Latest rumour is Andy Raleigh on a short term loan deal. Makes sens considering size of Hudds squad, deal not to be announced until after Hudds game & may explain why Lynch has waited another week before having an op?

Why are we looking any futher than the Burgess twins????

I'm sure the coaching staff would really appreciate your considered assessment of why they should look no further. So now's you chance...

Because they've just turned 18, and even if your built like a brick $hithouse SL is a big step (especialliy seen as they've only just moved up to u20).

Take it from the people who know best (Macca and co) that they're not ready. They certainly knew when and how long to give Whitehead game time.

How old was Sam when he played in the Super League? I'm sure the burgess boys are old enough.

What's the saying....if you are good enough you are old enough?

The coaching staff will readily tell you Sam was a freak (in the nicest possible way), same as Fielden was. These two they assure us will be pretty damn good, but are not yet at that level. Its not written in stone that every brother will develop same as other/s. Look at the Sculthorpes, for example.

Does it not run in the family?? And what about all the other u20's in SL?? If they don't get a break how will we know if they are good enough>

not particulary unusual for props to not break through into 1st team til their early 20's. If anything I'd say its unusual for them to break through at 17-18 as they dont usually have the physical bulk at that age. That said the twins are pretty big units so I suspect they'll get their chance sooner rather than later.

I'd rather trust the coaching staff to determine when they are ready for a break. Not just physically, but mentally too. If you throw them in too early, or too many at once so they are not guided (and to an extent protected) enough by senior players, they can get mentally scarred for life, and can be lost to the game. Don't take my word for it - Noble said it more than once at Fans' Forums as has Macca. I'd say you have to be pretty mature mentally to go up against your Morleys and JPs and Lynches and the like at an early age, since they sure as hell will do their very best to totally intimidate the new kid on the block. And they wrote the book on it.

Good God.

He's not available. Too busy with various wars, the odd 'natural' disaster and an oil slick made by corporate psychopaths.

I think we should throw the Burgess twins in, they looked good the other year against West Tigers at Odsal.

Andy Raleigh is not the answer, neither is Ian Millward.

Millward is a back, I thought you were after forwards?

Corrected for accuracy

But then it wouldn't have been nearly half as funny.

I've just come back from the training ground; there's a questionmark over Orford and Mac asked me to find out what you were doing this weekend.

I'm waiting for a late call up to the England squad tbh. I told him where he was going wrong when Deacon was SH, so if he thinks I am coming to the Bulls aid now he can whistle Dixie. Uless you get your Hall shirt out & hot porn tash on, then I might be persuaded.

Today's T & A says we now cant even afford a loan signing!!

and thats a surprise why?

we already know we're working on a tight budget, hence not spending full cap in first case, to stay within our means. Just because a few players pick up injuries doesnt mean we suddenly have more money available for loan signings. We still have to pay the injured players too. The chances of someone being available at this stage of season in a position we need are pretty remote anyway.

We should have some sort of small fund for emergencies such as injuries etc. Surely the benefit of an experienced body would be worth a small outlay. If we are really living so hand to mouth we are stuggling

I'd imagine there is some money available for such a contingency however what we dont know is who may be available as a loan signing. Theres no point spending money on a loan signing unless they offer an improvement over our own youth. Rather than the quick fix off a loan signing its probably better longer term to give our youth the experience even if it may affect results in the short term.

Correct. While a good player might be waiting for a first team chance somewhere, a la Widdop, unless there is somebody remarkable smewhere out there that we don't know of, anyone signed would be derided as crap and the club slagged for signing second or third raters.

We did previously seem to have enough money for a loan player (though the deal fell through). However, that was for a forward. I suspect that the implication now is that we don't have the cash to take a half back on loan. There are plenty of forwards on the fringe of Super League first teams who could do a job (and fairly cheaply). Half backs on the fringe of SL teams, though, are scarcely more likely to do a job than Southernwood - and to get one from Aus would be pricey in itself, and probably involve all sorts of additional expenditure (flights, accommodation, time spent on negotiation & admin...)

Not taking into account salary cap implications or clubs evident lack of funds, why would the clubs of the aforementioned release any of the above, least of all Burgess and Pitts from our near neighbours who would likely attempt to shut Stanningley Fire Station if we were on fire.

You'd do worse than to look at Jake Emmitt at Saints (prop). He's been on dual contract and ripping it up at Leigh, and when we've recalled him he's been quite good.