As a Newcastle fan I can tell you that there is no talk of Dobson leaving this year, although there is talk of him returning to the ESL next year.

What the poll does show is the dissatisfaction with the current halfback set up.

Surely the people behind the scenes are patently aware stuff needs sorting and quickly, unless they're already resigned to writing this season off?

I not sure if it does illustrate that Yed.
At the time of writing 36 people have voted from a average attendance last season 10,000.

All 10,000 are members here?

'In the country of the blind.....' and all that, I suppose, but I don't think Dobson is the answer. He is past his best, anyway, and hardly set HKR alight in the last couple of years he was there. I acknowledge that there are few options for overseas signings at half back but I'd keep powder dry for now. We ain't going to win a trophy this season but neother are we going to be relegated, so no panicky signings, please.

I agree with this, unless real quality comes available.

To be fair I think that most people's opinion might change depending upon whether it is a short term, stop gap mid season boost this year, or next years' long term answer to all our HB prayers signing

I haven't watched Michael Dobson much at all only when we played HKR & I can remember in 2011 (I think) at Craven Park, Lee made him look ordinary.

That said great Coaches can make good players great, Fergie did it year after year with his players. TS turned Lee around in 2009 / 2010 & made him a far better player. Perhaps TS could do that with Dobson.

Surely Tony Smith knew the problems we were going to have up front with losing, Carvell, Cooper and Morley? To lose Briers was unexpected but as has been mentioned on here we already have 6 half backs and I agree with both parties in the fact Wire are missing a decent Scrum half who can control a game and lead us around the park but we are also lightweight up front. Hill is our only stand out front rower the rest are not up to the standard of the 3 players who left, Smith has a lot to answer for this season, he's been great for Warrington but you take the rough with the smooth, Grand final runners up to struggling for a play-off place, something is definitely not right..

Dobson is a great organiser and his kicking game is generally spot on, his decision making in attack is awesome, I think we over-relied on this towards the back end of his Hull KR career though and were too one-dimensional.

His main drawback is his chronic tackling ability, players just used to run straight through him.

It'd only be a positive move for you all in all but I can't see it being this season, his wife is heavily pregnant and I think he'll still want to try and prove himself this year in the NRL.

Michael Dobson's wife is very pregnant.
It seems very unlikely that the family plans to move any time soon.
But it seems very likely that they will be looking to earn some decent money next year.
Dobbo is on a small contract at Newcastle.

Also 3rd choice halfback at the Knights Matt Minto is back from injury this week and he was named at 6 in the Knights reserves with Dobson named at 7. It makes no sense for them to name Dobson ahead of Minto if he is on the way out. Regular number 6 Tyler Randell has been named in the second row.

Have you mis-worded this quote by any chance? Or have you actually changed your stance from the last 6 weeks and now actually believe that we need a HB rather than a prop.

We need both but Dobson is a non-starter.

Top marks wire111. Fraudulent slip.
since pre season I've said we need a quality prop.
Nothing pains me more than being correct on this subject.

fraudulent slip?

On another note, the Knights are very likely to be releasing starting prop and Cook Islands international Zane Tetevano for disciplinary reasons after he appears in court tomorrow (on a very minor charge related to punching a taxi on a night out).

feck me we should sign me, he sounds proper hard.

imagine that, a prop so reckless and intimidating he got arrested for punching a car

Sign him up and send Asotasi home in the taxi he punched

It's the new Freud Wake up FMC and hear the mustard

Exactly. Lol seeing if anyone would pick that out.
Well observed fmc and rico

is this real life?

Is that another fraudulent slip? Did you mean sign Tetevano or sign you?

We don't need to sign him, just get him on loan as a temporary measure.

This reminds me of the time when everyone was mad keen to sign Danny Halliwell.

..I'm caught in a landslide, no escape from reality