So all gone quite on the Baptiste story since Monday's League Express and nothing showing up on NRL news threads for awhile.

John Davidson on twitter just said he's got couple of exclusives for this weekend. Regarding us by sound of his response to a fellow tweeter.

He signed.

John Davidson?

No Jim.

We still need pace and depth in the backs, but who is available.

I'm ready to hold up my hand and offer to step in. On the basis that there is a ground swell of opinion that our backline is slow and can't catch or pass I figure that as I'm slow and can't do any of those things I must be in with a shout. I was worried that at 56 and 3/4 I might be considered a little old but given the age discrimination laws that should see me right.

Baptiste?

I've heard he's backed out last minute. No idea how true it is.

I'm sure we'll find out sooner or later. I'm not so sure we really need Babtiste anyway, he'd offer more depth than another dimension.
I'd prefer another prop if depth is what we are looking for.

We need a winger. DESPERATELY.

I still think Russell will be okay in this squad. In fact I think he can add something few others can.
As I've said, I've wiped the slate clean and I'll not be a critic until the season starts.
Remember I have probably been a major critic of him in the past.

Won't be losing any sleep if he has. Let's be honest most of us had never heard of him till a couple of weeks ago.

My only concern is that the only area we're weaker now than last year is at hooker.

Clark/Smith < Clark/Dwyer.

I'd not heard of Baptiste either, but a decent interchange 9 is something we needed to look at.

However, if we shut up shop now, I'd be happy enough. We've addressed the two main issues, being the hole at halfback and beefing up our pack (inc the return of Currie and Crosby).

A winger would be the cherry on top of an already delicious looking squad, but not a necessity for me.

Baptiste isnt a bad hooker, although he hardly gets much game time at Canberra due to Hodgson. Sometimes when Baptiste comes on Hodgson then goes to 13 with Baptiste going to 9.

Baptiste is a great hooker. He'd be great addition to the squad. He showed some nice touches with the ball and solid defensive work in his first game for PNG. My concern is he could quite easily get an NRL deal better than what we are able to offer.

Clark has a been a massive disappointment for me and has seen his form plummet to become third choice England hooker. ....I think Baptiste would make us serious contenders next season...

Clark is an absolute machine week in, week out. He game revolves around a quick ruck and runners either side of the ruck hitting a hard line. We've just been through two years of every set consisting of 4 scoots and a kick to the corner. I expect to Clark to go back to his MOS form under price, he was being smothered with mediocrity under the latter years or Smith and Agar.

He's not a bad player...you rarely win a MOS if you are.

However he has zero kicking game, and this separates the Cameron Smiths and Josh Hodgsons from the rest of the Worlds Hookers. (Monas Had a great kicking game too)

Baptitste created a try for a forward in the PNG game by giving a disguised short pass. it was simple enough but those cute plays also seem to pass Clark by.

one of my favourite NRL hookers was/is Mitch Rein at St George.He was similar to Clarke in he was/is great at Dummy half running. And its so exciting to watch a hooker make that decision to not pass but instead take on the half gap left by tired defenders.
But that doesn't suit some teams and is Why Rein only got a handful games at the Panthers this year and has now moved on.

What happens When Clark loses his pace what will separate him from the run of the mill hookers then?

He's clearly played injured last season so another reason to have a good back up hooker....

Hmm, you just said "he signed"?

Give me Daryl Clark over Josh Hodgson any day of the week.

That was the info I got and posted it on the rumours thread.
I will post and be dammed.

If we lose a winger, the reserve is likely to be a academy player.

If we lose a Clark, the reserve is likely to be Smith.

Pretty thin on ground both spots compared to a plethora of cover elsewhere.

We ought to be like the Pies.
Promote from within for backs.

Ought to be, but we aren't are we? We need anotger winger IMO I hope taylor Prell works out as cover but to be honest I have no idea whether he is ready or ever will be.

We seem pretty good at producing generic back rowers, not so good at backs. Pomeroy for one more season as cover?