I'm assuming the Gigot and Hiku rumours have legs, and its clear we've been linked with Naiquama for 12 months now so I'm assuming him as a done deal.

If we line up like this (below) next year.
I'm sorry but with the current coaching setup I see a worse team.

Minus Sims Westwood and Gidley that's some quality experience and work rate gone, we have an atrocious pack there, even if Hill improves on this years low for him.

the backs look "nice" if not particularly outstanding but, poor interchange hooker, poor interchange props. And is Tony smith going to have Brown and Russell sat watching from the stands all season, ...or even get rid? no

anyway minus the signing that was "going to blow everyones mind" here's next years possibles

1 Gigot
2 Naiquama
3 Hiku
4 Atkins
5 Lineham
6 Ratchford (capt)
7 Patton
8 Hill
9 Clark
10 Cooper
11 Currie
12 Hughes
13 Westerman

14 Crosby
15 G king
16 Dwyer/smith
17 Julien

Yeah that's a similar squad to what I think it would be, But I think Crosby will be our number 10 next year.
Yeah I forgot about the signing that would warrant an Andrew Johns style press conference, I assume Barba would have been that Maybe?
I agree that the interchange bench looks pretty weak, if a Fit Masoe was added to that then the bench would look stronger, but we definitely need a better interchange going forward.
Heard a few time that we are looking at Alex Gerrard from Widnes to replace Westwood, I wouldn't complain with that. But No real leaders in the Squad anymore and experience takes a huge dip with Gidley and Westwood leaving?

Nah, as said below you, he hasn't the agility to play on the edges, he's straight up and down, where waterhouse and arguable logan swann were similar builds, they had better feet. Sims does those big arcing runs in the middle of the field at times, its like watching an oil tanker, and also lineham at the start of last season.

All that being said, with this show of a season, i'll try anything at this point.

According to the 7th Tackle Twitter feed Peter Hiku, done deal to 2019, leaves Sunday for UK.

[urlhttps://twitter.com/7th_Tackle/status/875585728171827204[/url

If true suggests Smith going nowhere

It spells panic.

Well if they lose Sat + he doesn't go,going into work next week will be the most depressed I've ever been.

Panic buying in an attempt to get ourselves out of a mess we shouldn't be in means Smith is staying and recruitment is once again going to be reactionary and slapdash. It's poor, really poor....and that's no slight on Peta Hiku it's just the wrong way to do things.

It is panic buying to save us from the ruinous trajectory we are on. But we cant blame the club for doing that. We are stuffed the way we are going. Our "strong squad on paper" that "no-one will be able to live with" is poor.

We need a forward signing too. Hill, Cooper, King and Crosby will not be good enough as our 1st choice prop forwards to mount a serious challenge in 2018 even IF we sort out the coaching deficiency.

Agree - nothing wrong with the Hiku signing he looks good and we certainly need something/anything. We all know we shouldn't be resorting to this though and Smith should be making way.

So the man who's overseen squad carnage after squad carnage, and now has us in the position where more than half the current squad is out of contract, is being allowed to carry out recruitment for next season and beyond.

Sentiment over sense from Simon Moran now. But with the patsy stooge Fitzpatrick as CEO, Smith knows he could do absolutely anything and still be safe

yes there are lots of get out clauses for the rumours:

1) he told the club he would sign not my fault if he changes his mind

2) I heard it direct from the player himself either he was lying or changed his mind

3) we were definitely "in" for the player
3a) he used us as a bargaining chip to get a better deal
3b)we didnt believe he was worth what club x were willing to pay
3c) we dont have room on the cap for what he wants.
3d) he played for the coach at an under 7's charity jamboree weekend tag rugby tournament fifteen years ago so there is obviously a strong link between the two we couldn't compete with that.

4) we had doubts about player x's Character

5) I make up for giggles

Any update re: Eastmond signing ?

I guess TS and Agar are in a no win situation. Signing Hiku they are dammed if the do and dammed if they don't.
It's true we are in a stronger position but.... is it a signing of intent or one of failure admission?

Anyways...its Ben Pomeroy we've signed.

https://www.zerotackle.com/kevin-naiqam ... tch-27869/ Seems they cant make their mind up now, you know what happens next we will end up with neither.

https://www.zerotackle.com/kevin-naiqam ... tch-27869/ Seems they cant make their mind up now, you know what happens next we will end up with neither.

Did you drop hints about this one?

Who?

Regards

King James

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/40303614

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/40303614

Unbelievable, why dont we just go trolling old folks homes, talk about desperation.

The only positive I take out of this is that if it's Pomeroy till end of Season and not Hiku till 2019, then that may mean Smith may not be handling recruitment next season because he's gone

This is exactly what we've needed. You don't get to be first choice centre at a club like the Sangliers unless you're in the upper echelon of world class threequarters. My only issue is where we fit him in. What happens when Evans is fit again? Our specialist right winger would be relishing playing outside either of them I guess, if we had a specialist winger of course.

*Disclaimer: The previous post is intended to be sarcastic, not CharlieWong level trolling.

evans will be gone

Who's Ben Pomeroy? Do you even watch Rugby League???

Probably the greatest centre in the French Elite One Championship. 11 Tries in 14 games for Lézignan Sanglier's

Who's Ben Pomeroy... Jesus wept...