Can you see the signing of a stand-off being that which could be classed as "top class"? With all the signings we are making we appear to have more ins than outs still at the moment and we are likely to be improving offers to a few juniors too, making the amount of money available for this signing point towards the lower end of the market.

I suppose the only saving grace of this would be if Orford does come back, in which case a "recognised" ball playing stand-off of average ability would likely fit the bill and complement what we now have. Should we lose Orford though we're short on options.......

Red and Amber cuffs.

And we're coming onto the field with The Clash - I Fought The Law.

We brought in 8 in 2008 I think. Sykes, Godwin, Finnigan, Tadulala, Jeffries, Nero & Evans IIRC.

With this number of changes it takes time for the side to settle. 2008 wasn't a great season partly due to this and the coach learning on the job and partly down to some of the signings being rather average.

There are some similarities with 2010/11 but I'm hopeful that the with the McNamara drag factor removed we'll do better next year - however another halfback is essential for that to happen.

only 7 there. did we bring rinaldi in mid season 2008 or was that 2009. think tupou was mid season 2007.

I fute it. Bradford players, past, present and future, are all good lads. You could take any of them home to meet your mum.

I think we're meant to be about £150k-£200k under the cap this season and we've been told that we're going to the max for next year, so the numbers do look like they could accomodate a big name outside half.

I'd have thought that out of the ins so far only Elima and Hargreaves will be on above average money.

I'd probably add Ah Van to that too.

95-96 anyone?

On Raynor - decent signing IMO and IIRC I supported the move for him last off season.

On form he's a better winger than Halley, Sheriffe and Reardon - I don't think anyone would dispute that, would they?

Yep definite shades of 95/96. Especially with more signings to be announced.

Yep, Raynor, based on form in 2009 and early 2010 is a better winger than Halley, Sheriffe and Reardon.

not sure he'd be in the upper bracket though, I'd guess 50k region as he's relatively unproven hence the short deal to show what he can do. thing to remember is weve lost two high wage earners in menzies and nero who i'd say were both in 80-100k bracket plus sheriffe and reardon going (say 50k combined). cant see any of ainscough, walker, sibbit, raynor being on more than 30k. hargreaves maybe 40kish and elima 80k at a push.

so assuming the figure of 200k which was banded about earlier in year for our underspend was accurate then I dont see how we've really touched that yet, apart from contract upgrades for langley and kopczak. That would leave enough for one really top signing or a couple of decent ones imo.

all guesswork off course but I dont think it will be massively off the mark.

I was given to understand a few days ago that we still had "a number" of further signings to come, although there was still a fair amount of work to get them over the line. I was further given to understand that at least one would make the fans pretty happy. Make of that what you will - I have no names to share, unfortunately.

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www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... ticle.html

Interesting wording in that article 'direct replacement for rikki sheriffe'. does that imply he's going to be one of our starting wingers (implying Ah Van into ) or is it just an assumption from the reporter?.

If 2-3 names are yet to come I think it is fair to say that Potter doesn't think much of the side assembled by McNamara over the past few seasons.

To be fair, most people on here thought the same!

yep he thought so little of it that so far he's voluntarily released 2 members of it ( sheriffe and reardon). he offered both nero and wardle new deals which were turned down and menzies has only gone for cap and quota reasons.

He may have offered Nero a new deal but it could have been an offer that was down right unacceptable to Nero but had he accepted it been a great bit of business by the Bulls.

Potters hands will be tied in terms of being only able to release players who are out of contract.

In fact it is equally fair to say that we had far too small a squad last year (was it something like 18 players over 20?) because of not being able to spend the full cap, and the club has clearly been addressing that for the coming season.

I can't see what the problem is. He was only in prison for fraud. Not like he beat up a pensioner or anything

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Didn't Bradford get Ellery Hanley out of prison too? And if I recall that was for something worse than Raynor.

Should be an interesting one for you. It might come off. Good luck to you, if he still has his pace he will still be a dangerous player. Just don't give him the contract to supply your offices with ink cartridges

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IIRC didn't Raynor also get in trouble for assaulting a bouncer at a strip-club?

Not sure how I feel about this to be honest.

To be fair, he seemed to start the season well for Crusaders and a one year deal seems makes it seem like a decent enough risk. As has been said, he's not the youngest for a wing but still prbably good enough to tide us over for a year whilst we continue blooding the youngsters.

don't remember that. I remember Bailey and Walker doing something like that though.

Suspended sentence (not sure who or where), activated because of his later indiscretion.