To be fair there are hardly any out and out 7's out there at the moment. But I wouldn't have minded seeing Godinet partner Gaskell.

Someone didn't want him.

And Paul McShane MoM for Cas at SH.

Phil Joseph played quite a bit of hooker in his younger days. He was a man child.

Well, we could put AoB at half back and play Lumb at hooker. That might work given AoB's quick, darting run style

Daniel Mortimer from the Titans.
Signing of Nathan Peats means they now have 4/5 hookers on their books and he has not been seen much in their first team.
Was a halfback at the roosters but has been playing 9 now and again the GCT.
Still young and could do a decent job.
Just a suggestion, seen as smith would know him reasonably well, and with the signing above, seems to be on the outer.

He was once the golden child of the Eels not kicked on from the early days really.

I'm aware, but we don't need a jarrod sammut type of player.
Mortimer would fit the bill as a steady, solid, controlling halfback.
And with his age, him ,Gaskell and obrien could have a good few years together.

Smith is still in oz for a week or so, I don't see any harm in asking him the question if he fancies 5 months in the uk, maybe longer if we are promoted.

What about Tim Smith? His dad might highly recommend him? But hide your car keys.

London giving a trial to a New Zealand born standoff this weekend plus Leigh unveiling Burns. So that's two clubs managed to find a half whilst we're still searching

London seem to be stockpiling halfbacks. Already got Barthau, Eliab, Leatherbarrow and Keyes at the club, and Jack Bussey has been playing 6 for them recently.

As I've said, would much rather we didn't sign a player for the sake of having signed a 7. I'd much rather that the club put it's efforts into finding the RIGHT 7

The tragedy is the club didn't put its efforts into acquiring a 7 because it wasn't seen as a priority. Things seem to have changed now but it's a panic. Unless the Smith connections can pull an unknown rabbit out of an Aussie hat, which at least is now a realistic thing to hope for

How did Jacob Trueman go on today? Worth an extended run in the team?

Looked too small tbh. Another yr or two growing physically and he could be useful. Thought Swinton targeted him for both there tries. Put a nice bomb up which was unlucky not to result in a try.

Didn't seem to fazed by his debut. But he was, rightly, kept out of the firing line for over an hour because too many of the Swinton players were going head hunting. Put up one good bomb and supported a couple of breaks well and would have had a debut try if he'd been spotted supporting a break down the middle. Very early for him though, I'll look forward to seeing how he develops in 2017 after a full time pre season. Not the answer for this year's middle 8's but good to see the academy is producing the goods.

Yeh Trueman didn't see much of the ball but he looked like he was keen to back up the ball carrier. He really should of gone over for his debut try but didn't get the pass from whoever it was who made the break (Pitts?).

Didn't do anything wrong though and hope he gets another chance or two this year.

yeah it would definitely be nice to see him get another crack there. Would certainly choose him ahead of Purtell, Haggerty etc

I would agree with that. Couldn't fault his effort or enthusiasm, but he looks like he needs a bit more physical growth before he's ready for first team. That's of course no fault of his own, he's only 17 after all. If Meathead Josh Barlow had gone for him (as he did almost every other player), he may have seriously hurt him.

Was Clare who made the break; Trueman was in support but Clare seemingly had his eyes on one thing only as he was on a hatrick... Good to see the young lad there in support though. Clare for me can be a bit greedy from time to time; there were other instances yesterday where I felt he could have played an easy pass out to Caro and left him in but chose instead to have a go.

As for Trueman; whilst he's nowhere near ready, he's a good option as backup if nothing else... I'd gladly see him get a game in the halves infront of Addy, Purtell, Haggerty etc. Though yesterday was the best game i've seen Oscar Thomas have in a bulls shirt. Prior to the (hopeful) arrival of a new 7, i'd be content with him alongside Gaskell in the halves.

Would love to see Ethan and Joe kept in the fold though. Blythe was absolutely woeful and has been for a long time, and OB looks so much better when spelled... Will be interesting to see what Rohan makes of it!

Disagree about Clare, i think it was just a case of him not seeing Trueman, he was looking at the man supporting him on his onside who was covered. On not passing on Caro, the ones i remembered him not passing i agreed with Clare as Caro wouldn't have scored and more likely being bundled into touch. Clare was trying to draw his man in (which is another skill we've been lacking in this year.) Thought this was a skill we looked much better at yesterday.

Agree about Thomas. For me we now go with Clare at FB, Gaskell at 6, Thomas at 7, and Addy at 13 and stick to it until a decent 7 is signed up. We need some consistency of players playing in their positions week in and week out. I'd also make Thomas our goal kicker as Addys conversion rate just isn't good enough and will cost us in tight games. Also thought Thomas's general kicking game was better than Gaskells. Hopefully Smith will be more patient with Thomas than Lowes, He's still raw and will make mistakes, but hopefully Smith will takethose on the chin and playing him more will see Thomas's confidence rise. Unlike Lowes who played him here there and everywhere, then brought him off because he threw an intercept pass. Sure that did his confidence world of good.

Agree about Blythe, but thankfully Smith doesn't and won't have his little group of favourites so Blythe won't be able to get away with that performance for too long

"London giving a trial to a New Zealand born standoff this weekend plus Leigh unveiling Burns. So that's two clubs managed to find a half whilst we're still searching

"

We (Leigh) aren't signing burns, but we are talking to an Australian 7, formally of London broncos.

www.loverugbyleague.com/news_219 ... water.html

www.loverugbyleague.com/news_219 ... water.html

Clearly Mr Ferres has been working extra hard to find a HB in last 6 months. How long have Leigh needed one? A week?

I feel a little for Ben Reynolds.

He's constantly the "backup" halfback at Leigh, and every time it looks like he might get a chance, they bring someone else in and he goes back to being backup. To make matters worse for him, they brought him back from Dewsbury where he would have had a regular spot all season, when Brierley left and Rangi went on "a break", but now he's stuffed back in the reserves again once Drinkwater gets here.

If I were Reynolds, I'd be asking for a move by now, as they don't seem to want him.