Fair point. It's up to Max too on this. It's not just for us to pay no matter what. ......but personally I think he's worth a lot to us.

[quote="PopTart":icsxw8ze]Fair point. It's up to Max too on this. It's not just for us to pay no matter what. ......but personally I think he's worth a lot to us.[/quote:icsxw8ze] Yes, I agree. He can agree his worth with the club, or he can see what is on offer elsewhere. The new rules mean he can do that right now, no waiting, no messing. The club won't wait for ever though - if he plays a waiting game, I don't think Ellis will do the same.

its the first week in January... negotiations take time... whether to leave or stay in 2026... that takes time... however: - I see no speculation on possible suitors in the RL press - all the signings and retentions have been announced at a time that is strategically beneficial to the club - Currently MAX is an icon at the club... his performances in '25 with either enhance or break that status. - his most recent form has been as a standout player at championship level I kind of like that we don't have to be scared of players leaving or staying for money any more... if its right for both parties he will be a Trinity player in '26 and beyond... if it's not right for both parties then he won't.

Nothing to do with being a doom monger, just stating - discussing the current points, personally I am a big fan of max & I do hope we sign him on a 4 year deal in line with our team building. I also think that our full back line would be very potent with him. Up the trin.

Spook / Start, you are both correct. Plus for all we know, the deal may already be signed. What will be will be.

@Trojan Horse, @Pop Tart and @Butcher Will reply as one I think all of your comments are fair enough . I have no axe to grind and agree that he is a good player who can still improve . I also take note of your comments being different to other clubs who haven't seen him play week in and week out , and again you are absolutely right . With little or no coverage of the lower leagues , we weren't able to see his performances on a week by week basis . The one thing I feel that I have to mention is his outstanding effort to reach 500 season points and break the record . A fantastic achievement even at a lower level . The fact that he is even being mentioned as a possible England Full Back is testament to the progress he has already made, although at 27 it could be argued that it is difficult to measure at exactly what level he should be at now . I still have my own doubts about him being ahead of Evalds (in particular) and also Brierley , but that's just my opinion to be fair , we're not all going to agree . Perhaps I was being unkind to say that he hasn't yet reached SL standard , on the basis that you spent a season in the Championship and prior to that were at the lower end of the table during Max's earlier time in SL. I think we can all agree that it is going to be interesting to see how he goes this season and I wish him all the best (except for the 3 games against Cas of course.Hope he has a few off days against us haha)

Max was outstanding in 2024, has persevered when the likes of walker Hampshire et al were picked in front of him. However if he’s second in line as gb full back think it says more about the dearth of quality in British game. Championship player of the year is nice but both max and the other former championship player of year walmsley have a lot to prove at sl level. Realistically think we are the team most likely to give him a good deal, personally think talk of other clubs is just that - talk! Am sure he’ll be announced before long along with atoni

[quote="Kirmudgeonlyisback":2cw7eb0h]Max was outstanding in 2024, has persevered when the likes of walker Hampshire et al were picked in front of him. However if he’s second in line as gb full back think it says more about the dearth of quality in British game. Championship player of the year is nice but both max and the other former championship player of year walmsley have a lot to prove at sl level. Realistically think we are the team most likely to give him a good deal, personally think talk of other clubs is just that - talk! Am sure he’ll be announced before long along with atoni[/quote:2cw7eb0h] I like Atoni but he’s got much more to prove at SL level than Max who’s played 100 or so games in the comp and is known SL standard already. I like Atoni and he’s improved but I’ll be interested to see how him and Bain go at SL level.

[quote="Trojan Horse":3kpy6cyh]I like Atoni but he’s got much more to prove at SL level than Max who’s played 100 or so games in the comp and is known SL standard already. I like Atoni and he’s improved but I’ll be interested to see how him and Bain go at SL level.[/quote:3kpy6cyh] For me Atoni is there. He's played in SL and when he settled he really rocked defenses. And I think has got fitter. Bain is a question mark. We'll just have to see. He's had a slow start with injury but could be good for us.

[quote="PopTart":d2f7e3ii]For me Atoni is there. He's played in SL and when he settled he really rocked defenses. And I think has got fitter. Bain is a question mark. We'll just have to see. He's had a slow start with injury but could be good for us.[/quote:d2f7e3ii] I agree but I think he only actually got there for 1/3 of the season at the back end. He can do it but I want to see if he can do it consistently over a season. He’s capable. Bain is a question mark. I can see him playing more interchange 13.

[quote="Trojan Horse":1z7p017p]I agree but I think he only actually got there for 1/3 of the season at the back end. He can do it but I want to see if he can do it consistently over a season. He’s capable. Bain is a question mark. I can see him playing more interchange 13.[/quote:1z7p017p] I agree on Bain at 13 but he's got Pitts, Cozza and any of the middles when Powell plays them their. He's got a tough job to impress.

[quote="PopTart":3pe1xcrr]I agree on Bain at 13 but he's got Pitts, Cozza and any of the middles when Powell plays them their. He's got a tough job to impress.[/quote:3pe1xcrr] He does, it’s hard to see past Pitts for starting 13. Seems to be aging like a fine wine and looks fitter and stronger. There’s certainly healthy competition for interchange 13 like you say. Could be a handful fighting for it. Will make for a good competitive training attitude hopefully.

I don't think our forwards will be overwhelmed by SL but I am concerned a little by our half backs. We really need to hit the road running - we cannot afford to wait for players to develop. Just how I see it- they may make me eat my words and I hope they do!

[quote="1315trinity":2n5fpi1i]I don't think our forwards will be overwhelmed by SL but I am concerned a little by our half backs. We really need to hit the road running - we cannot afford to wait for players to develop. Just how I see it- they may make me eat my words and I hope they do![/quote:2n5fpi1i] Develop? Our halfbacks are pretty much the most experienced in the squad. What do you want them to develop?

[quote="1315trinity":3icuyaxm]I don't think our forwards will be overwhelmed by SL but I am concerned a little by our half backs. We really need to hit the road running - we cannot afford to wait for players to develop. Just how I see it- they may make me eat my words and I hope they do![/quote:3icuyaxm] Not sure develop was the right phrase here. I would say it’s more develop a working partnership. Individually all 3 halfbacks have the ability. Only Lawford needs to develop this year and I can see him doing that on dual reg with Batley.

[quote="Trojan Horse":305jvvy6]I like Atoni but he’s got much more to prove at SL level than Max who’s played 100 or so games in the comp and is known SL standard already. I like Atoni and he’s improved but I’ll be interested to see how him and Bain go at SL level.[/quote:305jvvy6] Not sure i agree about that both max and atone have something to prove. Atoni was atrocious when he first came but once fifita came it was like he was a different player, first choice prop in a struggling team. Max has played a lot of games but has consistently overlooked by successive coaches in favour of other players. This needs to be his season where he actually establishes himself as a top SL fullback - something he's yet to do.

[quote="PopTart":3676de7r]Develop? Our halfbacks are pretty much the most experienced in the squad. What do you want them to develop?[/quote:3676de7r] In truman we have potentially one of the top3 standoffs in sl he doesn't need to develop he just needs to stay fit ! Russel has played a lot of SL games and i think some one else on here referred to developing a partnership

[quote="1315trinity":25muj418]I don't think our forwards will be overwhelmed by SL but I am concerned a little by our half backs. We really need to hit the road running - we cannot afford to wait for players to develop. Just how I see it- they may make me eat my words and I hope they do![/quote:25muj418] I think our starting pack mckmeeken, hood, rowel, nikotino, griffin , pitts with a bench of atoni vagana storton uele (doyle/lino) is a decent pack however get a couple injuries and bain is unproven, cozza isnt super league quality shaw i like but young for a prop, lingard is i think on loan suspect management think same otherwise we would nt be signing harvey makin

[quote="1315trinity":2q7v8ruj]I don't think our forwards will be overwhelmed by SL but I am concerned a little by our half backs. We really need to hit the road running - we cannot afford to wait for players to develop. Just how I see it- they may make me eat my words and I hope they do![/quote:2q7v8ruj] Think after the first half in the Leeds friendly think you do right to be a bit concerned ,remember one of them is a marque player Just expected more it is not as though they are new to S L . Do not think Trueman will be a top 3 half as been quoted .Will be happy if is all round game is half as good as Miller in is prime .With is injury record think it is unfair on the player to expect much more .

[quote="Kirmudgeonlyisback":2hh75u3b]I think our starting pack mckmeeken, hood, rowel, nikotino, griffin , pitts with a bench of atoni vagana storton uele (doyle/lino) is a decent pack however get a couple injuries and bain is unproven, cozza isnt super league quality shaw i like but young for a prop, lingard is i think on loan suspect management think same otherwise we would nt be signing harvey makin[/quote:2hh75u3b] You will not see 4 x forwards on the bench this season. Highly unlikely. It will be 3 and a hooker most likely. One of them will be rotation back up with Bain/Shaw/Lingard/Cozza. Any squad, not just ours will suffer when you start getting a few injuries. That’s not just Trinity. We can afford an injury or two in the pack and still not lose too much quality.

[quote="Trojan Horse":tai71fnn]You will not see 4 x forwards on the bench this season. Highly unlikely. It will be 3 and a hooker most likely. One of them will be rotation back up with Bain/Shaw/Lingard/Cozza. Any squad, not just ours will suffer when you start getting a few injuries. That’s not just Trinity. We can afford an injury or two in the pack and still not lose too much quality.[/quote:tai71fnn] am not suggesting we’d have 4 forwards the ones listed imo are all sl after that there is a question about the rest , so we are both prettty much in agreement. I think 2 injuries in pack and there’s a big drop in quality . Obviously all teams suffer when there starters aren’t available and perhaps lack of injuries and strength in depth is what determines league placing more than any other factor.

[quote="PopTart":1hv5ga2l]Develop? Our halfbacks are pretty much the most experienced in the squad. What do you want them to develop?[/quote:1hv5ga2l] OK how about 'produce' because neither of them have really been strikingly prominent in SL so far- especially Russell. I would personally have preferred it if we had signed a 'name' but like I say I hope they make me eat my words!

Trueman is a class act if he stays fit , however my views having watched him come through the Cas ranks are that he is much better and more effective when partenring another more senior half. At Cas he was oustanding when partnering Gale , but when Gale left and Jake became the more senior half , he wasn't as effective . That's understandable as he got a lot more of the pressure from the opposition defence when in the more senior role. A further example of this was at FC when he did manage to play. When partnering Clifford he was excellent , but when Clifford left and Trueman was in the more senior role , he found it much harder. I guess the question is will he be seen as the more senior of the half backs at Wakey next season . I think he will , so it will be interesting to see how he goes , although in Russell you do have someone with SL experience who can take some of the pressure of Jake .

[quote="Another Cas Fan":phxr42on]Trueman is a class act if he stays fit , however my views having watched him come through the Cas ranks are that he is much better and more effective when partenring another more senior half. At Cas he was oustanding when partnering Gale , but when Gale left and Jake became the more senior half , he wasn't as effective . That's understandable as he got a lot more of the pressure from the opposition defence when in the more senior role. A further example of this was at FC when he did manage to play. When partnering Clifford he was excellent , but when Clifford left and Trueman was in the more senior role , he found it much harder. I guess the question is will he be seen as the more senior of the half backs at Wakey next season . I think he will , so it will be interesting to see how he goes , although in Russell you do have someone with SL experience who can take some of the pressure of Jake .[/quote:phxr42on] I think all our halves have something to prove so I see no senior player. Trueman and Russell have got the 6 & 7, but Lino and to a lesser extent Lawford will be pushing them should they not perform. .

[quote="Khlav Kalash":354skigg]I think all our halves have something to prove so I see no senior player. Trueman and Russell have got the 6 & 7, but Lino and to a lesser extent Lawford will be pushing them should they not perform. .[/quote:354skigg] Seen nothing in Russell yet (not just for wakefield!) that convinces me he's better than Lino but time will tell.