Well I must admit, I'm totally out of touch with what sort of condition and level Rangi is at nowadays. Clearly the options for an experienced halfback will be limited. Going down the loan route would seem risky unless we can be fairly confident it'd for the season which might also be a challenge.

Given the choice I would probably be trying to take the safe option of Keyes who we know will fit into our side. He doesn't seem to be getting a chance with KR but 2 week loans for such a pivotal position would be a big risk and potentially very disruptive.


So yeh, I'm sitting on the fence with this one!

My thoughts exactly. The number of clubs and number of apps he’s made over last 5 years doesn’t look great.

If Kear thinks he’s still got the quality (and more importantly the desire / attitude) then I’ll trust his judgement more than mine!

If its a genuine choice between Keyes and Chase then Its a difficult call. Think Keyes would slot into our systems very quickly and we wouldn't have to worry about off field issues but assume he would only be a loan so we'd be constantly at risk of him being recalled. Chase is a X factor type player but can be a handful to manage with off field stuff, advantage would be if he was a signing as opposed to a loan, which would give us stability in a key position.

TBH I'd be happy with either from a playing POV decision would come down to which is better fit for our situation.

I think HKR would like a deal for Keyes for rest of season with no recall, providing we pay his wages. It gets him off their wage bill as he seems nowhere near getting a game with them. They may think this is worth it

If I was Keyes this is what I'd be demanding (even if it's not with us) He needs to be playing reguarly. These are his peak years. 2019 was heavily disrupted with injury. 2020 was a write off. 2021 he's barely played. 3 years of not much rugby.

On Chase I'm not too sure. I'm sure he would go well with us and it takes the element of any recall away. But if we're so worried about a recall why not just go with Jowitt or Race. We have a bit of a buffer with the amount of points we've got already to give these guys an opportunity. We're not going into games not being able to afford to lose like others below us.

Jamie Ellis gone to York on loan from Leigh so that’s probably the one you were on about - needs some game time after being out injured for a while. Would have been a good short term fix for you that.

I don't agree with these short term loans, we need someone for 12 weeks so Chase is a better option. Leigh get an injury and after 2 weeks we would be back to hunting a Half Back again.

Just on loans, and without wanting to derail the thread, notice Riley Dean has been recalled by Warrington (although seeing the James Ford interview and reading the York forum, there looks to also have been a bit of a break down in relationships there)

But Warrington have recalled him because of the all-stars game coming up and with such a ridiculous schedule coming up for SL, I'd expect Robson to be recalled as well.

Well I'd go for Keyes provided it's a season long loan. Then again Chase is so unreliable I'm not sure if him coming on a permanent deal is more reliable than a 2 week loan.

Chase is also an instinctive kind of player rather than a midfield general. If it's Chase are we expecting Lilley to perform less of a running role?

Surely Chase would seem highly unlikely given JK got shut of Chisholm due to his lack of structure and off the cuff style of play. Rangi is exactly the same sort of player.

Just on a personal note id hate to see someone with a wrap sheet like Chase anywhere near the club.

Chase has been releasedb y west wales but sounds like he's going to Rochdale. Wales want a transfer fee and can't see us paying one. York have taken Ellis from Leigh and someone else ( name escapes me) from Featherstone so cant see them needing anymore halves. Usual ITK suspect is saying its a SL player we're in for so suspect Keyes or Mclleland are most likely targets.

The trouble with 'season long loans' is that the 'season long' bit rather depends on the actual deal. Often that means that, even with the best of initial intentions, after the first month the player will be available for re-call.

I do agree about Lilley. IF it were to be Chase they would not be the ideal match for my money. I guess we just have to depend on JK, he's forgotten more than I'll ever know.

I like has the ability to still do plenty of running as well as kicking if we brought a player like Chase in. The problem we had against Fev is that Lilley was having to do everything. There was an attacking set where Pickersgill didn't even touch the ball and then his attacking threat was also missing from FB.

Anyway it doesn't look like Chase is coming.

Apparently Hudds want Olly Russell loaned out somewhere for a few weeks but are waiting on injuries to Cogger and how Sezer is after not training, could be getting him.

problem is a short term loan doesnt really help us. you cant get any consistency changing your halves every few weeks. Whoever we get needs so be either a season long loan =, with no recall option, or a actual signing IMO. Apparently we have someone lined up and will be announced early this week.

agree with all of the above and said before about the downfall of short term loans ... such a pivotal position we need a signing or a season long loan end of. Broughy has bossed it and we wont see him again for 3 months (which could be never this season or at the business end)

Chase played for Cas PDRL yesterday and was a total bellend. Smashing folk off ball. Lets not touch this tool with a ty 10 foot barge pole.

On his day, Chase is unplayable. Those days were nearly a decade ago. He also comes with far too much baggage. No thanks.

It's a definite no to Chase from me too. Hopefully we'll be announcing somebody else very soon.

Chase signed for Rochdale.

I dont believe he was ever really an option.

I saw the video footage of the incident you’re talking about. He shoulder charged a lad with Down syndrome leaving him on the floor injured. Scumbag.

Don’t ever hear much these days on injury updates what the hell has happened to Matty Dawson

Its one of my pet peeves with the back office.
It wouldnt take much to publish an article every couple of weeks titled 'Casualty Ward'. Post a bit of an update how the injuries are looking, updates on how the rehab is going with the lads who have long term injuries etc.

Havnt heard a single thing about Nzongu since his injury and very little (if anything) on MDJ.

Levy's out for several months I think. Agree it would be good to get some updates.