well i do agree with you - i think he is better than james and i was suprised they recalled james when we had the injury problems instead of playing crossley, i hope he gets a run this season

James is a better defender than Crossley.

I would hope that we offer new contracts as a matter of urgency to Jeffries, Newton, Lynch and Tadulala. I think that it would be far harder to find replacements of anything like the same quality than to stick with what we have. I don't pretend to have any inside information about which of those would be likely to accept a renewal.

I'll be most disappointed if we don't also retain Cook and Halley, who are proving their worth and have the advantage of counting as home grown. Sykes, too, has been doing the business for the last couple of matches. If he keeps it up, I'd feel the same about him.

I don't know enough about the off-contract junior players to make an informed pronouncement, but if Donaldson merits the hype, I hope we keep him, and likewise for Straugheir - on the strength of him covering centre, where we're relatively week. I just don't know about Tate.

Brilliant as he occasionally is, I can't see that keeping Solomona can be justified in financial or fitness terms, not to mention the fact that he blocks an overseas-trained spot. Also for overseas considerations, unless Rinaldi turns out to be a complete revelation, I don't really think I'd want us to retain him.

With Matt James, I'm relatively happy whether he stays or goes, though I suspect the latter.

That leaves Menzies and Morrison. It's a tough decision as they are both wonderful players, but currently, I hope that we retain one of them for a year. My preferred option at the moment would actually be Menzies for reasons of fitness and versatility. It may seem harsh, but I feel we ought to be able to manage in the back row with just one of those two - plus Langley, Worrincy, Cook, Burgess (if not needed at prop), Nero (if not needed at centre) and several juniors who could be brought through in the ideal way to a quality back row, without the sheer number of players blocking progress that we have this year.

The other reason I would favour retaining only one of Menzies & Morrison (and neither of Solomona & Rinaldi) would be to strengthen our ability to recruit from overseas. I can't imagine a British centre or stand-off being available who would [uradically[/u improve on what we have, so it would be good to have space for a couple of overseas players (by the way - what is next season's quota?).

Finally, I hope Deacon proves his fitness and regains his form. If he doesn't, I hope he has the grace to bow out.

I concur mate


P.s Is lynch really off back to cas??

Arguably, Hvaing both Morro and Menzies would strengthen our chances of recruiting from overseas as quality veteran Australians would attract others. I think Morro deserves another contract after the commitment and heart he has shown for the club, both I think should get to finish their careers in Red amber and black.

That's the rumour about Lynch.

If we want to progress as a club we can't keep Morrison and Menzies it's one or the other for me. So I'd be leaning in the Menzies direction mainly due to the fact he doesn't pick up as many knocks as Morrison.

I can see where you're coming from, but I think it would be unfair on Morro, who has given his all for the club in every match, to send him on his way. If he wants to see out his career with our club, we should be having serious talks about the amount of salary, but as long as it's reasonable I think he should be kept on.

Sorry but you can't have any sentiment in sport. If it was any other player bar Morrison with an injury record like his people would expect him to be released.

Sadly, I have to agree. I'd still keep him on, but that's why I'm not the coach. I'm sure Macca will do what's best for the club, after all it's all about "building for the future".

The thing is, the types of injuries Morro has been so unlucky with aren't the usual "worn out" stuff (knees, shoulders, etc) but pretty unfortunate stuff like his first-tackle wrist ligament job.

Now I wouldn't rule out that he's becoming injury prone, but reckon the jury is out. And he's that good when he does play that he deserves another run at least.

If we can keep Menzies then we do, simple as. The man remains simply awesome. And in the same pack as Morrison gives us some superb class which other teams simply put will struggle to match. These two, Burgess, and a fully fit Lynch sounds superb to me. I'd have no qualms at sending out youngsters to play with that lot around them.

6 overseas of which upto 5 can be quota. think anyone signed before end of 2008 season doesnt count as quota - just overseas.

so menzies,morro,bj,nero,semi,rinaldi would fill the six slots. would like at least one ,if not both, of morro or menzies to stay. BJ definitely to stay. nero already under contract. that leaves semi and rinaldi. assuming main signing target is a half then rinaldi could be unnecesary if we can retain newton( although I'd guess we'd have to offer him at least 2 years) as biggest advantage rinaldi offers is cover for halves. semi could retire to free up a spot for a but then we'd have to promote a winger from within - is there anyone nearly ready coming through? don't think moving halley to wing is answer as he looks much better at fullback - assuming we manage to retain dave that is.

My information is that Andy has agreed terms and will be staying.

Somebody high up at the club told me different.

Lets hope you're right....



And you're wrong!

I can't see Rinaldi being retained. That leaves us a quota space.

A SH and Centre have to be priority for the off season.

So come on stat geeks what are our options for each position in the UK and Aus!?

Why look in Oz what's wrong with PNG, Samoa, Tonga etc.

The NRL are also looking in these areas

Personally, I'd prefer someone tried and tested, that will also get the fans excited, rather than taking a chance on an unproven unknown who hasn't played at SL or NRL level.

I'd look to recruit youth from those areas and develop them rather than take on unproven at top flight players. Where do the RFL's quota rules stand in relation to bringing overseas players through the academy system?

Wouldn`t say he was high up, but someone at club told me same.

They don't come much higher than the Concert Sec at Bingley WMC.

I was told by the lad who holds the ladder for the bloke who cleans the top windows, apparently lynch was talking to himself and said ive had enough of carrying this team im off.

I don't think a centre is that urgent, when Nero and Sykes are playing well we don't have a problem, and i'm assuming you're talking about replacing Sykes, which means swapping for an Aussie or finding a talented English centre willing to come to Bradford. I'm okay with our centres, think we need another HB and this hasn't been mentioned much but we haven't got a through and through Loose forward, Langley, Burgess, Menzies and Morro can all play there but I think if a quality LF became available we should jump at it. I've talked to a few Aussies who reckon Hunt may be coming to Bradford, can't see much truth in it myself but then we could get let Tadulala go due to age -although he has been playing brilliantly- put Halley on wing and Hunt at FB.

Sykes and Nero don't ooze class though do they? IMO we're lacking a bit in this position, A Hape / Gidley / Lyon is what's required to take us forward.

Suppose so, but Sykes does give us something in attack when playing well, as does Nero. It's not a matter of urgency like a new HB though.