying 12, who can go to 13. Sean Kerr as
a goalkicking centre who can cover fly half and full back does
have some serious utility as well.
Wingers - Cleaves, Isgro and Murley are a good trio.
Full back - Furbank (if fit) is seemingly replacing Green.
After all that, I'd probably say (outside of Dun and Furbank),
the holes that need clarity (not necessarily new blood) -
3rd Loosehead behind Wenger/Baxter
Hooker
Tighthead alongside Delgado.
Another carrier alongside Carr + Dombrandt. Could be internal
(Chisholm/Schmid)
3rd SH behind Porter and Friday
Big carrying 12.
In terms of priorities/needs, I'd rank them -
Big carrying 12 - Made my feelings on Tabuova clear earlier on,
but given we only sign Argentines as overseas players and we
should have the budget in this scenario, let's go for Chocobares
[emoji1]
Clarity around hooker - Maybe go for Ruiz from Perpignan. Make
it an all Argentine front row as a unit, he did well at Irish as
well.
2nd TH (assuming Williams was on a 1yr deal) - If Williams
leaves and Sinckler wants to push for 2027, why not bring him
home.
The others are squad positions, in all likelihood, so probably
can keep some of the older guard, or promote from the academy.
If we went in to the year with a 35 man squad of -
Forwards (21)
LHP (3) - Baxter/Wenger/Els
HK (3) - Walker/Ruiz/Dorey-Palmer
THP (4) - Sinckler/Delgado/Hobson/Streeter
Units (4) - Dun/C-S/Treadwell/Green
Spoilers (4) - Kenningham/Petti/Evans/E.Williams
Carriers (3) - Dombrandt/Carr/Chisholm
Backs (14)
SH (3) - Porter/Friday/Townsend
FH (2) - Smith/Slevin
C (4) - Chocobares/Beard/Waghorn/Kerr
W (3) - Murley/Isgro/Cleaves
FB (2) - Furbank/Bellamy
Think we'd be playing with a lot more clarity if we focused on
roles. It also allows for the Academy side and loan programs to
be built around that as well.
Just some thoughts and appreciate the "best case scenario" on
the 3 signings I put there, but that's where I think we should
be framing our thinking for next year and the recent years to
come.
#Post#: 147743--------------------------------------------------
Re: Realistic transfer targets
DIR By: Yareet
Date: January 12, 2026, 11:09 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: mrpj1985 link ---
>
> It's a lengthy one of amateur musings, so apologies if this
TLDR.
>
> However, after watching yesterday, I got to thinking that
rather than positions, we need to focus on profiles.
>
> We've seen a lot of mention of the squad for next year being
smaller too.
> Say we took it down to 35, what would the makeup of that be?
Are we planning on always being a 6-2 on the bench?
> We'd definitely need more versatility in the backs, for
example.
>
> Outside of front row, in the back 5 of the scrum, we seemingly
want (as with most other teams) -
> Big units, unafraid of contact (Dun/C-S)
> Spoilers (Petti/Evans/Kenningham)
> Carriers comfortable in space and close contact
(Dombrandt/Carr)
>
> In the backs, outside of halfbacks -
> Big carrying centre who can cover 12/13 (Waghorn)
> Centre who can cover wing (Beard)
> At least one wing comfortable chasing (Isgro)
> At least one wing with serious wheels (Murley/Cleaves)
> 2nd playmaker at FB (Furbank)
>
> Where we currently stand, in my opinion, on each role -
>
> Forwards
>
> Hooker - We have Turner, Walker, Riley, Musk, with
Dorey-Palmer probably aging out of his academy contract. None of
them set the world alight, but whichever 2/3 you keep probably
reflect which type of profile you want to complete it, but a new
senior type seems needed.
>
> Props - Wenger & Baxter make a good pair for Loosehead,
Delgado's done enough for at least 1 of the TH spots. Williams
hasn't embarrassed himself, but he's old and not elite. Is
Hobson now permanently a LH, or is he there in a pinch given our
injury problems. Definite need for clarity.
>
> Units - Dun's coming in, Treadwell's there, Green is
developing, C-S on his day is a star.
>
> Spoliers - Kenningham, WEV, Petti all great. Would be a big
punt to promote Elliott Williams at 19, but as a squad option
that we have high hopes for it might fit the role well.
>
> Carriers - Dombrandt as club captain, Zach Carr as impact man
off the bench and successor. Probably could easily bring in
another veteran, or keep one of Lawday/Chisholm. As well as
that, the wheels on both Dombrandt and Carr could mean they
could cover 12 in a 6/2 bench situation.
>
> Backs -
>
>
> Scrum half - Porter & Friday, with one more senior scrum half.
Could easily be Townsend.
>
> Fly half - Obvious Marcus is key and king. Being back-up is
both essential and tricky. I think Jarrod will probably head
back to Wales, Benson may well see his future elsewhere. Would
be great to see Slevin and Bellamy get some Prem minutes to see
if they can cover 10/15.
>
> Centres - Waghorn and Beard seem quite set here, but
definitely need another strong carrying 12, who can go to 13.
Sean Kerr as a goalkicking centre who can cover fly half and
full back does have some serious utility as well.
>
> Wingers - Cleaves, Isgro and Murley are a good trio.
>
> Full back - Furbank (if fit) is seemingly replacing Green.
>
> After all that, I'd probably say (outside of Dun and Furbank),
the holes that need clarity (not necessarily new blood) -
> 3rd Loosehead behind Wenger/Baxter
> Hooker
> Tighthead alongside Delgado.
> Another carrier alongside Carr + Dombrandt. Could be internal
(Chisholm/Schmid)
> 3rd SH behind Porter and Friday
> Big carrying 12.
>
> In terms of priorities/needs, I'd rank them -
> Big carrying 12 - Made my feelings on Tabuova clear earlier
on, but given we only sign Argentines as overseas players and we
should have the budget in this scenario, let's go for Chocobares
[emoji1]
> Clarity around hooker - Maybe go for Ruiz from Perpignan. Make
it an all Argentine front row as a unit, he did well at Irish as
well.
> 2nd TH (assuming Williams was on a 1yr deal) - If Williams
leaves and Sinckler wants to push for 2027, why not bring him
home.
>
> The others are squad positions, in all likelihood, so probably
can keep some of the older guard, or promote from the academy.
>
> If we went in to the year with a 35 man squad of -
>
> Forwards (21)
> LHP (3) - Baxter/Wenger/Els
> HK (3) - Walker/Ruiz/Dorey-Palmer
> THP (4) - Sinckler/Delgado/Hobson/Streeter
> Units (4) - Dun/C-S/Treadwell/Green
> Spoilers (4) - Kenningham/Petti/Evans/E.Williams
> Carriers (3) - Dombrandt/Carr/Chisholm
>
> Backs (14)
> SH (3) - Porter/Friday/Townsend
> FH (2) - Smith/Slevin
> C (4) - Chocobares/Beard/Waghorn/Kerr
> W (3) - Murley/Isgro/Cleaves
> FB (2) - Furbank/Bellamy
>
> Think we'd be playing with a lot more clarity if we focused on
roles. It also allows for the Academy side and loan programs to
be built around that as well.
>
> Just some thoughts and appreciate the "best case scenario" on
the 3 signings I put there, but that's where I think we should
be framing our thinking for next year and the recent years to
come.
>
--- End Quote ---
Did you mean to bin off Northmore?
#Post#: 147745--------------------------------------------------
Re: Realistic transfer targets
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: January 12, 2026, 11:31 am
---------------------------------------------------------
If it's a squad of 35 senior players, I would hope it looks more
like this:
LH Prop: Baxter, Wenger, Hobson
Hooker: [New Signing], Walker, Riley
TH Prop: Delgado, [New Signing], Streeter
Lock: [New Signing - Kpoku please!], Petti, Treadwell, Dun, E.
Williams (sign him up to a senior contract right now - he's a
BIG boy)
BS Flanker: CCS, Carr
OS Flanker: Kenningham, Evans
Number 8: Dombrandt, Lawday
Scrum-Half: Porter, Friday, [New Signing]
Fly-Half: Smith, Benson
Centre: [New Signing], Waghorn, Bradley, Northmore, Beard (and
just play Bradley/Waghorn at 12!)
Wing: Murley, Isgro, Cleaves, [New Signing - an aerial wing who
can also play FB]
Full Back: Furbank
#Post#: 147747--------------------------------------------------
Re: Realistic transfer targets
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: January 12, 2026, 11:57 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Yareet link ---
>
> Did you mean to bin off Northmore?
>
--- End Quote ---
Did you really quote the whole of that mammoth post just to ask
that?
#Post#: 147748--------------------------------------------------
Re: Realistic transfer targets
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: January 12, 2026, 12:33 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
You are pushing it a bit with 35 players, you probably need
39-40 and 30-35 senior academy players, only having two 10's is
not a good idea, even if we sign furbank, and three 9's is also
one too few.
We need to be more sensible about letting players go, who are
past their sell by date and releasing academy players who are
not going to make it, if your academy has good players then
perhaps you could have 35, but it is a push, look at the list of
currently unavailable players and deduct that from 35.
Our problem recently has been keeping players past their prime
and likely getting high wages, and losing good young players,
but players are always going to leave no matter what.
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