Newcastle Falcons Season 2014/2015 - Closed, use new one.

First topic message reminder :

UPDATED FOR 2015 / 2016

Manager: Dean Richards
Head Coach: John Wells
Forwards Coach: John Wells
Defence Coach: Graham Steadman
Attack Coach: Dave Walder

Current Squad (A= Academy):
Forwards
Props: Taione Vea, Jon Welsh, Scott Wilson, Ben Harris, Rob Vickers , Eric Fry,

Hookers: Scott Lawson, George McGuigan, Rob Hawkins,
David Nelson (A)

Second Rows: Dom Barrow, Callum Green, Kane Thompson, Josh Furno,
Glen Youngs (A), Will Witty (A), Sean Robinson (A), Harry Snowdon (A),

Back Row: Ally Hogg, Will Welch, Richard Mayhew, Nili Latu, Mark Wilson, Uili Kolo'ofai, Dan Temm,
Brian Tuilagi (A), Joe Craggs (A), Calum Chick (A)

Backs
SH's: Sonatane Tukulua, Ruki Tipuna, Micky Young,
Dan Taylor (A),  Ruaridh Dawson (A)

Fh's: Tom Catterick, Mike Delaney,
Craig Willis (A), Brett Connon (A)

Centres: Juan Pablo Socino, Adam Powell, Gonzalo Tiesi, Andy Tuilagi, Chris Harris ,
Adam Redman centre (A), Tom Penny (A)

Wing: Sinoti Sinoti, Alex Tuilagi, Giovanbattista Venditti, Marcus Watson, Zac Kibirige,
Dan Marshall (A)

FB's: Alex Tait, Simon Hammersley

Contracts yet to be agreed:
Oliver Tomaschyk
Scott MacLeod
Warren Fury
Jamie Helleur
Noah Cato
Rory Clegg - Going to Australia

Why do you think that Micky?

He's coming to the AP , And we're not making much noise and part of Deano's plan was to have top internationals in the side by next season.

A guess then lol

Well Kolo'ufai scored then went off..... presumably injured.....

Would be amazed if you guys got Foley - he would be some acquisition though and would change a lot of people's perceptions of you.

Well another win....39-19.

Off to defrost...Bbrrrr

That's a big scoreline, the teams looked pretty even on paper.

Sgt

Whats your thoughts on the FH situation. I know we need to bring a good one in...and yes someone like Foley would be immense...but I think Catterick is showing the talent that has lessened the need to put such a huge outlay on someone like Foley would require.

Would it not be best to find a good 10 to compete with Catterick (Clegg as third choice) and strengthen some more critical positions like front row...

I'm really liking Catterick GF, he's certainly got a big future.

As you say, if we had a choice I'd prefer 2 top props. I could cope with a decent 10/12 rather than a top class option like Foley. I do rate Foley very highly though, he'd be a real coup.

No doubting it would be a huge signing...I just worry about putting all the finance in to one player when I still think the front row is a far bigger issue...both starters AND depth.

Scott Wilson will be first choice but hes stuill very much a work in progress....and with Brookes off...well that's all we've got. Tomas is a decent back up when he can be bothered.

As for LH....well its woeful...

LH is barely AP standard, Vickers just scrapes in. Deano must know this, we get battered every week. I would love Foley to come but agree we have other priorities. If we can get him and 3 or so props I'd be over the moon.

Was there a re-signing in the programme today?

Not sure mate didn't get the programme.

Chris Harris 2 years

Ah cool. He's played very well this season. 25 so he needed a big season.

Im looking forward to seeing what Penny can produce at centre aswell. Looks a cracker and hes a place kicker.

Yea he's looked a bit off AP level at the min.

I'd be happy losing Barnes & Heuller with Harris coming through, I'd be tempted to give him a run at 13. Better than Powell?

Barnes should be shipped out...done nothing.
Helluer possibly, though I think he has his uses in the right games if he wasn't too expensive.
Not sure I would keep Tiesi either.

Socino
Powell
Helleur
Harris
Penny
Andy Tuilagi

They give you a nice amount of different options for different games.

Id maybe look for another EQ centre...who is a nice runner.

We do have quite a few foreigners and it might be good to reduce that a bit.

I like Powell Sgt...he just keeps things ticking over nicely.

Falcons Development Team v Durham University Monday February 2nd – KO 19:30

1 Piers Goodwill (Newcastle Uni)
2 David Nelson
3 Juan Pablo Orlandi
4 Sean Robinson
5 Will Witty
6 Callum Chick
7 Dan Temm
8 Chris York

9 Andy Davies
10 Craig Willis
11 James Christie
12 Peter Weightman (Northumbria Uni and Tynedale RFC)
13 Tom Penny
14 Joe Nellany (Leeds Uni and Darlington Mowden Park RFC)
15 Dan Marshall

Replacements 16 Jack Beckwith, 17 Simon Uzokwe (Sunderland Uni and Darlington Mowden Park RFC), 18 Mark Irving, 19 James Phillips (Newcastle Uni), 20 Joe Craggs, 21 Dan Taylor, 22 Brett Connon, 23 Ben Stevenson

Interesting mix of players in there tonight. I wouldn't mind seeing it to be honest. Especially young Willis at 10.

45- 19 final score....

Will Witty scored...he's got a knack of scoring tries hasn't he....and the latest young lad to sign pro forms with us from the academy ...young No.8 Calum Chick got on the scoresheet aswell...

Can you ban this idiot?

Which idiot?

Was it the one posting a link to shoes? posted it on NUFC thread.

Yea, posted a virus or something

Micky Young signs on a 2 year deal

Is that the 'big' signing that Driver was talking about Pooly? I thought you had a couple of decent scrum halfs anyway, seems a slightly odd signing to me.

I don't think it was ever published as big Ozzy, Driver added his own spin lol.

There's rumours of Blair retiring so we'd need another option better than Fury. I'm happy with him tbh, even if he's 2/3rd choice he'll add depth. He's certainly improved since he was last here.

Driver called the Young deal a few weeks back, I wonder if his other prediction will come through.....

I hadn't heard that Blair might be retiring.

What was his other prediction?

There's runours of Blair retiring, he'd be a loss.

Foley coming in.

Foley would be excellent.

The Premiership is going to be seriously competitive next season.

I'd be very happy with Foley but with Catterick coming through nicely hope we strengthen the front row as a priority.

Is Foley guaranteed now then?

Don't forget Dean likes to changes things round a bit so Catterick will still get loads of gametime...and it gives you two pretty special FH options.

However I do agree with Sgt...I really hope we strengthen the front row.

Blair would be a big loss in my opinion. However Tipuna has been a great signing and young Andy Davies certainly looks like he has something. And theres obviously the world class Fury...

Oh I didn't see the Mickey Young return was confirmed. AH im not sure on that one. Another who couldn't get away quick enough for bigger and better things....and done what??

Tipuna 1st choice, Andy Davies second Youngs 3rd.

Foley is still a rumour. Team for Irish:

15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Sinoti Sinoti, 13 Adam Powell, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tom Catterick, 9 Mike Blair, 1 Eric Fry, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Scott Wilson, 4 Calum Green, 5 Scott MacLeod, 6 Mark Wilson, 7 Will Welch, (C) 8 Ally Hogg

Replacements 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Alex Rogers, 19 Dom Barrow, 20 Richard Mayhew, 21 Andy Davies, 22 Alex Tait, 23 Jamie Helleur

Pretty much a full strength backline. Great to see Barrow back, that front row is in for a tough day.

Strong team for a dead rubber in the LV. Guessing Richards wants to pick up some momentum back into the AP next week.

Your front row should be fine. Second choice pack from Irish (apart from Rouse), with a few starters behind:

15. Tom Homer; 14. Topsy Ojo*; 13. Eamonn Sheridan; 12. Eoin Griffin; 11. James Short; 10. Myles Dorrian; 9. Tomás O’Leary*; 1. Leo Halavatau; 2. Jimmy Stevens; 3. Halani Aulika*; 4. Nic Rouse (Captain); 5. Sean Cox; 6. Kieran Low*; 7. Conor Gilsenan; 8. Daniel Leo*

Replacements: 16. Mike Mayhew; 17. Ken Dowding; 18. Richard Palframan; 19. David Lyons; 20. Ollie Curry; 21. Darren Allinson; 22. Theo Brophy-Clews; 23. Fergus Mulchrone

That said, no loan or Academy players in the starting 15 so it will hopefully be competitive.

It should be a good game. I think we might have the edge but it should be closer than last week.

Another good result, 5 tries to 1 away from home can't be too bad.

Was a really weird game, almost like an exhibition throw about. Both teams tried to run everything, you did better at it than we did. We should have had a penalty try, which would have been a more accurately reflective scoreboard.

Another W on the board all makes for good reading, I'd like to see us try and win the LV Cup. Be a mint day on the sauce at the final.

We've been knocked out as far as I'm aware.

Didn't necessarily mean this year, realistically it's our best shot at Silverware

Just continue getting wins, scoring tries...that'll do me nicely.

Any news of the signings yet? Do we need any

This LH Harris from Leeds is doing the rounds, he's signed up till 2016 though.

Harris is done deal Pooly , just working out how to get him out of contract.

Do you know the RFU give Championship clubs money for players joining AP clubs who they consider having the potential to be internationals.

Also announcement tonight at 7:30

Who is he - Harris?

Another lad from Poor Leeds. We take Barrow, Green and Harris off them and give them Fitzy and Pilgrim...doesn't seem a fair swap....

He's from Rotherham about 22/23, him and Hill have rolled a few teams over in the scrum apparently.

Just checking his profile on Leeds...very promising indeed!
25 Yo, 6'3 and 19.5 stone....

At least its positive to see they recognise the problem area...

Hill is an excellent prospect too, I'd take either

Can we have BOTH ....

Sad Leeds lose so many players....

I think we're trying for Hill but he's on a few shopping lists.