I agree with your comments about our pack. Most of our go forward happened when Lannon came on and not just because he played well and made meters especially after contact but his work rate and effort galvanised the rest of pack. Which begs the question why didn’t our “starting” forwards play with that effort at the being of a match.
I feel we need some new hard working props and second row and a centre if wombat goes and Maizen goes to the wing.

Lets get J Ford in

https://x.com/thegamecaller/status/1714 ... KKcNIJrHDA

https://x.com/thegamecaller/status/1714 ... KKcNIJrHDA

I don't blame the board for wanting to make a big marquee signing, I just think that money could have been better spent on improving the squad in other areas. Widdop may put some more bums on seats though if marketed correctly.

https://x.com/rugbyleagueitk/status/171 ... KKcNIJrHDA

https://x.com/rugbyleagueitk/status/171 ... KKcNIJrHDA

https://x.com/ctrlfc/status/17146877914 ... KKcNIJrHDA

https://x.com/ctrlfc/status/17146877914 ... KKcNIJrHDA

If officially confirmed to make it a balanced signing the ideal situation would be if it was as well as further strengthening the other areas like the pack instead of doing so.

No doubt would generate some excitement, particularly with fans who don't normally watch Fax, obviously something the club would want. As he had 12 months left of what was presumably a very lucrative contract can't believe he would have left without a substantial pay off as an incentive to go, which should make a Fax contract offer more realistic. I don't think we're rolling in money and as has been stated above would much prefer us to spend on positions where we are weakest - not where we are strongest! Also with his recent injury record/age a 2 year contract would be an absolutely massive gamble.

I work with a saints fan who lives in brighouse , he attended some games last season at the shay , I mentioned the possibility of widdop coming and he said it would be a great signing at this level , game management and a good kicking game is something we have missed , he won’t play every game but neither will woodburn hall or Keyes so hopefully will rotate naturally. Plus having someone who has played at the highest level in the dressing room and training ground can only be a positive.

Now saying he’s retired on playing rugby league. Although it does say ‘ professionally’ so could be a play on words to once again counter mick gledhill or could be for real , we will see …

Quote ="Listenup94"Now saying he’s retired on playing rugby league. Although it does say ‘ professionally’ so could be a play on words to once again counter mick gledhill or could be for real , we will see …'" https://www.totalrl.com/gareth-widdop-o ... gers-exit/ As you say we’ll see.

Quote ="Listenup94"Now saying he’s retired on playing rugby league. Although it does say ‘ professionally’ so could be a play on words to once again counter mick gledhill or could be for real , we will see …'" https://www.totalrl.com/gareth-widdop-o ... gers-exit/ As you say we’ll see.

Lots of movement in the market but not much for us...

Nikau Williams could be the organiser we need no Thunder are popped?

Reading Widdop's statement it looks nailed on he won't be playing again.

Mixed feelings ...... he's a Fax lad and has tons of top experience including NRL ...... BUT what I saw of him in the SL highlights on TV he looked like a player at the end of his career - slow and missing in defence. He wouldn't have had an easy ride in the Championship and a very poor Cas paying him off says it all imo.

No mixed feelings from me,never even close to a priority.

https://x.com/m_shaw1/status/1715276026 ... KKcNIJrHDA

https://x.com/m_shaw1/status/1715276026 ... KKcNIJrHDA

The Club are attempting to get past financial donors to give money to enable them to sign Widdop.

This has met with very mixed results as the present BOD have failed to inject anywhere near the levels of money categorically promised when the previous BOD gave them their shares.

Sources for any of this please?

So we are chasing Olly Davies who as been released by Widnes. He would give us some competition in the back row which we need and Shaw also says Finn is looking to revamp the squad so we might get more changes than originally thought who knows. Also Castleford look like they are going to dual reg with Batley next year i wonder if we will find a new club or call it a day. I feel dirty just saying it but if we do keep it i would go for Wigan.

For mixed read Ice Cold. I know when your group were looking to take over this was one of the boards main worries that people make promises to get where they want to be but then do they follow through with them, obviously your groups last minute financial swerve to try and force the boards hand didn't work and who is to say your lot would have done any different? Its a really tough one as there has to be an element of trust that people will stick to their promises when handing over the shares.

Well thought of at Widnes and also previously being linked with Swinton, we'll see.

The fact that a player of widdops calibre is being portrayed as s””t at a lower super league club or a championship club tells me more about the fan base than the player themselves, I’m sticking my head on the block and saying widdop is a done deal and I think it’s a great signing for the club , financially wise I would imagine his wages like many other players will be subsidised by sponsors, whether it be the fraine bros or someone else . I’ve suspected Olly Davies was on the radar for a few weeks based on social media activity, a player that has perhaps gone under the radar but who is accomplished in attack and defence in the second row , a position in much need of competition, like faxcar has mentioned the Widnes fans are gutted he’s left so that is a positive. Walmsey and maizen are travelling Europe at the moment and this is documented on instagram . The club as been very quiet at the moment, hoping this is a positive rather than a negative.

I've seen the Instagram talk / banter and there's a few on holiday at the moment, was that Daryl Powel disguised as a waiter on one of the pictures with Wombat and Jake with the bill for the meal in his hands saying "Sign Here" or was something other than the bill?

The fraine bros pictured on fb with walmsey at the awards night are successful business men from Halifax/ Huddersfield, one is involved with an Italian ice cream company and frozen foods in general , the other is based in Halifax , Elland I believe is involved in construction. Sponsors have historically been involved with subsidising wages . Walmsey and maizen are on holiday in Budapest and Austria , I’m led to believe from two different sources that maizen is yet to sign a contract extension, don’t know why or if indeed this is true , Another player that has recently engaged on social media with fax is Connor Bailey , ex Wakefield and Newcastle second row and half player .

Yes I watched the full awards night and saw them, at the time I had no idea of who they were and just thought they were from the RFL or something to do with the presentation, let’s hope their showing some real interest in coming on board.

When the new board took over they said they would try and seek external investment to help the club , this is documented in the company’s house accounts statement under the category going concerns .