Newcastle Falcons 2013/2014

First topic message reminder :

Manager: Dean Richards
Head Coach: Peter Russell (Leaving at the end of the season)
Forwards Coach: John Wells
Defence Coach: Graham Steadman
 
Current Squad: Underlined are new signings coming in the summer 2014
 
Forwards
Props: Grant Shiels, Oliver Tomasczyk, Keiron Brookes, Scott Wilson, Jeff Hallam, Rob Vickers , Eric Fry
Hookers: Matt Thompson, Scott Lawson, George McGuigan, David Nelson, Rob Hawkins
Second Rows:Scott MacLeod, Sean Tomes, Frasier McKensie, Dom Barrow, Callum Green  
Back Row:Ally Hogg, Will Welch, Richard Mayhew, Andy Saull, Mark Wilson, Chris York, Ben Morris, Semisi Taulava

Backs
SH's: Chris Pilrgrim (Signed for Leeds), Warren Fury, Mike Blair, Andy Davies, Ruki Tipuna
Fh's: Joel Hodgson, Rory Clegg, Phil Godman, Craig Willis 
Centres: Juan Pablo Socino, Jamie Helleur, James Fitzpatrick (Signed for Leeds), Alex Crocket, Adam Powell, Danny Barnes, Gonzalo Tiesi, Chris Harris  
Wing: Ryan Shortland, Noah Cato, Zac Kibirige, Sinoti Sinoti, Sean Brown, Tom Penny, Lee Smith
FB's: Tom Catterick, Alex Tait, Simon Hammersley

Out of contract Summer 2014:
Grant Shiells  
Oliver Tomaszczyk  
Gary Strain
Sean Tomes  
Ian Nagle (Trial till end of season)
Harry Spencer (Trial till end of season)
Chris York
Warren Fury  
Joel Hodgson  
Alex Crockett  
Ryan Shortland

Yeah id go along with that Sarge.

Can i swap Cato for Kibirige though. Just not a fan of Cato's.

I thought he showed up really well yesterday GF, defence was solid and always lively.

He's had his moments in a couple of games this season , im just not totally convinced...but im not averse to being persuaded to change my mind by consitant performances   

It would be nice to Kibrige getting some game time.

I thought McKenzie played well and I like Nagle, they'd be a great combo.

Very interesting "A" side to play Durham University.

Very fast and lively back row...big ol second row.

The backs look exciting aswell and that highly rated young Leicester winger El Mahdi gets a run out. Wondered what had happened to him.

1 James Hallam (c)
2 George McGuigan
3 Gary Strain
4 Sean Tomes
5 Ian Nagle
6 Ben Morris
7 Dan Temm
8 Harrison Collins

9 Chris Pilgrim
10 Rory Clegg
11 Tahir El Mahdi
12 Craig Willis
13 Tom Penny
14 Sean Brown
15 Tom Catterick

16 David Nelson 17 Sam White 18 Mark Forster 19 Harry Spencer 20 Ollie Hodgson 21 Harry Snowdon 22 Andy Davies 23 Tom Grimes

What has Clegg done to upset Richards

I know...i said that to some of my mates.

He looked good in the couple of recent games...then just gets dumped for God Awful Godman.

Its these sort of selections that really infuriate me about Dean at times.

Anyway whats your views on that side? Could be quite interesting to watch.

6 week ban for Brookes!

Anyone going up this Friday for the U20s game?

I passed up free hospitality tickets the other week thinking i'd be at work!

Absolutely disgraceful decision by the RFU!!!!!

The Ref was completely at fault...

And i see Fitzy is joining Pilgrim at Leeds by signing a 2 year deal with them.

Good move for club & player I think

Yeah i agree. If only he had a little bit more creativity and skills he could have been a top player.

But good luck to him.

I see we are in the process of buying Gateshead Thunder Rugby league club.

Whats your thoughts on that.

It's a interesting one with Gateshead RUFC playing out of Thunder aswell. Might just turn them into a feeder club.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Absolutely disgraceful decision by the RFU!!!!!

The Ref was completely at fault...

i have to disagree. Brookes was out of position, it took a full arms length in order to push the ref. No way was he getting to the player running through the hole.

There for he must of been trying to push the ref onto the player running through. Although i agree 6 weeks is harsh.

The move for Thunder seems an odd one, what do the Falcons gain from it? It's not like they produce a multitude of excellent RL players. I can't imagine they get huge crowds either, so there doesn't appear to be market to be tapped into. Odd.

Possible ground share Cumbrian? Would help will rent I guess during the summer months.

I suppose. To be honest I'd forgotten that we were renting the ground from Northumbria University.

yeah i think they're looking at it from a business purpose.

They play in the summer so KP should have a few games and will help with costs (though im not sure how many fans they'll get)

I see that young Michael Tait is coming to Edinburgh for a year.
I'm going to guess that there isn't a font size in the world large enough to write the word 'meh'?

Strange one , He's had quite a good season this year far. 

I think Lee Smith will end up as our full back next season.

15.Smith
14.Shortland
13.Powell
12.Hueller
11.Kirbrige
10.Clegg
9.Blair

9/12/13/15 I'd be really happy to see line up.

It is Michael Tait signing for Edinburgh.

Is there an Alex as well?

Alex Tait is our starting FB, Michael is usually a centre and gets little to no game time.

Alex is Matt Taits younger brother plays 15 for us. 

Just checked on Twitter and it is Michael who has signed for you , wasn't he on loan up your way early on this season?

Sounds like we got the wrong Tait then.

Michael had a short spell with us last year and was average at best.

You certainly did , He's a championship player.

He will probably be 5th or 6th choice centre at Edinburgh, and can't really see the need to sign him.

How's Ben Atiga getting on? He looked a good buy on paper , was disapointed by him the pre-season game against us the other year.

Last year he was poor to awful, and was clearly not fit enough for pro rugby. Towards the end of last season and early this season he was a lot better, as he was a lot fitter. He has become a good solid 12, but hasn’t featured much in the past few months. With Andreas Strauss signed I can’t see Atiga getting a new deal.

Sorry, it was of course Michael Tait. I would have been more excited about Alex, tbh.

Phew....you had me a little worried there George. Alex is one of our most consistant performers, he'd be a loss.

I was going to pretend we were taking Godman back.
That would have made your day...

Don't tease George!

You can have Godman for free!!

We'll give you a dozen bottles of Brown and a family sized white chocolate Toblerone if you keep him.

Well i am partial to my Broon ale.. but i only eat toblerone at christmas...and theres nothing festive about Phil Godman!   
2 bottles of buckfast and its a deal!!   

It appears the clear out has began then...Pilgrim, Fitzy, Tait out. Who will follow?

Also with tane, Golding and Del Fava retired we are going to have space and salary in the squad.

I still think he'll not replace them ...rather he'll work with the academy players and only bring in one or two real quality players.

I really hope so GF, we seem a bit behind on the recruiting.

Well i can see others going aswell...

Crocket
McLeod probably retiring
Fury is just a poor SH
Thompson - We have Lawson, McGuigan and young Nelson coming through.
Shortlands contract is up. Will he get replaced? Surely Kibirge is ready for a permanent spot now.
Godman is appalling

See Franck Montenella has left the club by mutual consent.

Shame really, I thought he was our best LH when fit although he's hardly been fit!

The exodus continues........

Wow i hadnt seent that one Sarge.

We're in trouble at LH now then. Vickers and Hallam with Brookes covering?

Montanella has barely been fit all season from the reports..likewise Shiels

Montanella should be a bigger loss than he is but i think he's played 4 games at most.

Vickers has kicked on at 1 and I'v always had a sneaky feeling Brookes will be moved across to 1 next year with Wilson starting more at tight end.

We're in trouble this season though at a critical time...and i completely forgot Brookes is banned for 6 games.

That leaves us with Vickers, Hallam and Stain as LH's!!!

I've heard Shiels should be fit for Gloucester

Player of the season so far who would you go for?

I'd go for one of Rob Vickers , Kieron Brookes , Andy Saull or Alex Tait.

Saull has played about 5 games hasn't he???

Not sire

When iv seen him hes been tops

Anyone going tonight?

I have a feeling Vickers will get player of the season...

I'd go for Blair

GeordieFalcon wrote:I have a feeling Vickers will get player of the season...

Only for his performance since switching to prop - god he stank as a hooker