Not even a few rumours, unless you lot know better CTID

Deafening silence isn’t there. Cini the only one we know for sure. I was fairly confident 2 of our reserve/academy players were going to get squad numbers for next season, but we’ve had a change of ownership and coach since I heard that. Same goes for Rimbu and Asi,deals looked done and dusted. Even if all the above does happen we’d still be down on numbers from last season,I could see the benefits of holding off on a couple as things evolve but I’d think there would be three possibly four others we’re not even aware of yet. I’m sure DM will have players in mind too,all adds to the interest but also to the frustration. No doubt news will come when season ticket sales need a boost.

The players aren’t back in yet so there’s no rush to announce who we’ve signed. There’s paperwork and lots to sort for players coming from the other side of the world, which should have been competed for Asi and Rimbu. But Rimbu is currently playing intern 9 fixtures so will get extra time off. I can’t see the overseas players coming over until the new year or back and December. Don’t fret, surely we have faith in Mr Jepson and DM to deliver, otherwise why would they put themselves on the chopping block?

whatever your views are on how, when, who we sign, I cannot fathom out at all why ALL other clubs are announcing new players but Cas aren’t. This view is further exacerbated by te fact we had huge momentum in the press last week. New owner and new coach, perfct opportunity to build interest in not only our own fans but the media, new investors and so on. It makes absolutely no sense to me at all that we may be dleaying announcements by choice.

FlatCapper I agree. Everything was good, grade A, new owner, new coach, memberships and shirts on sale. That was the perfect time to strike whilst the iron was hot. The balloon has now started to deflate somewhat with the lack of player announcements. I can only think they what to go with a rapid fire approach and announce them all at once, otherwise it makes no sense.

I think they’ll do what they’ve done before. One on Monday one on Tuesday and so forth until all are announced. Not sure why they are waiting so long to do it. That’s the strange one.

Delaney just announced by the club.

Was a significant reason Rovers defence improved so much,hopefully he can achieve similar results for us.

As much as our defence was iffy at times. My main worry is the inability to score more than 2 tries per game, bar ⅔ games. Not sure if McGuire now he is head coach will put more of his ideas into attack. Let’s wait and see.

Our new coaches and players clearly need to eke out some improvement next season,target must be to secure a higher place finish and better performances should result in higher attendances,great for the club and IMG. Statistically between attack and defence a 12 point nett gain would see us comfortably in mid table. Like most I would like to see that gain made by free flowing attacking rugby but if it comes from digging in when it’s needed I’d be equally happy with that.

Lots of socials saying we have signed Rhimbu, including Aussie based ones that state he was wanted by a number of teams down under but had signed for us.

ALL QUIET ON THE SIGNINGS FRONT

Hepworth

Huddersfield have signed King and are sitting with three quota spots, if they did the decent thing and used one on another prop we might be able to resurrect our interest in Matty English so we could use our quota spot on a second row.

Hepworth

Leeds Live reporting Kieran Hudson is on his way back, am thinking he’ll just be to add depth to the squad rather than being a starter, but with Matveyev that would give us a couple of props to develop.

Hepworth

Listened to an NRL podcast this morning part of which focussed on the dearth of available props over there, of the 12 that were OOC 7 had found new clubs,including 2 who had taken a grade drop despite offers from Superleague. It seems like even over there the pool is dwindling and as the commodity gets scarcer the price will go up,it’s conceivable now you’d have to go Marquis to get a top level prop. To my knowledge only Tepai Moeroa has expressed any real interest in coming over,I’d take him like a shot if we could afford him but apparently wants to work with Brad Arthur again. The more I read the less surprised I am by our lack of a signing,slim pickings out there.

pirate

Oh for the days we could shout down a pit shaft and have ten props chomping at the bit to pull a cas shirt on

pirate

First Day of Pre Season for the Tigers is underway!

Does this mean we go with what we have got?

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18SYZqPPSh/

RaoulDuke

pirate the png players won’t be over due a while as they played an international yesterday.

It depends on the deal we have players signed on as to when they arrive. Some players may still be under contract with their old club, in the UK it’s end of November.

I’d expect Cini may have to sell up at home or the like. If he’s under contract, can we apply for a permit to stay and play if he’s not officially our player yet? I don’t know tbh.

It’s always been the way that the overseas players come over a bit later and may be allowed home for Christmas.

So in truth, I’d maybe only expect Tex over. I thought I saw him on the club clip.

Hepworth

I don’t think we can underestimate the amount of change that has happened at the club in the last, month or so,new people with new ideas,it’s going to take time for things to bed in. As such it maybe frustrating to those of us not in the know but I’m totally confident if we are patient the rewards will come,primarily having a stable and well run club. With that increased sponsorship and additional investment will follow. As for our need to see our squad strengthen sooner rather than later,that I believe is on its way.

TheFirm

And still we wait. We could really do with some good news on the signing front sooner rather than later. Pre-season is underway and we have a lot of catching up to do. All the other teams look stronger than last year to differing degrees, in my opinion we need 3 first 17 signings (2 props & a second row) to be competitive. Plus probably another back up second row and ideally a back up halfback.

Maturecasfan

Why are we always lagging behind.
Sometimes we look so unprofessional.
I thought jepson would crack the whip harder but even on that front it’s all gone quiet.
Either tell us there’s no one available, or if we’ve signed someone ANNOUNCE IT.

TheFirm

Kieran Hudson officially announced. If you can call a couple of lines on social media an announcement that is.

RaoulDuke

Yes not overwhelmed but Maguire must see something to want him in.

Maturecasfan

RaoulDuke McGuire as probably been told that’s the kind of calibre player we can afford, if this is the squad with no other decent players coming in, we will struggle this coming season like we did last season. At the minute I’m not confident at all.

pirate

Maturecasfan In DMs interview the other day he mentioned new signings and quickly changed it to potential new signings, Im hoping he knows who has signed but for some reason we are not revealing the names just yet.

Delaney nay be able to get more out of the forwards we already have

I also dont think DM would have taken the job with the same restraints that CL had to cope with

Old Trafford here we come

CTID

Hepworth

I’m expecting a prop and a second row to be announced in the next couple of weeks.

RaoulDuke

Yes certainly a second row or two in its more important than props for me. Props

Watts
Westerman
Muzzy
Hall
Griffin
Lawler
Namo

As opposed to second rows of

Mellor

TheFirm

RaoulDuke Those props are plentiful in number but short on quality though. Westy (LF) and Lawler (SR) are better in other positions, Watts and Griffin very much on the downhill slope, Hall isn’t ready for regular SL rugby and probably would be better developing at a championship club for a year and Namo truly a rocks and diamonds player. Muzzy is one of life’s triers but just isn’t SL quality i’m afraid.

We need two front line props, one front line second row and one back up second row as well. Ideally a genuine backup halfback as well would be nice. How we manage that though god only knows.

Hepworth

I’ve higher hopes for Matveyev than Hall,both are ones for the future but will need game time. I’d agree on Lawler being a better second row but that would still leave us short in that area. We might like a couple of starting props and a second row but think one of each is more realistic, as for a back up half unless we went for someone in Morgan Smiths bracket (Not great but has SL experience and cheap)can’t see it happening. So much depends on that final quota spot. Use it on a prop and we’re most likely to get a cheaper second row option and visa versa.

RaoulDuke

I believe we have to play to our strengths.

Westy can’t do 80 so needs to be propping or rotating at 13. Horne needs to be on the field and we have Rimbu at 9 to rotate with Robb. That’s round pegs in round holes for me.

We do need props but for me second row is the priority as we have one out and out. Griffin was great at right second row for Salford but is getting on and is rather injury prone. Lawler looked OK on the left but Mellor was outstanding on that side last year. El-zakhem had the right position sewn up.

I guess we’ll find out in December who is available and go from there.

RaoulDuke

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/castleford-tigers-chase-papua-new-30476623?fbclid=IwY2xjawG2X8tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRFt-ST-3p6fz9enYoQXo4lJtX2NefKfAePTpcmHogkRYQDDxZGYVZHXWQ_aem_3TSxYRs-BALGTspEYIkQAw

A back rower from Png in talks.

Hepworth

Not a name on many people’s radar and very little footage of him around,he’s a big enough unit with a decent try scoring record, wouldn’t look to be the most agile of second rows but he’s fit and has a decent injury record. Clearly someone thinks he’s worth a punt but something to prove at top level,be an interesting use of our last quota spot but would mean we would have to look at a domestic option if we were still in the market for a prop.

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