Seems to be a few opinions floating round re: best option for next year. what the consensus opinion?

I'll go for wing,jeffries

In no particular order (except the one which I want them in):

Wing & Jeffries
Sykes & Jeffries
Long & Jeffries
redeverready & Jeffries
Basil Richards & Paul Medley
Me on my own

Just anyone but Deacon.

Jefferies on his own now? Play with twelve and have Deacs run on to kick

Bit on the chunky side now 10 years ago maybe.

Come on......who voted Jefferies & Deacon?!

It will be one of hari, bari, gari, lari or cari.


Failing that, Tigertot.

seems to support my position in a discusion I've been having in one of threads. terry monster seems obsessed with fact that we cant afford 3 'expensive' halves in deacs,bj and wing, and since deacs is under contract he must retain starting spot with bj released. Cant make him understand that we need 3 halves going into next season and retaining a 3rd hooker who can play the odd game in halves isnt the best option

Nero & Deacon

Notwithstanding current poor form, Wing and Deacon for me but with Jeffries on the bench. Right at the moment I'd be considering Jeffries and Sykes or Menzies but think that Deacs is the medium term option.

Personally I believe Deacon to have been one of the best british half backs in SL and although he's having a frankly shocking run of late, since 2003 we have looked a much more balanced side over the years with him on the pitch. His game is certainly one of being steady and reliable - solid kicking, moving the emphasis of attack down different lines, carrying out structured game plans - rather than an edge of the seat, off the cuff, running at the line style, but he is the sort of scrum half that an exciting, running outside half can operate off without pressure. Unfortunately Deac's form is currently negating the 'reliable' tag and people have short memories. Remember, form is temporary, etc.

For me it then comes down to Wing or Jeffries and Wing is head and shoulders above. I've been a vocal critic of BJ but concede that he's looked good in games this season while being anonymous in others, hence I'd play him as an impact player.

I am not saying that Deacon would be the first name on the sheet ahead of Wing, just that this is how I would build a partnership from scratch. I'd also take the captaincy away and give it to Morrison or Menzies.

6. Menzies
7. Wing

Maybe if we aren't going to re-sign Jeffries we should go with Sykes & Wing and then look for another quality centre?

I'm not saying he must Mat, I'm saying he will, that is 'if' we do sign Wing and retain BJ. I too voted for Wing & BJ. Ive already told you that if Deacs was OOC that I wouldn't think twice of getting rid of him and retaining BJ.

I fully understand we need need some cover operating in the halfs next season, but why does it have to be 3 players on big dollar's? You don't seem to understand that cover is meant to be cheap, and not a well paid player within a squad of players, hence why cover is usually a youth team player or a reserve grade player. What's the point in having a player operating as cover that's getting paid a fair chunk of the salary cap, that might only play a handful of games, especially if he's not called on to play many games?

Take a look all over super league, which team has 3 high profile players opertating the halfs roles at their clubs? few or none will be your answer?Ask yourself why you don't see what you are suggesting, at Super League clubs, because it's to expensive to have a high profile player operating simply as cover.

As for Rinaldi, he's a hooker/half back, he plays them both well enough to operate as cover, and in a cover player, that is all you need. Not an expert, just somebody who can get the job done if need be.

I always make a point in these polls of identifying the option the originator least wants me to vote for and then voting for that option.

I'm bloody minded like that.

Of course!

I don't think the Craig Wing deal is as signed and sealed as people seem to think. I hope to god it is, but lets not count our chickens.

Don't think anyone truly thinks it is. All the stuff regarding him is purely hypothetical.

I for one don't think the Wing deal will come off. But I'll be pleasantly surprised if it does.

thats point your missing. whilst deacs will be on a decent wage, he isnt taking up the full amount of his wage on the salary cap due to 10year/50k rule, therefore he is relatively cheap as a cover player. If he's not good enough for starting spot then he shouldnt get it next year,just because we made mistake of signing him on a two year deal last year.

I'm not missing that point at all, Deacs is still probs one of our highest paid players even with 50k knocked off, his wage will still be relativley high I reckon, still far much for somebody who you want to play as cover.

I don't care how much we're paying. If he isnt good enough to warrant the starting shirt he shouldnt be starting. simple as. we didnt have a problem doing same with harris last year and he was definitely our highest paid player. I'm not arguind any more its like talking to a brick wall

Clearly.

If you dont care how much we are paying and are prepared to see a high profile player, with a high profile players wage going to waste cleaning the boots then you are clearly happy with throwing valuable money away.

OK, That's no problem. What's point getting into a debate though? This is what I believe, it's neither right nor wrong, same as you it's just what I think would be best for Bulls. But I'm not going to change or concede ground on my side of the debate, just to please somebody else.

You still seem very sure that BJ is a highly paid player at the Bulls. I still think he will be among the medium earners at the club and as such we could afford to retain him and bring in a high profile signing. That was the original idea when we tried to add Greg Bird to the side.

I do think he's a highly paid player yes, he was a first choice starter at his old club, he's an overseas star and he's going to be looking for a big deal to finish his career on. He'll be medium to high I reckon. Certainley wont be cheap.

And whatever the the salary cap situation was at the start of this season, it's going to be very different to the forthcoming season. I think some kid themselves when trying to work out the cap, after all, when we got rid of Harris, Vagana and Hape and other big earners at the club we were expected to have 'loads' to splash out on, but when it came around to it we didn't splash out at all. Greg Bird? It was never going to happen and everybody at the club knew it.

So you think Deacon should get a starting spot purely because of his "high profile status"? So say we had Harris and Long in the side (2 of the highest profile 6 & 7) and then we had Leon Pryce and Cooper Cronk (2 quality players but not quite as high profile) which two would you play? Going with your earlier theory it would be the first 2.

It's nothing to do with who I think should get the spot, It's about having big money tied up, sat around doing nothing, which it would indeed be in one of them if we had, Wing, Jeffries and Deacs all in the same team, because one of them wouldn't be playing.

What is the point having a highly paid player, used simply as cover? It's a waste of money when you can have a young player doing exactky the same 'cover' job for half the price? Therefore leaving you money over to strengthen elsewhere.

What is so difficult to understand about that?

Beacuse we stupidly gave him a 2 year contract, and now this is the area we need to strengthen in regardless of whether Deacon is still ast the club. I would love him to be released but I can't see it happening.