A squad is vital, no doubt.

From my point of view, Ambler (and or Amor) could offer to Leeds what Cross has offered.

Because of recruitment of players like Cross (sub-standard) the other above mentioned players find their way out of the squad contention and are used like Blockbuster videos.

So getting Cross in to play like Cross does is moot, because it was covered already. It would have just meant retaining players within our squad who we already made the effort to scout and sign instead of farming them out.

As for Weller he is a defensive liability. Who on form is my last choice second rower compared to Ablett, Clarkson, JJB, Ali, Pitts and Kirke. Was he signed to be 7th choice second rower? I hope not.

As for Pitts, what is expected here? Alot of time has been put on his development and could be classed as a cheap experiment. He wasn't a SL regular when we signed him, and he continues not to be.

Could we live without these 2 in our squad over a season? By keeping certain others it would assist a great deal.

Knowing that Peacock would be unavailable for the first part of this season I considered it a prudent move to recruit short term to maintain a healthy squad......but then ( and here surely is the main point ) the club shipped out Ambler.... A guy who could have done just as good a job and might even now be commanding a first 17 place.

Hauraki has been another disappointment, but I can better understand his recruitment.

perhaps the coaches thought ambler and amor not good enough.

just a thought........

I needn't have bothered posting... Bloodbath covers it all here and more.

Hauraki seemed to offer an exciting youngish attacking option....we have more than sufficient workhorses to choose from in the second row. Obviously no one at the club had yet seen ( in contrast to Bloodbath and myself of course ) Delaney's future being in the second row and that it was in effect a centre we needed. Still do.

What is really puzzling is that none of the clubs - including Leeds - chasing Hauraki seemed to pick up on his defensive liabilities ... Why? ?

The frustrating thing about both players signing for me was we didn't really need them, and had players in the team of the same standard or better already

..... And they thought Cross could offer so much more it was worth blocking their progress AND blocking up a quota spot ??

Kirke is 'upping' his efforts to win a new contract.... Will it last ? Or should the club recognise its past mistakes and elevate the likes of Bradley Singleton into the first team squad.....? and Steve Ward ... And Wilson ....etc ( you get my drift )

You gave him his full Sunday name!

I am sure he will be in the 1st team regardless of kirke.

Also agree re blocking progress of youth and quota

Eastwood was the correct type of choice of signing.

Higher end, had the flair alongside the power, big unit, ticked more boxes than he had big fat crosses.

Problem here was he didn't want to be here.

God knows!!

Who'd be a coach!

They must have made the decision. I'd agree.

But was a 30+, NRL squad player, with under 100 games under his belt, the best option?

I dont think so no. Not a bad player, better than some on here think, but there were better options

Or did we leave recruitment far too late and got what was left?

We did .....and it appears we might be in line for the same again.

Rather than making average antipodean signings for the sake of it, in an attempt to justify this year's GH freebie down under... the club really should not bother.

With Origin experience too. On paper looked a decent signing at the last minute to cover the large hole in our pack left by Eastwood. Hasn't worked out so far, but he could still make a useful contribution later in the season.

I think our in-house options wasn't bad.

An ideal prop pack of Kylie, Freak JP, Biff and TMFISL is very handy to say the least.

But as G-Spot alluded to the strength in depth will always be tested. With the international on the horizon it will be intresting to see if Leeds postpone or carry on regardless. If Leeds get by in the cup against Hull and we make the semi, a win or a loss would work out. As a win sees us back at wembley but a defeat would make for a sensible opportunity to squeeze in a postponed round of rugby. Again another tricky decision to possibly make.

In related pack gossip, are we presuming Biff is getting cleaned out? I know Mac said a few weeks ago he may need some minor surgery, with getting JP and Bails back that opens the door for that. It has all been a bit hushed though.

He flirted with State Of Origin, that's true. Quite an achievement.

O'Hara and Cashmere also dipped their toes in that scene and are very no frills, grunty, physical, players. That's the player I was hoping for with Cross.

And from what I've seen of him in our 1st team and what I saw of him on Saturday a far better option than Amor.

It's fairly obvious the club thought Amor and Ambler weren't ready yet. I see no reason to think they got that wrong. So they brought in Cross. FWIW, I thought Cross was doing a decent enough job up to his omission, the odd brain fart apart (and all players have those, even TMFMISL).

There's something else springs to mind here. Do people remember what everyone was saying about peacock during his first season here? They were wrong but many posters on here were questioning the signing. They didn't know what to expect from a big name signing who was a prop. Same applies with Cross (not that is is in JPs league or a big name signing).

Good to see you supporting our antipodean contingent.... Although it only apparently extends to the average-at-best element at the moment.

Completely agree regarding amor, but not so sure any better than ambler.
TBF cross hasn't puzzled me as much as hauraki,.

On the last bit I think we are streaching. The definition of big name signing as prop!

Could our marque signing for next year be a certain Matt Cooper?

Why? He's another left centre. We may as well right off any chance of Watkins developing there if we sign another one. I also suspect Senior will be back.

Also interesting to see Morgan of KR saying overseas players are becoming too expensive. Excellent.

I think I'm one of those idiots re cross and Weller( though I do think defence is some think he can fix up in a short time)

I'm gonna get off their backs. Enough has been said.

Didn't Cooper switch to the left When Gasnier left for RU?
If we signed Cooper i'm sure he'd be able to handle the RC position for a couple of years whilst Kallum developed into the LC role.
Of course all that depends on his signing and the club sticking with the idea of Watkins as a LC.

thats providing the club still see him as a centre and not a winger

Whoever we are after I would like to think we are speaking to them now unlike last year where IMO we left it too late and just got what was left. If there is no one avalable of sufficient quality I would rather promote from within than bring sub standard players in

Indeed.