Yessir, and some of us predicted this several weeks ago but were soundly shot down by the naysayers and miserablist that dominate this place.

No they didn't, nobody did. And some you included said you were happy to go with what we had.

Quote ="cheekydiddles"I think Wigan want Mossop as well which is why I suspect they've only announced Patrick on a one year loan deal and shipped out Hughes so they can sign Mossop Originally when Wigan were talking to Huddersfield about Patrick it was supposed to be on a permenant longer deal and when the news about Mossop wanting a return to the UK surfaced they were unable to accommodate both as Wigan have/had first refusal on his return to SL and Mossop's first choice is a return to Wigan, hence why I suspect the Downgraded Patrick announcement today so they can land Mossop as well'" i put this on the other thread about mossop but here u are rugbyleagueweek.com.au/mossop-li ... eels-exit/ says different in wigan news which is the report the nrl mole is using in aus

Quote ="cheekydiddles"I think Wigan want Mossop as well which is why I suspect they've only announced Patrick on a one year loan deal and shipped out Hughes so they can sign Mossop Originally when Wigan were talking to Huddersfield about Patrick it was supposed to be on a permenant longer deal and when the news about Mossop wanting a return to the UK surfaced they were unable to accommodate both as Wigan have/had first refusal on his return to SL and Mossop's first choice is a return to Wigan, hence why I suspect the Downgraded Patrick announcement today so they can land Mossop as well'" i put this on the other thread about mossop but here u are rugbyleagueweek.com.au/mossop-li ... eels-exit/ says different in wigan news which is the report the nrl mole is using in aus

Yes they did, you were one of them although to be fair it was mainly Flexiwhiner.
I said I was expecting at least 2 more signings.

I was talking about no one predicted we would get rid of two players and have new signings, you included so don't tell porky pies.

This has only come about because the club are panicking on sales and the feedback of those so called naysayers.

Don't call me a liar, you've done that once before. You know exactly what I meant or you wouldn't have quoted me.


Of course it is

All at once?

The outside backs look pretty set for years to come with quality youngsters. The transition of the forwards appears to be happening now, in front of your eyes with the departure of Kirke and Bailey and the recruitment of Cuthbertson, the rumoured recruitment of others and the development of Singleton, Mulhern and hopefully Badlwinson showing something of that early promise.

The halves are going to be difficult but replacing players the caliber of Sinfield and McGuire and Burrow wouldn't be easy for any club. That said, in 2016 Sutcliffe will have been in and around the 1st team for four years, hopefully Ward will develop as a ball player and the Brierly rumours continue.

I'm not sure why you think everything is being left to 2016.

I know something about the sport. I don't know if it's more than you. We both talk a good game. But GH actually plays a good game. He constructed a competitive side for Murray within two years of inherting a pile of turds bigger than those he used to sweep from the Owlerton pitch before kickoff.

He then re-constructed that into the championship squad of 2004. He continue to tweak and re-build with the changes to the five championship squads.

Therefore, I'm happy to continue to defer to his judgment over anyone declaring they know better.

I don't think he or anyone else thinks the four legends you named are at the top of their game. The question is, however, are there better available replacements from without or within. If not, he'd be foolish to let them go for the sake of it until he has their replacements ready.

Bob on

To be honest we've been transitioning slowly ever since the trophy less season of 2010. I recall many said (although they might deny it) that we needed wholesale changes after that failed campaign (not too hard to believe after the reaction to this year when we actually won something).

What we've done is avoid the sweeping changes of seeing 4/5/6 changes in one off season to just letting players go bit by bit......Diskin, Donald, Burgess, Senior, Buderus, Ali, Webb, BJB. All important first teamers.

Doing it the way we did ended up with 2 GF's, a WCC and a CC. What would the result have been if we made bigger changes earlier? Maybe better.....maybe trophy less? Whatever you say about the club and GH and the state of the squad it has remained competitive and winning (or in the hunt for) trophies since 2010.

When McDermott took over I think most realised that they would always be a year or two when we struggled when the real core of the squad departed (Sinfield, McGuire, Burrow, Peacock, JJB) it's just a surprise when you think back to the beating we took at Wembley in 2010 to Warrington and McGuire and Peacock suffering serious injuries (the latter a lot thought would be the end of him) that we squeezed so much more trophies out of that group.

Well, I freely admit to being pretty sure there would be no more signings.

There have still been no more signings, but the release of two first team squad members means I am no longer as sure as I once was...

Latest on Ryan Brierley, Ryan handed a second transfer request in today, which was once again refused. Ryan has spoken to the Evening Post regarding wanting the move and Leigh being persistent in keeping him. This should be in the paper this week.

Bit worrying if we are pining our hopes at succession at half back on a 22year old championship player who couldn't make the grade at Castleford.

Brierley hasn't ever shown he can be on the level of Sinfield or McGuire now never mind their peak

I too didn't think they'd be any post season transfer activity (their rarely is in SL) with the exception of a hooker if Aiton got banned.

It's actually interesting to have some off season rumours for a change as for several seasons for all clubs all activity seemed to be limited to players signed up mid-season for the following year.

Times change and people change. If he didn't make the grade at Cas, presumably he was not good enough then. Doesn't mean he is 'not good enough' now.

At the Championship finals day, I was impressed by him. I think I remember some talking favourably about him after our game against them in the CC too.

It is more fair to judge someone on where they currently are, rather than to point to past 'failings' as proof of them not being currently good enough.

The 'wasnt good enough' argument means nothing. How many players in all types of sport have proven it means nothing.

Plus the lad was actually extremely highly rated at cas, by the staff and the fans. It is complete tosh to say he couldn't make it, much the same as those that say we haven't lost anyone from our own academy who has done better elsewhere.

Players need opportunities to make it, it doesn't happen without that. It just so happens the coaching team at the time at Cas did not dare risk putting it on a youngster, and put all their efforts into Rangi. The lad, just like with young players at Leeds also, decided he deserved better for opportunities and took it elsewhere to prove himself. That does not mean he failed at Cas.

I agree.some players take a little longer than others to fully blossom and at 22 he is hardly 'knocking on' in age even now is he? That is the problem with SL sometimes,especially in the half backs, we are too quick to write players off as being not good enough.Its a tough art to master.It has taken being knocked down a level for Brierley to learn his craft and he has proved himself to be a star at that level.

i think we should take a punt.quality halfs are like rocking horse poop domestically and we would big time regret it if he goes to one of our rivals and goes on to tear it up.

No one could help but be impressed by his showing against Fev. Neither could they help but notice how much space he was given in which to ply his trade. I don't think anyone can know for sure how good he can be until he's pitted against better-organised defences on a regular basis. From what I've seen of him I reckon he shows signs of being able to operate at a higher level than he is currently.

Isn't it time we bring in a very good prospect in the Halves, to learn from some very smart players who will be packing in soon? Because if we get to a point where Sinfield, Burrow and McGuire are gone at the same time, without a replacement, then we'll be Hull KR'd.

It's that old adage of 'you can only beat what is in front of you'. Ok, Fev aren't Saints or Wigan, but he did well against Fev as that was who he was up against.

I didn't see any of the Leeds v Leigh CC game but I would be interested to see comments on how people think he did in that game? If he did well directly in opposition to Leeds, that suggests he was able to match Leeds' players and therefore that he could do well for Leeds.

Moreso, with Leeds being one of the SL 'big teams' if he could cut it against them, then he would be able to cut it against at least 7 or 8 others in the League.

If he had played well against (say) London or Wakey in the CC potentially there would be more an argument to say 'that doesn't prove he is SL quality'. However, if he held his own against Mighty Leeds, surely he can hold his own generally in the league..?

But to end up at Leigh when virtually every SL is looking for quality half backs is odd?

Surely he would want to go to a full time side that is at least playing at the elite level every week?

Danny Brough was playing in the championship a few years back.

Kyle Amour was at Whitehaven. Ben Flower was at Crusaders. Chris Hill was at Leigh.

I wasn't that impressed with Brierly in the cup match against us. I thought Rudyard (?) was more impressive at stand off, if he had more pace he'd definitly be an SL player IMO.

Danny Brough went from York to Hull not the other way round, same for all the other players you have mentioned.

How many serious players have been released by SL clubs gone down a division and re-emerged as top quality SL players especially half backs?

If you look at Finn possibly the best half back in the lower league - he now looks distinctly average as teams have quickly worked him out, same goes for Jamie Ellis - although that could be the amount he eats!!

Didn't disgrace himself, that's for sure. Neither did he really stand out in a team that was admittedly playing rather well (at least to me he didn't. There will be others on this board who doubtless watched his performance more closely).