I haven't read it all yet but there is an article suggesting that we might be looking to offer Herbert a new deal. In amongst the article it mentions the Bulls trying to sign Seymour and having been linked with Holdsworth. Just repeating a rumour from what I can see.

1 year extension is all I'd offer providing we cant find someone who is a genuine improvement. think holdsworth would be stronger in some areas but weaker in others so not worth buying out of his salford contract.

I won't hold much optimism for 2012 if we're looking at BJ and Herbert as our starting halfbacks. Surely not? I reckon a few on here might change their tune on whether we should have gone back in for Pryce if that turns out to be the case.

tbh not sure pryce would be the answer. We seem to be lacking someone to organise the side. pryce, herbert and jeffries are all pretty much supporting standoff type players rather than creative scrum half types. We need an organising scrum half for any of them to play alongside IMO.

We also lack a halfback who threatens the lines and can produce a game changing piece of skill.

true which pryce would certainly provide. but we cant rely on those type of plays week in week out. we need the organiser to make the rest of the team work.

So you'd like to see Herbert playing alongside an 'organiser' as you put it. Isn't that the role that Herbert is meant to bringing to the side at this moment? If you don't feel Herbert is up to it, why does he offer that would bring you to the conclusion that he should get an extension?

To my mind, if we keep Herbert he needs to be playing alongside a quality stand off that can take the line on and beat defenders.

herbert isnt an organiser. we've tried to fit herbert into that role because no one else was available at time we signed him, but his best games have been when hes played the standoff role. plenty of canberra fans told us when we signed him that he was better in the standoff role. If we could replace herbert with pryce for the standoff role then fine, but pryce seems to a done deal for catalans so it isnt an option. at the moment herbert is the best option AT the club for the support role. jeffries can do the organising, albeit in a limited manner, briggs could maybe develop into the organising role if he can sort his defense.

Remember that the Briggs/Jeffries partnership had brought us two wins in a row but then rather remarkably when Herbert was back from injury Briggs was shipped off to Quins.

I'm 50/50 on Herbert I really am because while I appreciate the effort that he's put in over the last six weeks, is the Herbert/Jeffries combo realistically going to see us being a competitive force in 2012?

No.

Was it beacuse of our halfback pairing that we won those games? Or simply the quality of the opposition we played?
Kyle may have scored two tries against Salford, but think back to the match as a whole and you might recall that it was touch and go at one stage whether we would get the win at all, we were far from convincing.

That's what I came up with also.

100% correct.

MP is quoted in LW or LE that he's spoken to Herbert's agent about exending his stay. Fills me with despair.

I came up with "you can live in hope, but it currently looks unlikely".

As always, I will try to reserve judgement until recruitment is complete. But talk of negotiations with Herbert/Ah Van is not the sort of news I need to hear right now.

Ah Van in particular has been a massive let down for me, after a promising start to his Bulls career. I'm not expecting superstar signings but surely we can do better?

Hmm. I've no problem with Herbert getting an extension, I think he has potential, if we can coup a really class SO to play with him he'll improve even more.

The difference between him and Ah Van is, whilst Herbert's been getting better game on game and looks to be adapting to life and rugby in England, PAV has gone the opposite way.

Oddly enough on another thread a little while back to do with realistic signing targets that is exactly what I did do.

Therefore I have no need to do so again.

I guess from your posts then that you are content with our side and are happy to see the same faces line up next season then?

"realistic signings"...........

Who was it that said Moi Moi had already signed on the dotted line??

Maybe we don't need Eddie contributing to potential transfers!

slight whoosh on your part methinks.

bosc would add all the qualities we need so must be worth a gamble. i still feel that we will struggle without the weapons for the hbs to use though

Bosc is crocked so I'm not sure he'd be a good signing.

I'ds be interested to see if we can use our contacts to pick up someone like Dureau who must have been dirt cheap. It needn't be a player we've all heard of.

If we go into next year with Herbert and Jeffries as first choice halfbacks we'll finish outside the 8 again.

I've voted for 'continuity'. I wouldn't be upset to hear any of Raynor, Ainy, Ah Van, Royston or even Walker had resigned IF we sign a half back of some note and one real NRL quality forward a la Laffranchi, Heighington. Earlier in the season I argued for a top prop but young Burgess has done well enough and it is a real gritty defender around the ruck area and possible line breaker we're crying out for and the situ with Langley is now a real concern. There's nothing wrong with any of the young players but they're too young and inexperienced to form the nucleus of a side.

2 quality players (hopefully 3).

A quality halfback, a quality forward and a half decent centre to go with Lulia would be enough to turn this side around. I'd even forgo the centre just to get some direction in the middle and some more leadership and fight in the pack.

Having a big clearout wont get us anywhere is 2012, i reckon all it would take is a few quality signings to bolster the squad a bit more !!

I'd prefer a quality centre as well, but I tend to agree with all that. (It does happen...

)

A better run on the injuries front could make a massive difference. But, perhaps more important than anything, is a resolution to whatever seems to be wrecking many of the players' confidence and willingness to make the tackles in far too many games? Injuries notwithstanding, this squad should be far better than this season's abject performances suggest.

Edit: In the time I was writing that, I see two other, shorter posts snuck in saying pretty well the same. We seem to have violent agreement then, on this page at least!