Getting Desperate
The way we
feel at the moment, if Fev announced that they were going to play a match in
Timbuktu in February and that spectators would be allowed if they quarantined
for a month on their return we would do almost anything to get there!
Our 2021 Squad
There have been some very impressive signings for 2021 and we are quite excited at the prospect of seeing some of those new players. The only worry we have is that we make so many changes every season that makes it difficult to blend a team together. There’s so little opportunity for the players to gain in-depth experience of playing together. This year the ‘new boys’ amount to a total of 14 although two of them (Tom Holmes and Connor Jones) have played for played for Fev before.
A really big benefit is that we now have many players who can fill different positions and that will mean less disruption to the team if and when we suffer injuries amongst the squad.
It is symptomatic of the way the game has changed that there are now far fewer players who are real specialists in one particular position. It is a bit ironic that one position, hooker, has lost most all the skills that used to be associated with their position in the scrum, but nevertheless the skills required in the dummy-half role are still absolutely crucial and we looked very light there in what existed of the 2020 season. There are a number of players in the squad who have occasionally filled in at hooker but have been nowhere near as effective as they have been when playing in what one would describe as their natural position. So the prospect of having two decidedly specialist hookers in Connor Jones and Dean Parata is great. And we also have Tom Holmes and Fa’amanu Brown who are more than capable of doing minutes at hooker if required.
The pack is beginning to look really strong and experienced although maybe, for us, too many are in their thirties.
We have a lot of faith in those putting our squad together and are particularly looking forward to seeing how the younger recruits develop.
Our biggest anticipation revolves around the greatest of the unknowns – Fa‘amanu Brown. Where will he play and is he really as good as the videos of him seem to indicate. It’s always difficult for a young man to settle in a very different environment to that he is accustomed to but he does look to be a really exciting prospect. We know that Fev fans will give him the customary warm welcome to overseas players arriving in our little town and hope that he quickly feels the warmth of that welcome and it helps in his acclimatisation. What a pity that the present situation will make that a bit difficult.
We have
drawn up a chart of the possibilities in each position. For now, we are
foregoing any predictions of our first choice 13. We simply list them in
alphabetical order and have put players in bold font in their most accustomed
position.
Game Time
We do hope
that the club are able to ensure that all our squad get some proper game time.
Whether that be playing in the first team, out on loan, or friendlies against
other teams, it must be really difficult for lads to spend a season without
fulfilling their dreams of playing. It must be pretty despondent for them if they
are not getting a chance to play and it makes it difficult to keep up morale. As
soon as it becomes possible the return of reserve teams should be a high
priority.
Offload
It has been a very
difficult few months for the Foundation with so many of the activities that
they organise curtailed by the pandemic. One of the activities that has been
running is ‘Offload’ which is running in conjunction with Rugby League Cares.
The sessions are designed to help with men’s mental health issues and is run by
former and current rugby league players who have received special training to
enable to guide the programme. It’s a brilliant contribution to our community
and congratulations to all involved.
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