No brainer for me.

We need back rowers, Olbison is a back rower. I know he's not a world beater - but show me a list of other back rowers who are available and could be acquired within our current financial limitation...

The fact that he was evidently considering going part-time and getting a 'proper' job indicates that the offer from us was modest - presumably far less than his previous contract. So for a modest outlay we are getting someone who can operate effectively at this level, loves the clubs, wants to be here etc.

...and hopefully knows he is capable of better than we've seen recently. He's a solid second row with a fair bit of incentive, imo. I'm Happy with that.

Into his tenth year it says on the website so he'll be due his testimonial too.

happy enough retaining Olbison. Stalled a bit in his development this year but finished strongly. Gives us another solid option in backrow.

The link below contains a list of NRL player retentions & movements. It's not official but appears quite comprehensive. It lists Burr and Moseley as leaving the Titans to join Bradford. May be some truth in it. www.thekennel.net.au/forum/index ... ll.100731/

The link below contains a list of NRL player retentions & movements. It's not official but appears quite comprehensive. It lists Burr and Moseley as leaving the Titans to join Bradford. May be some truth in it. www.thekennel.net.au/forum/index ... ll.100731/

Quote ="Sensei-Bull"The link below contains a list of NRL player retentions & movements. It's not official but appears quite comprehensive. It lists Burr and Moseley as leaving the Titans to join Bradford. May be some truth in it. www.thekennel.net.au/forum/index ... ll.100731/'" Rohan Smith confirmed on Facebook (Bradford Bulls Banter) that Moseley has joined Townsville Blackhawks, along with Blake Leary.

Quote ="Sensei-Bull"The link below contains a list of NRL player retentions & movements. It's not official but appears quite comprehensive. It lists Burr and Moseley as leaving the Titans to join Bradford. May be some truth in it. www.thekennel.net.au/forum/index ... ll.100731/'" Rohan Smith confirmed on Facebook (Bradford Bulls Banter) that Moseley has joined Townsville Blackhawks, along with Blake Leary.

If you search for Kierran Moseley on twitter a couple of posts show that some Bulls fans asked the Rugby league Mole if the rumours are true. He 'liked' each of the posts and replied to one saying that he understood the deal to be just about done. He is usually spot on with most NRL related rumours.

I suppose if it is true, Rohan would be unlikely to tell a few fans on Facebook if the club was planning a big reveal/announcement as it would spoil the impact.

Although it would be easier for him to simply not respond at all.

Maybe we were close to a deal and he signed for the Blackhawks at the last minute.

Rohan Smith has confirmed in today's T & A that we are likely to sign one more player before the start of the season.

Quote ="Sensei-Bull"The link below contains a list of NRL player retentions & movements. It's not official but appears quite comprehensive. It lists Burr and Moseley as leaving the Titans to join Bradford. May be some truth in it. www.thekennel.net.au/forum/index ... ll.100731/'" Now changed to Moseley joining the Blackhawks. Even if we don't get him, with the signings of Moss & Burr, it shows Rohan clearly has a strong influence on young NRL players. Sure we'll see a few more gems signed up half way through the year. Interesting in the T&A he is trying to offload a few players as well.

Quote ="Sensei-Bull"The link below contains a list of NRL player retentions & movements. It's not official but appears quite comprehensive. It lists Burr and Moseley as leaving the Titans to join Bradford. May be some truth in it. www.thekennel.net.au/forum/index ... ll.100731/'" Now changed to Moseley joining the Blackhawks. Even if we don't get him, with the signings of Moss & Burr, it shows Rohan clearly has a strong influence on young NRL players. Sure we'll see a few more gems signed up half way through the year. Interesting in the T&A he is trying to offload a few players as well.

He's still inherited a few Lowes signings that are under longer deals than I suspect he'd have offered e.g. Halafihi and Campbell.

Best we'll do is loaning some of them out, imo. But, even then it won't be a total gain, as I very strongly suspect we won't be able to do that without subsidising above what the loaning club is prepared to pay, up to their contracted pay.

I'm sure I saw something from Smith about fringe players getting loaned out. Kind of feel that certain players will have been told there's no future for them at Bradford and as such should view loan moves as good ideas if they still want to keep playing

I think that's probably the case.

I'd guess the Bulls would tear up the contracts if any of them got something permanent elsewhere, but as we're talking about fulltime contracts we'd have to assume that's a tad unlikely and a loan looks the most likely option.

Well there's still one more signing to come in according to Smith in today's T&A

Is anyone else a bit worried about the lack of cover in certain positions?

For example all we have currently for the back row are:
Alex Mellor
Phil Joseph
Jason Walton
Tom Olbison
James Bentley

I believe Alex Foster can play there, but Rohan already said he has been signed to play centre. So that's five guys for the three slots, one of whom has played, what, one game?

Similarly with props we have
Ben Kavanagh
Adam Sidlow
Ross Peltier
Jon Magrin
Liam Kirk

Five guys for four slots? I suppose you could add Phil Joseph, but then that leaves us even shorter in the back row positions.

TLicon_biggrin.gifR I think we need at least two - preferably three - signings in the pack.

Hopefully they can move on the likes of Campbell, Halafihi, Thomas, Mendeika etc - and get some wriggle room to get more bodies into the pack. As it stands now, a few injuries and we are going to be really struggling.

Someone on here was adamant that we had signed Roche from Fev. If true then that's another prop.
You also forgot about Lachlan Burr, who I'm assuming will get the 13 shirt.
I know Rohan said that Foster will be used in the centres but that still leaves people like James Clare fighting for a wing spot. I don't get why we wouldn't use Clare as a centre and play Foster in the back row. Wingers can then be Macani, Caro and Ryan.

I'm more worried about our hooking options right now. Rohan obviously thought we were light and he's missed out on his preferred target. We've been in that position before and made supid/rash signings in a last minute panic. Let's hope we don't do the same again.

and Brandan Wilkinson who is 2nd row/prop

Does anyone have a full list of players signed for 2017?

Right here

[urlhttp://retro.rlfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=600321[/url

I'd like to see us line up something like this:

Moss
Macani/Caro
Clare
Welham
Ryan
Pryce/Keyes
Chisholm
Sidlow
AoB
Kavanagh
Foster
Walton
Burr

Joseph
Magrin/Peltier
Olbison/Mellor/Academy Graduate
Lumb?

Thanks

Yes, I forgot Burr - I was looking at the list in the 'sticky' on this forum and it seems to be slightly out of the date.

I guess if Roche is signing that's another prop, and with Burr that gives us something approaching an adequate set of forwards. I still think we are possibly one forward light, but I do understand the financial constrictions. Maybe, if they shift one of players Rohan doesn't want, there will be scope to bolster the squad at a later date.

Do think we're possibly a prop light BUT props always become available throughout the year so if we do have an injury crisis half way through the year, getting a prop on a months loan is pretty easy.

I agree that the pack still looks light, especially when the inevitable injuries hit. Where would we like to see our final signing line up? I'm thinking an experienced Prop would be my priority if we only have space for one more.

Assume we intend to leave some space for mid season recruits as well, as the side assembled so far is a bit off any sensible challenge for SL. Though we do appear to have all they key positions covered with quality at 1,6,7 & 9.

We don't have 9 covered. At all. If O' Brien gets a serious injury we are in big trouble.

Joe Keyes has been playing a bit of 9 in the internationals I believe.