Matt Calland confirms in today's Courier that Luke will not be returning to Fax but is staying in Sydney to play there. No actual teams mentioned, but at least he won't be playing against us next year.

All the best Luke and thanks for a great year in the Blue & White. Hope we can see you wear it again sometime.

he proved he was what was needed and we are champions. thanks to him for helping achieve this.

I thought Branno was quality and its a shame to see him go, Its not what i would have wanted, But from this its rather clear he is a Journeyman just after a paydeal, I much prefer what we seem to be getting this year, Some Local Lads with experience along with some youth to train up and develop, Hopefully some with loyalty too.

Ido fear however with Branno, Holroyd, Royston gone that we will not be the same expansive attacking team of last year. Time will only tell.

No need to hit the panic buttons just yet... we have time and MH, and I reckon he will pull in some additional attacking talent

Exactly.

sad to see him go, he did everything that was asked of him, even play centre in the biggest game of the season.

at least he hasnt joined anyone in our league

but jones n greenwood to attack too.

I'm sorry, where was i panicking ?. i said time will tell, I have every faith in MH & MC, Unfortunatly i cannot say the same for the BOD.

Yes we have Danny Jones and Miles greenwood, Miles has been out for over a year, Danny Jones should go ok but he is with the big boys now, Hopefully the experience of the ones around him will get him to where we need him to be, He is a young lad and i saw at Keighley when we beat them how much it got to him, he really wanted to prove a point to his home side, Passion and pride are whats needed and he has this in abundance, MC and team can do the rest with the coaching.

Like i say, not worried, just awaiting a Big Gun or 2..

The likes of Nash, Branighan and Bannister weren't exactly "Big Guns" and they did far more than our main "Big Gun" signing Stanley Gene.

The squad is taking a very workmanlike like look about it at the moment, no hot-shots nor Prima-Donnas, just what I want from a Fax team.

Agreed, as much as a "Big Name" signing helps shift shirts/season tickets/sponsorship packages ect, we dont need one at the moment, We have the marketing point that we are champions.

Big Names usually demand big money, and can bring big ego's to the club potentially causing disruption.

If we can retain most of last years squad, and make a few more decent signings (Danny Jones as an example) then we wont have to worry too much

As for Luke Branighan, Im glad he won't be facing us next season, shame he couldnt stay but c'est la vie.

He was a valuable member of the team this year, and won't be forgotten quickly, may see him back one day, we'd never have thought Ben Black would return but it can happen, who knows...

To call him a Journeyman is Unfair, theres a lot of players who move clubs, its a short career and they have to make what money they can, if a player is good enough to warrant a bigger salary elsewhere, or another club is willing to pay more, sometimes its best to let them move on, no point blowing a big chunk of money on one player.

Not sure you boys really need anyone else...

Gene - Clayton
Branighan - Jones
Wrench / Larder (one???) - Smith
Thamghart - Gannon
Royston - Greenwood

Wouldn't be too upset if I was you I tell yea

Danny ran us ragged at Cougar Park last season - he will be fine

also ran the show on SKY at the shay, mom IIRC

Danny has always been a quality player IMO, its easy to forget that when he was at Fax last time he was just a boy and was very unlikely to get regular game time. We will just have to wait and see what the new season brings.

As an outsider, I have some genuine doubts about Jones being a good signing for you guys. Its commendable that you've re-signed a local lad, but he just seems to lack a bit of genuine half-back 'class' for mine. He did well at the Cougars, admittedly, but he's now very much a smaller fish in a bigger pond, and it'll be interesting to see if he can develop his game beyond simply having a decent kicking game. I suppose time will tell. I just don't think he's an adequate replacement for Branighan OR even Holroyd, but I've been wrong in the past I guess.

Thanks for your opinion, don't you worry yourself too much about it Jimbo.

The first time we had Danny I would be inclined to agree with you, he just never looked to have that something which made him stand out or think he could be something special.

However since he left and played at Keighley his game has improved incredibly. Watching the highlights of the Euro Nations tournament, he can play very well indeed alongside SL regulars like Lee Briers and against SL regulars and excel, he laid on some beautiful tries as well as a great kicking game, he certainly didn't look like a small fish in a big pond.

Branighan is a big loss as he took the team on an extra level with his organisational play, astute kicking game as well as being willing to mix it with the rough stuff, I honestly believe Jones will be a great replacement.

Sorry Luke isn't coming back next season he is a quality player and good luck to him nxt season in oz but I think we've made some good signings and 2011 is gonna be another blue and white year

I think the credit for Danny's development has to go to Barry Eaton. He has done a great job passing on the tricks of the good scrum half. I don't think Danny would have developed into the player he is now if he had stayed at 'Fax

I have every confidence that Danny will fill the rather big boots of Branno rather well

Gutted brannos wont be cont be coming back we will miss him big time.

Danny Jones is Danny Jones and not Luke Branighan. Danny will not be like Luke so think we should stop trying to compare. I think Barry Eaton being a half back himself has helped Danny heaps and deserves a lot of credit not just for Danny but for what he has achieved at Keighley. Danny will go OK. He maybe lacks the experience of Luke or Holly but he is still young with plenty of talent and fire. Its upto MC and co to get that out while playing for Fax. That may take time. Lets be patient and see Danny for what he is.

If Danny replace Branno who replaces Holly?

Hasn't Matt Calland already stated he's still looking for another half back, due to bowman not been tied down, lets see who we get, there could be a surprise along the line yet

Shame that holly has retired still think he could of done a job next season.