A certain Mr Tony Smith took up a position today as elite coaching mentor for the FA.

Is it dammed or damned?
Is it like your damp squid?

A chap called Higham seems to have become available - you may have heard of him.

Squib

It has to be "dammed" because he's a duck

This is true. Gives me somewhere to paddle.

If you sign Baptiste then where does your big money junior signing Morgan Smith fit into the equation?

Big money junior signing....I don't think we paid a penny for his services.

Rugby league weekly says baptise is not signing

Aye. Told you that last week

Shame. He looked pretty handy this morning in the World Cup.

League express says they have a interview with Kirk baptise potential wire signing

It's is off it seems.
I don't he would have made any difference anyways.
At least it means the signing spree is not over yet.

I dont know how accurate this rag is but on the front page it says we have missed out on Baptiste,
Then it hints at Nigel Wood leaving his (cushy £300k a year) job at the RFL for the International post,and there is also talk of sacking Wayne Bennett.

I genuinely cant believe all three are serious....

I've stated on previous posts that I think the Baptiste Signing would be a game changer for us.
He's a Quality player who's not leaving Canberra because they don't want him, it just quite clear that most NRL clubs are shambolic in working to the salary cap and find themselves having to offload players to fit under it.

It would be nice if their stupidity can be our gain......

Dodged a bullet with Baptiste. he isn't much chop.

League Express and League Weekly both giving different stories regarding Baptiste. League Express about Josh Charnley are saying a few clubs are interested in him.

Daz is one of the best hookers in the league.
Was gutted when he left Cas but don't blame anyone as it was either sell him or go into administration. I agree with a previous poster about him being stifled under Smith. Under Hendo and Price I think he will be back to his MoS form.

I agree. Clark can be the best hooker in SL as he's previously shown. I have a feeling he'll really step up this season. I'd still like a better interchange than Morgan Smith.

Or he can do the full 80 like Roby.

Exactly....
And.even if he can't, hoe.long will Smith stand in for...10 mins?
I think we'll get by.

He can do 80 for sure, is Smith good for 80 though, if/ when clark gets banned/ injured? If not then we need another option, we may have it in the squad but I'm not sure I know what it is unless we mess with ratchford there.

If we don’t sign an interchange hooker and Smith doesn’t make the grade, I think Patton would best suited to cover - good passing and kicking game. Not sure he has the pace to be a top half.
Loose forward, if I can use the old fashioned and correct term, will be interesting though. Currie and Murdoch-Masila are best suited to do damage on the edges ( did we have edges before Super League ?) so it is between George King, Hughes, Philbin, Westwood and Livett. My choice would be King for work rate and tackling early and Livett to replace as sub to add some creativity.

Let’s get back to having a creative pivot at loose. The thought of King at loose just makes me feel like we are not developing. Livett, Currie for me. Even Ratchford if we sign a class fullback.

What I’d give for a new Scully.

Smith needs game time and hooker is probably his best bet at the moment. He has the best pass from the ground at dummy in the warrington team that's fast and accurate.his generally passing is impressive compared to poor quality of passing in the team and league as a whole. Ratchford Brown patton could cover if needed. But I think he will do OK and we will have baptiste at loose if we sign him.

Baptiste and Charney aside not heard any other players were linked to don't know if that's a good or bad thing!

Well Fitzpatrick said we are looking for cover at Loose/Hooker. I wouldn’t mind seeing Kopczak from Salford brought in as we need another solid prop, and god knows what’s happened to Hill it’s like he doesn’t want to mess his hair up every time he runs the ball in. Maybe some cold weather pre-season stuff can reinvigorate our pack.