Well it looks like time has about run out for 2020 signings of any note.

Just not good enough, what a huge missed opportunity to have built on the signing of Widdop.

Not sure it's too late. Not all the players are back for pre season yet

I think I'd rather not sign someone and keep a spot free through the season and see who becomes available, rather than sign someone from the NRL for the sake of it, who we are then stuck with for two years.

It's disappointing though, it really is a key signing for us and it's an area we've known needs strengthening for a while. It's not the final piece of the jigsaw for us in terms of putting together what I would consider a title challenging squad, but its a huge part of it.

The trade papers did say since the Tetevano signing was going nowhere that they had a couple of other options but no names mentioned.

Which means these Props will be 3rd-4th choice which always worries me. The likes of Kibula if he doesn't do much nobody expected much, but he could be a gem of a signing. Where as an NRL Prop i always expect a high standard and they rarely live up to it. I wonder what David Taylor is up to now a days, big Coal train on a one year could be brilliant.......or horrendous. I think a problem with getting a prop at the minute is there aren't any forwards of note off contract. So we have to get a club to agree to let them go, and have the player want to come over, then pay the prop out of his last or possibly more years contract. So they will indeed have to be the right person.

Please , please, pretty PLEASE, give me a rumour to get my teeth into!

This is very true. If we look at the Tony Smith early seasons we rarely lost back to back.

I cannot explain the CC semi and final results. The obvious answer is that the players had desire for those games and not in the others.

Magic. It's so true.

No pre-season is complete without the "strength in depth", "competition for places", "player X is training the house down", "best pre-season ever".

After we lose the 2 openers it will revert to "time for Widdop to gel" and "it's how we end the season".

The reality is unless some transformative signings are made to the pack and Price changes strategy we will fall short again.

word on the street is, Prop announcement coming this week.

Just waiting for the Visa to clear. That's all I know, no idea who it is.

At least we're getting someone. Still think we need another prop though.

Agreed. for me we need to out and out, proven props signed and maybe another 2 reserve grade props.

Start Hill and Cooper, Tho Props, one Prop/Back row and one hooker on the bench.

Wonder what Jordan Cox is up to these days?

I'd take Cox back just to sing his song again. Best chant we've had in years.

Oasis getting back together in 2020...

That’s great news, fingers crossed it’s someone half decent with a point to prove fighting for that bench spot along side Sita & Kibula for that 4th Prop spot.

But what can the club say? “we were rubbish most of last season and if you think we will be much better next season you are deluded” or “ none of this shower have put any effort in at pre season” or just not say anything at all? They have to sell season tickets, create a sense of expectation and that is what this type of comment is designed for.
Even in our darkest days at the start of the season there was always a glimmer of optimism no matter how irrational.
The truth is that if there wasn’t that feeling I’m not sure that I would be bothered supporting a team. Next season the optimism will, of course, be based on Widdop. He will be replacing Dec Patton as first choice halfback. That is such a huge step up in class that it has to make a difference as will the freeing up of Austin to play off the cuff.
Now there may well come a point next season when that optimism is shown to be ill founded but in the meantime let the dreamers dream!

Left Doncaster mid season after making just 3 appearances.

So he's free then?

So is John Inman. Just as effective at prop, too.

Still think Eddie Battye would be a good signing but judging by previous posts I think I am very much in the minority. Outstanding for London last season.

He signed a new deal for them.

I didn't know that, Thanks.

I think it comes across much better if you treat fans as being intelligent and are realistic about the situation. You can still be positive.

Eg the CEO could give an interview to the Warrington Guardian that went something like:

"We would have liked to bring in some more firepower up front. Unfortunately the players we were targeting there didn't come off, and this can happen, so we'll go with what we have got. Last year felt like a disappointment to everyone despite winning the Challenge Cup, but the wins in big cup games showed the potential that this group of players has.

"Gareth Widdop should bring a whole new dimension to the way we attack and we're spending this off season working hard to make ourselves less predictable and find extra ways to break defences. Last year, I think teams were able to shut us down too easily and if they were able to keep Blake under wraps we didn't have enough answers. We need to find more ways to challenge teams this time around.

"The goal for the season will be to maximise the potential of the players we have on the squad and be a team that the supporters can identify with. That involves playing a positive style of rugby and making the supporters feel that the players have put everything in to the game, whether we have won or lost.

"We might not start the season as favourites but we have enough talent in the squad to be one of the group of teams who is capable of being in the last 4 of both major competitions. We showed last year that we could win big knock out games, and that means we can win one or both of the major competitions this year. I'm really looking forward to seeing what we can do".

Yep.
That would be reasonable from my point of view.
Recognises some of the issues and says we're working on improving in those areas without going into detail.

Sam Lisone signed apparently.
With that help you appetite?