The RFL is insufficiently organised to maintain a conspiracy.

Never watched a game of premiership footy in my life, nor do I watch it on TV, so I can`t debate that sport with you.

I am not a fan of Tomkins and do not approve of his antics.

Gamesmanship has been in RL for many years, and isn`t a new innovation.

In the time that I have watched the sport I have seen lots of examples of it, ( Including dives by Wire players)

Take a look at the Incident with Syd Hynes and Alex Murphy at Wembley 1971, for an example, which is more than 50 years ago.

I'm happy with these two signings. Although catalans have got a bloody good replacement in Taukeaiho.

Maybe the plan is to sign him when he's 33 to replace the players we have just signed. KFP is a genius.

KFP is a………. Be a good game of Blankety Blank that would.

As long as we go down fighting again, that’ll do me

3 match ban for Dudson. Nothing for Kasiano.

Great start for the new season, he misses 10% of it before we kick a ball.

If Wales select him in their World cup squad he would be available for the start of the year...

If that isn't possible, can't friendly games be used to count against it? Sure that happened start of this year to someone.

I wouldn't be surprised if our new superstars spend a fair bit of time on the naughty step. Should be plenty of chances for the young lads to shine next season.

I think only one friendly counts. Wales could pick him, I suppose, but would he even play a game?

He would definitely feature in the Wales team, if it was based on players available from Super League and Championship teams, but there could be NRL based players who will be available because of their Welsh origin?

No, I meant if he had a 3 match ban
.

There are 3 games in the group stage, so they would be selecting him to play in the Qtr finals onwards.

....although if Wales have a friendly warm up game that too could count, so he would only miss 2 group games?

Do you think Wales are going to finish above PNG and Tonga?

Given PNG put 50 on them at the last World Cup, doubtful unless they find some NRL players with Welsh ancestry!!

Be awfully nice of them to include him in the squad though!

He could be back for their last game vs PNG if he can count a pre World Cup friendly in his ban, might be worth their while.

As I said back in September .

It looks like these are the two Powell wanted to drop but can’t.
Big lumps can win games . Big useless lumps can’t

Powell should be sacked , if only for signing these two

But iirc, most fans were pleased we'd got 2 big units after a year of struggling in the forwards (ironically including Holmes, Hughes and Mulhearn - the 1st two came in for massive criticism from fans).

Kasiano in particular was seen as an impact prop but one with more than a little skill.

I thought we'd got 2 too many props so even losing Mikaele and Maguire we weren't exactly light IF Powell got them playing in the right way.
Vaughan, Bullock, Philbin, Kasiano, Dudson, Harrison plus Green.
On paper thats not bad.

Harrison back for the Leeds game so for the love of sanity drop Dudson.

I assume Bullock will be back too if he’s over his thumb injury. Likely we’ll revert to Mikaele starting, Crowther did ok for me so

Vaughan
Clark
Mikaele
Currie
Nicholson
Crowther

Walker
Philbin
Harrison / Bullock
Kasiano

I would have said Kasiano would be dropped for Bullock, but Chambers talked him up a bit after the game for his effort stopping the Catalan try in the corner at the end. Chambers is big on that, so I guess he’ll stay in. I don’t think with Kasiano it’s a lack of effort, some stupid play and far too many errors, Dudson on the other hand just doesn’t seem to want to put a shift in.

I had no issues with us letting Holmes and Hughes go, Mulhearn however I thought was good enough to keep but I understand (from posts on here!) that we didn’t offer a good enough deal.
I agree with your comments on the perceived strength of the pack though.
What amazes me is that players who were devoid of confidence last season are playing with vim and verve at Leigh whereas totally new players to our team are devoid of confidence, I can’t see how this is anything other than a coaching issue.

I would personally say it's 3/5 coaching, 2/5 recruiting aging journeymen. Sometimes you are lucky, but by and large they have no buy in to the club. I would loan Dudson, who must surely be nicknamed 'dud' to Swinton. That's the standard at which he seems comfortable.

I'm really not sure of the negativity towards Kasiano... I can see errors in his game but there is effort , skill and go forward when on it ... Dudson did ok at Catalans but for whatever reason is either unwilling or unable to step up and will be the first casualty of a post season cull .. having said that people who were poor and let go last year appear to have stepped up a gear with a different voice in their ears so who knows

Powell basically replaced Mulhern with Dudson. There are quite a few other of his recruitment calamities that Mr Burgess is going to have to deal with. I hope we haven't told him about the Clark/Dwyer thing.

And what have Swinton ever done to you? Pack him off to Widnes (win/win)