Post by Jim on Apr 17, 2020 10:41:43 GMT
With an up and down campaign behind them and a quietly efficient pre-season in the bag, the Merseyside Dockers go into the new season looking to establish themselves as the premier outfit in the northern hemisphere.
Hull Kingston Redskins are the current holders of that mantle but the Dockers plan to dethrone veteran mastermind Padds and his curious collection of superstars and has-beens.
The Dockers have freshened up their roster with the additions of Kiwi backs Ken Maumalo and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak while Kotoni Staggs and Corey Horsburgh step up to first grade with plenty of promise.
Among those heading through the exit door are the perennially underwhelming Richie Myler who moves to Adelaide, a club who share his knack of failing to deliver, and Auckland-bound Andrew Fifita, who links up with the likes of Tom Burgess and Ben Murdoch-Masila in what must be the ASRL's fattest squad.
Merseyside will place their faith in the core of last season's team with Josh Addo-Carr and the politically incorrect Israel Folau providing the strike, the recalled Benji Marshall tasked with supporting Clint Gutherson and new club captain David Klemmer leading from the front.
While some Dockers fans have raised concerns over a lack of depth in the halves and the ageing centre partnership of Jarrod Croker and Josh Morris, head coach Jim Green reckons his charges can cause more upset than one of Folau's Instagram postings.
"If Gold Coast can win the comp then anything is possible," said Green.
"We flattered to deceive a little bit last year but there were some good signs so we didn't feel like there was a need to rip things up.
"Getting back into the swing of things was always going to take time and we're looking forward to seeing what this year throws up.
"We're not one for targets but we know that if we can finish as the highest ranked European side ahead of Hull KR and Scandanavia then we'll be in the mix."
Hull Kingston Redskins are the current holders of that mantle but the Dockers plan to dethrone veteran mastermind Padds and his curious collection of superstars and has-beens.
The Dockers have freshened up their roster with the additions of Kiwi backs Ken Maumalo and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak while Kotoni Staggs and Corey Horsburgh step up to first grade with plenty of promise.
Among those heading through the exit door are the perennially underwhelming Richie Myler who moves to Adelaide, a club who share his knack of failing to deliver, and Auckland-bound Andrew Fifita, who links up with the likes of Tom Burgess and Ben Murdoch-Masila in what must be the ASRL's fattest squad.
Merseyside will place their faith in the core of last season's team with Josh Addo-Carr and the politically incorrect Israel Folau providing the strike, the recalled Benji Marshall tasked with supporting Clint Gutherson and new club captain David Klemmer leading from the front.
While some Dockers fans have raised concerns over a lack of depth in the halves and the ageing centre partnership of Jarrod Croker and Josh Morris, head coach Jim Green reckons his charges can cause more upset than one of Folau's Instagram postings.
"If Gold Coast can win the comp then anything is possible," said Green.
"We flattered to deceive a little bit last year but there were some good signs so we didn't feel like there was a need to rip things up.
"Getting back into the swing of things was always going to take time and we're looking forward to seeing what this year throws up.
"We're not one for targets but we know that if we can finish as the highest ranked European side ahead of Hull KR and Scandanavia then we'll be in the mix."
