Thanks for the effort and the memories Chris. It will be very strange seeing him turn out for the opposition!

Looking at your recruitment, Bullock will replace Akauola who surely won't be retained. With him, Inglis and Mamo departing and possibly Clark as well, you'll only have Mata'utia on the overseas list? Hill going isn't a surprise, so it would amaze me if you've not got someone lined up already.

Ligi Sao and Manu Mau are both still unresolved at Hull KR I think. Matty English has been linked with a few clubs too but isn't out of contract.

From the NRL there are still plenty of off contract props. You've got Dunamis Lui, Ofahiki Ogden, Aiden Tolman, Aaron Woods, Morgan Boyle, Darryn Schonig, Leeson Ah Mau, Tom Ale, Jackson Frei, Sam Hughes and Tom Amone listed as off contract props on the Zero Tackle site.

There is also Taukeiaho who is rumoured to be available despite not being under contract as the Roosters want to free up cap space. Seems to be linked with a Super League club every other week then denied, which indicates he's being shopped around as most of these long running rumours come from agents.

Big mistake not to give him 2 years. The only possible reason to let him go would be if he was asking for too much money.

Coops probably is pack leader, although he too wont be around much longer - only a year younger than Hill. Hill has been a significant presence in that dressing room for a significant length of time, we need to sign someone who is able to take that mantle off Hill / Cooper IMO, Hill was probably on the biggest contract of the two, now seems the right time to sign a new pack leader - although there doesn't seem much about.

I remember when he first arrived. He was almost faultless from day one. There was a game when he knocked on and there was a gasp in the crowd cos he never made mistakes.

It's inconceivable that our starting props next year will be Cooper and any of the current/rumoured crop unless we have a real barmstormer off the bench coming in. Cooper and Mulhern would be OK if we had Philbin and a top line wrecking ball to come on.

I do wonder if Harrison was lined up to start with Cooper. He is rated very highly.

I think 2 years is a risk - depending on the level of salary, he'll be almost 36 by the end of that contract. If it's true we didn't even offer him a 1 year deal, its pretty shocking, unless we have something lined up - which you'd expect an announcement on shortly, to curtail supporter frustrations.

Personally, I'd have give him 2 years.

He's showing decent form currently.

He never gets injured.

And apart from the last few years when price started flogging him, after only starting at sl level at 25, he doesn't have as many miles on the clock as your usual sl 34 year old.


To me this is probably more about powell putting his stamp on the squad.

Also, Watson is in desperate need of a pack leader there.

Their best Senior prop is Michael lawrence, apparently.

Re supporter frustrations, a lot of them can sod off for me.

A lot of the outpouring I've seen on socmed today, having a pop at the club are the same people who for most of the last 3 years have been telling hill to retire for giving penalties away. Its kinda churlish to read some of these comments.

This leaves a BIG hole that needs to be filled. Even with Hill we’ve looked a big prop short, by the laws of basic maths we’re now 2 big props short for next year. Surely someone coming soon eh….

A year contract would have been a no brainer, 2 I’m far from sure. Academic now though.

I know he isn’t the same sort of character as Morley but I think overall he has contributed at least as much.

In terms if value for money, it's a no brained, considering where we got him from.

Wigan and Sam hopkins must be spewing over this.

Hopefully James Harrison can eventually be that 2nd catching of lightning in the bottle.

That's a great signing for Huddersfield. I can't add much to the tributes on this thread, but I do think he could do another two years so am sad we have missed out.

good luck hilly

Ligi Sao would be my first choice pick out of all of them, he would fill fill a gap with Hill leaving very nicely. I really rate Sao so i have my fingers crossed

Every contract carries a certain amount of risk, just look what has happened with Harrison. With Chris Hill, whether it is with us or with Huddersfield, you know that you are going to get 100% effort but his age is against him. For Chris’ sake I hope that it works out for him at The Giants but it sounds as though we didn’t feel as though we could take the risk. You would have to say that, with all the fitness data available to the club these days, we should be in the best position to judge. You also have to hope that this is all part of a bigger plan to bring in an exciting new signing.

Hopefully we can see Chris off with the finish that he deserves.

Hull FC

Are they out of contract? Both signed in 2020 I think.

Quote ="St Helens Wolf"Hull FC Are they out of contract? Both signed in 2020 I think.'" https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... re-5894159

Quote ="St Helens Wolf"Hull FC Are they out of contract? Both signed in 2020 I think.'" https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... re-5894159

IMO this is terrible news. Chilly has been and continues to be our most consistent prop forward...the alpha male of the pack, with Cooper not too far behind. He should have been given 2 years.

He HAS to be replaced with a international level Prop forward...otherwise we will go backwards despite having some great players in the team next year. I can only hope that Mr Powell has handed in his shopping list that features a big prop to replace Chris.

And what a player Chris has been for us. From championship player to full international playing in the World Cup final. He will go down as one of the greats, alongside Sir Les and Moz. Huddersfield must be delighted.

I would agree that it is risky to offer 2 yrs at his age, but as FMC says, he has a very good track record for injuries, he can do long minutes, and always gives 100%. His current form is noticeably below that of his peak years but I don't think you can pick out many props in the UK that are currently his equal or better.

When we recruited Mulhern we started to address a long running problem with our forwards but I feel this takes us back to square one. Coops will be 34 next year so he too will probably be on a downward trajectory. Philbin I would say has been a bit flat this year and is still really an impact prop. That only leaves Mulhern, who I think we all agree has done very well, plus Butler and Doro and the injured Harrison (possibly Bullock ?). If we recruit it will be expensive because there are not too many good props around, hence a sellers market... and that money could have been spent on Hill.

It's just IMO but I don't think we have taken a sensible decision here.

Sita released end of this year as well

Yeah sorry, FC.

There are a lot of players at Hull FC that were rumoured to have signed new deals for months, but they've only announced Satae and Cator. I don't think there's been any announcement on the likes of Savelio, Sao and Ma'u. It was reported in the RL press that Ma'u was being offered around Super League around a month ago.

There's been no rumours about Wire signing a prop that I've seen, but I can't see you going into a season with so few overseas players and props.

If we are signing an overseas prop ,i would prefer one that we have seen playing in SL & not one straight from the Outback that could easily turn out to be another antipodean disappointment.
Hill's injury free record has been a great plus for him & the club & must have made the coaches jobs easier. He has been a great servant to the Wire & i hope he will always be welcomed back in his new colours.

I see from the earlier link that Savelio is also off contract. He's impressed in every game I've seen him in, a good signing for someone.

Presentation after the game tomorrow for all our leaving players / coaches. I think the ones that are still unannounced either way are J Clark, Ashton and Roebuck?