Risky strategy to go into the season without a recognised half. If we turn up expecting an easy win we will come off worse in more than a few games this season.

I would be really disappointed if we announced Mathers as our star 7 to guide us back to super league as that just has embarrassing failure written all over it but I am praying I am wrong on that.

This way of announcing the shirt numbers is interesting in that I can't help but think we must be doing it for a reason... Like to build up a surprise signing.. Perhaps taking the number 7 jersey and being revealed on the pitch before kick off vs fev???

Mathers isn't going to be 7. Jimmys pretty much said he's the FB and he's hoping Thomas will learn from him. I think the 7 shirt will be left open.

Addys played at 7 in both our friendlies and didnt get it.

7 shirt left open after half a season and a full off season of knowing we need a new half that help make a difference in the 8's. Crazy. I know people have theory's and hope for a signing closer to the playoffs...but I still think it's a failure to be in this position on the eve of the season. I hope to be proved wrong.

The only reason I can suggest for Mathers being 7 is that the squad numbers were issued before he joined, with the 7 being kept clear. Mathers signed, and they give him that rather than a ridiculously high number.

We'll see tomorrow. For what i's worth, my money is on the shirt being left unassigned for now. That way it's at least an acknowledgement that we don't have a specialist scrum half, and encouraging that they'll be keeping a close eye out for one becoming available.

We have till the 8th of August to find a 7, we aren't not going to finish outside the top 2 not having one now.

Ethan Ryan Number 29

Well, we've still got 6 to go today.

Given the numbers announced we still have 6,7,8,10,24,32 to go and by my reckoning we've only got 6 players left with best guess for their numbers

Richie Mathers
Jonny Campbell =#FF000032
Lee Gaskell =#FF00006
Adam Sidlow =#FF000010
Paul Clough =#FF00008
Lucas Walshaw =#FF000024

So, it would seem that Mathers is either 7 or 34

Been pleasantly surprised by Ryan in the friendlies. You look at him and there is nothing of him. But defensively especially I think he's gone really well.

Campbell is indeed 32.

Walshaw confirmed as 24.

As Roofaldo rightly said, I think there's only really Mathers' squad number in doubt from what's left.

That's probably the closest I'm ever going to get to getting 6 numbers right

Especially on a Saturday.


Sidlow confirmed 10.

Clough is indeed 8, to nobody's surprise at all.

Only Gaskell and Mathers left.

Well it might be a surprise to 'Peter Hood'

And, as standard, 'Peter hood' made up a load of rubbish for a few weeks and then disappeared without a trace when all his rubbish is shown up. Much like him not paying the sponsorship money he offered.

Only 6 and 7 left now! Gask and... Mathers?

34 to 99 are still available.

Gaskell as Number 6 has just been announced.

And Mathers gets..... Number 34


Full List:

1. Oscar Thomas
2. Omari Caro
3. Adrian Purtell
4. Kris Welham
5. Danny Williams
6. Lee Gaskell
8. Paul Clough
9. Adam O'Brien
10. Adam Sidlow
11. Tom Olbison
12. Dale Ferguson
13. Danny Addy
14. Jay Pitts
15. Matty Blythe
16. Dan Fleming
17. Jean-Philippe Baile
[i18. Daniel Graham (Fans' Competition Winner)[/i
19. Steve Crossley
20. Mitch Clark
21. Epalahame Lauaki
22. James Clare
23. Alex Mellor
24. Lucas Walshaw
25. Ben Kavanagh
26. Vila Halafihi
27. Jonny Walker
28. Kurt Haggerty
29. Ethan Ryan
30. Joe Lumb
31. James Mendeika
32. Johnny Campbell
33. Etu Uaisele
34. Richie Mathers

So, number 7 is still available. Telling and hopefully a good sign that the club are aware they need a scrum half and are, hopefully, in the market

Cheers Hamster - thanks for valiantly trying to keep us interested



Interesting that last year we had 31 players at the start of the season I think. Well, Lauaki got 31 at the shirt presentation and he was the last signing before the season started.

This season we start with 32 players, which makes Steve Ferres' comments about how we would have a smaller squad look a bit daft right now (especially as we obviously intend / hope to add to the squad)

Northus, HC... Hate to say I told you so!

Right decision not giving Richie the no.7 shirt.

I would have liked us to try for Declan Patton at Wire. He was pushing very close for a regular starting spot last year and from what I saw looked very impressive for a young kid. This year seems way down the pecking order with Sandow, Gidley and possibly Wheeler in front of him. He probably would want a SL club if he moved but would love to get him on a year long loan. It would possibly benefit all parties, getting him some first team rugby and solving our No. 7 problem. Maybe Wires owe us one after the O'Brien situation last year.

You misunderstood.

Average height last year: 6' 0"
Average height this year: 5' 11 1/2"

True FA. Also the average weight is 'smaller' though that is mainly credit to lauaki alone.

Good shout. I saw Patton last year both live and on TV and rated him. He would be coming from a very good academy structure . Even if the O'Brien episode doesn't give the Bulls an edge, Jimmy Lowes and John Bastian both have good relationships with Tony Smith and the Wire hierarchy.

I also thought of Patton, but considering Wakefield are wanting another halfback and have a good familial relationship with Wire, I would expect to see Patton end up there on loan this year. Maybe it could be a thank you for taking a clearly injured player on loan to free up some cap space last year.