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#Post#: 157074--------------------------------------------------
Re: Snapper speaks
DIR By: Quinky
Date: August 21, 2026, 4:35 am
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--- Quote from: T-Bone link ---
>
> Without wishing to repeat myself, I fail to see how we have
obviously strengthened the pack. A squad player second row, an
Aussie prop and a south African prop no-one has heard of, who
people assume will be good because he was called up to a wider
training camp, once
>
> I take the point on Baxter being fit again
>
> Hopefully Hunter will be the key bit of recruitment
>
>
--- End Quote ---
I'd highlight the experience and improvement of the likes of
Hobson, Streeter, Williams, Carr, Driscoll - a full senior
pre-season will have added to that. Last season will have given
them confidence too, and should give us all confidence of the
strength in depth that we now enjoy.
Time will tell whether the "squad player second row, an Aussie
prop and a south African prop no-one has heard of" will add to
that; I'm confident that our coaches know what they're looking
at and can work with these guys.
#Post#: 157077--------------------------------------------------
Re: Snapper speaks
DIR By: T-Bone
Date: August 21, 2026, 7:23 am
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I agree that our homegrown forwards having another season should
improve us, I think far more than the signings will. The young
second rows in particular, and the academy hooker, staples I
think
#Post#: 157078--------------------------------------------------
Re: Snapper speaks
DIR By: FatQuin
Date: August 21, 2026, 7:40 am
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I think we have a very promising pipeline of forwards. I am
particularly excited about Streeter. Like the look of Gorleku
too. But my concern is that we all seem to now agree what many
fans have known for a while, to play the so called Quins way,
you need a beast of a pack. I just don’t see it for another few
seasons but that should be a relatively quick fix. We have a
wild class loosie, a promising but inconsistent hooker and and
two tight heads that keep the scrum up but don’t dominate. Dun
seems to be the key to that side but we are only an injury away
from good but relatively small athletes or kids. We don’t seem
to be replacing Dommers and so our back row looks light to me.
It’s mobile and will turn the ball over but there’s no power and
I’m yet to be convinced by CCS for all the potential. So, apart
from Dun, I don’t see anything that powers up our weak scrum
despite us knowing this is one of the key areas to sort out. We
should be able to train the lineout but scrum power and general
power around the pitch is still a big issue for me.
#Post#: 157081--------------------------------------------------
Re: Snapper speaks
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: August 21, 2026, 8:24 am
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--- Quote from: FatQuin link ---
>
> I think we have a very promising pipeline of forwards. I am
particularly excited about Streeter. Like the look of Gorleku
too. But my concern is that we all seem to now agree what many
fans have known for a while, to play the so called Quins way,
you need a beast of a pack. I just don’t see it for another few
seasons but that should be a relatively quick fix. We have a
wild class loosie, a promising but inconsistent hooker and and
two tight heads that keep the scrum up but don’t dominate. Dun
seems to be the key to that side but we are only an injury away
from good but relatively small athletes or kids. We don’t seem
to be replacing Dommers and so our back row looks light to me.
It’s mobile and will turn the ball over but there’s no power and
I’m yet to be convinced by CCS for all the potential. So, apart
from Dun, I don’t see anything that powers up our weak scrum
despite us knowing this is one of the key areas to sort out. We
should be able to train the lineout but scrum power and general
power around the pitch is still a big issue for me.
>
--- End Quote ---
CCS's problem has been that he's thrown himself too aggressively
into contact while not properly looking after the ball. The
first part of the problem may be because, like a few players,
he's been trying to solve the team's problems as an individual.
With good coaching, which I hope we now have, he should be able
to fix that and the ball retention.
#Post#: 157082--------------------------------------------------
Re: Snapper speaks
DIR By: Quinky
Date: August 21, 2026, 9:33 am
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I think the second row could be pretty powerful with Dun and
Williams. Neither is on the light side for a lock. That would
enable us to play Petti in the back row, alongside CCS, and
Kenningham (who is deceptively big), with the option of
switching in WEv if we're playing more fast and loose. And of
course we have Trenholm, Carr and Driscoll. In the front row,
Baxter is powerful, and Hobson and Streeter are both big lumps,
as is Gorleku.
Essentially, we have beef if we want to go that route, and we
have the smaller options if that suits the game. The best part
for me is that many of them are young, so we could theoretically
see them playing together and developing for a few years to
come.
#Post#: 157083--------------------------------------------------
Re: Snapper speaks
DIR By: FatQuin
Date: August 21, 2026, 11:18 am
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All fair points and Williams E looks very promising. Will
adjust outlook to cautiously optimistic for the time being.
#Post#: 157084--------------------------------------------------
Re: Snapper speaks
DIR By: poorfour
Date: August 21, 2026, 11:19 am
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We shouldn't forget Schmid, either. He isn't the largest but
every time I have seen him play he's found a way to make a
break.
#Post#: 157088--------------------------------------------------
Re: Snapper speaks
DIR By: Banstead Quin
Date: August 21, 2026, 7:56 pm
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It's a good approach though, FQ. Would we accept another season
of abjectivity (not a word) if that meant our youngsters could
be moulded into a 5 year dominant force?
#Post#: 157092--------------------------------------------------
Re: Snapper speaks
DIR By: FatQuin
Date: August 22, 2026, 3:09 am
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--- Quote from: Banstead Quin link ---
>
> It's a good approach though, FQ. Would we accept another
season of abjectivity (not a word) if that meant our youngsters
could be moulded into a 5 year dominant force?
>
--- End Quote ---
I’d want to see significant improvement rather than the same
again though. Another season of “abjectivity” isn’t acceptable
but finishing mid table and signs of improvement will be. I
just hope we have the grunt to do that. If, in a couple of
years, we are competing for the top four regularly as a result,
great but we’ve had promising academy cohorts before and have to
remember that so does everyone else.
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