Now confirmed by the club. England handed in a transfer request and has left to join Featherstone. That's a blow!

Meh. He's looked good in pre season but was really inconsistent last year. We'll need a replacement thats for sure but if he wants out then I wouldn't want to keep an unhappy player.

Glenn Morrison will have to put his boots on if we can't get a replacement for England.

Haha having seen Glenn playing for Salem recently I would say they'd be better getting one of us to play.

I think Peposhi might get a contract now. He's looked promising in pre season and Greenwood certainly thinks he's earned a deal.

On Fev it's interesting that England has gone there. John Davidson reported earlier this week that some of their players have been paid late again and the RFL are aware.

Don't think they're paid late for the current payroll, think it's more some players who were on big contracts last season are chasing owed money. Would have thought that sort of stuff would have been a trigger for being in special measures and not being able to sign new players.

Don't think England gets in our strongest 17 and if Pepsohi does sign, it addresses the lack of depth for that position, which we need for a long season. We need to bring another player in either at Hooker or prop IMO as we are looking light in some areas.

Fev have picked themselves up a good player though.

I always thought England was a good player for us in defence, attack & workload. Discipline was generally his main weakness, especially when fatigued.

On his day England was really good but for me he was inconsistent and never hit great heights over a run of games. I expect he'll become the next Adrian Morley now he's left!

Local lad isn't he? they've signed a good player IMO but I assume we've got a replacement lined up if it's now been announced.

Thanks

Keith x

Well, I hope it's the right move for him and it doesn't end up like another Pickersgill.

Maybe hope is too strong a word: If he wanted out it's pointless keeping him, so as long as his leaving isn't going affect the squad and training I don't rightly care...

Agreed, and interesting that you mention Pickersgill whose career seemed to stall at Fev and Fax and is now going backwards. Can't help but wonder if he'd still be a better option than McGowan on loan.

No need to have a player lined up as 2024 is the most pointless season ever.

I disagree
If you finish 9th compared to 3rd/4th lose IMG points.

We already know Wakefield have been promoted and they'll do well with the squad they put together but we need to be aiming to finish second behind them if we are serious about building the IMG grading over the next few years.

Plus if Wakefield didn't win the league it would be absolutely hilarious and make a mockery of the whole thing.

Thanks

Keith x

Was listening to Gledhill and apparently there is absolutely no fall out, it's just the commute from Fev that is just too far!

Sounds like utter bobbins to me. He's either been tapped up with a higher offer or the club were happy to offload him for whatever reason. Don't see why they would grant a release so quickly unless another player was already lined up or they wanted him gone.

Player swap with Fev?..
England maybe doesn't fit into the culture EOC is trying to build?
A hang over from the unruly class on 2022?.

Disbelieve it if you want, but that's exactly what I'm hearing as well. No one teed up to come in, apart from the two kids from Saints, if they decide to offer one, or both a contract but that's nothing to do with what's happened with England.
Players have family lives too and sometimes that's the most important thing.

Don't worry about losing points the much tougher aspect us gaining points and while we are stuck with Odsal been a ehole thats not changing.

Well, it doesn't quite ring true to me. If they saw him as a big part of the squad, I would expect the club to speak with the player and agree to the release only once a replacement was signed. That would seem a fair compromise if both parties were on good terms? Just my thoughts.

There was a fall out between player and members of the coaching team.

Eliot Peposhi has signed a one year deal. I guess he's England's replacement. Far less experienced but has shown plenty of potential in pre season.

Played a lot for Saints reserves last year.

Wonder what the fall out was sounds like it's turned nasty

Thanks

Keith x

Peposhi has been there for at least 5/6 weeks now, trying to earn a contract, well before any talk of England leaving. Eliot is a really exciting young talent, played really well in the reserves last season at Saints and will add to the squad. But he's not Brad England's replacement, someone else is coming in.

Sound like someone with insider knowledge?

That's annoying. He'd be ace for us but TBH he's better than Championship. Wankfield beat off Leigh to sign him!

Thanks

Keith x