Depends how he’s been asked to play-
A few of the things I’d say are very good about Lawrence. Hardworking in defence, misses few tackles, rarely makes errors, rarely gives away penalties, rarely turned on his back in the tackle enabling a quick play the ball.

totally different side when we had smith and ikahihifo propping too and obrien on the pitch!

think we all know lawrences plus points by now!

But I don’t think many of our fans do- I don’t think they recognise that winning the tackle and getting a quick ptb can be worth more than a player using up energy making an extra one or two metres after contact. You can make those metres up in the next play by a quick ptb - and have conserved energy.

I do get Lawrences strengths but I still don't think he is good enough at either prop or 2nd row for a team wanting to make the top 4. Hes an extremely valuable team player as are Clough, Murphy and even Rankin could fall into this bracket. However, these are the "dependables" we do need in the squad but also need to improve on them in regards to our starting 17 if we are to make it back into the top 4.

I agree with that, It all depends what the club aspires too though.

I’d like to bet Lawrence will be on less money than clough and Rankin.
I’d say therefore he’s better value for money to the club than those players.
Id also rather have a dependable local lad in our squad than any other similar.

So if the Hastings and Uate deals come off.......what the consensus on the next position we need to strengthen next?

With Symonds gone, Wakeman and Mamo certain to leave and potentially Hinchliffe too we could still have room for another 2 signings.

I do think we still need to offload some current players such as Roche and potentially Walne also.

We need two players for the pack.
Whether that is two props Or a prop and second row is a moot point.

But we need two players one who is aggressive and a pack leader like peacock or Hill and maybe a second row who can run out wide.

Agree completely. Halfback with a kicking game, and distribution was number one to replace Brough in max one years time. Hastings from his highlights is exactly that, lots of try assists and pinpoint kicks. He's not a longterm solution though i would assume, although you never know once he gets over here! Number two priority is a good prop with some real aggression and go forward, big unit would help too.

I wonder when it will be announced?

It’s hardly a secret - it’s been on the official NRL website!

didnt say where he was going though.

prob announce is when we announce season tickets for 2019

what benefit are the club going to get from announcing it now? may aswell leave some things for the marketing for next season but we know how rubbish at that they are... at least england know what they are doing using mcgillvary to promote the new england shirt... something we could have done last season on the back of the huge world cup he just had but no...not a clue how to use our main asset mcgillavary

From the NRL website:

“Sea Eagles veteran Akuila Uate will take up a lucrative three-year deal with Super League outfit Huddersfield in 2019, ending a decade-long career as one of the NRL's most entertaining flyers.”

It’s all over the Aussie media.

To avoid looking like chumps?

We need to ensure we are still in SL next season before we make any announcements!

This. Have any of you criticising the club thought that maybe there will be a clause in the contract that makes it moot if we are relegated; and therefore the club might wait to see if we make the 8s to announce it? They could potentially announce season tickets at the same time then.

When is debating what’s freely available in the Australian media, oh and the Hull Daily Mail, criticising the club?? This is a site for chat and debate amongst Huddersfield supporters so why the ‘holier than thou’ attitude ?

If you spend 10 minutes trawling the internet there are several sources including Uate himself saying the deal is done and several others saying we are on the verge of signing Hastings with immediate effect due to the fact that Manley need to move him on before 30th June because of the NRL rules on replacing players in their top 30 (squad) so it’s now or never if we are.

Even Woolford himself in his press conference, it’s on line if you want to watch it, talked about new signings in the next few days, so why would they now keep what’s common knowledge under wraps once the deal is done?

However if the club thought speculation was criticism why would they just not ‘gag’ him in the first place, if they didn’t want it to be common knowledge so as to not raise speculation amongst the supporters of good news on the way ?

To not announce it until September in case we are relegated would be just daft considering Salford, Widnes and Catalans have announced players for next year and at least two of them are in far more danger of relegation than us.

In Cloughs case he has constantly made decent metres, played well and the club rewarded him with a new two year deal.

Lawrence on a long term deal I think, has been injured more oft than not recently, a worry, but is a good defender, but has next to no go forward at all for such a big and strong looking lad.

For instance Hinchcliffe makes as many tackles as Mike and has more go forward and can pass it too which is where Mike needs to be as he’s not really achieved his potential, if he is seen as just a dependable local lad, as he was in the England Knights squad at a fairly young age and has not really kicked on.

Mellor for instance has gone past him recently as will Dan Smith if he continues his recent improvement so let’s hope Simon Woolford has the key to finally unlock Mikes full talent because it was definitely there !

He's not on a long term deal hes off contract at the end of next year

didnt know lawrence was off contract end of this season but no doubt will get a new deal.

i have no problem with the club holding back on announcing signings.... like the uate one..might be known by us who are interested in the club but not by the joe public... thats who we need to attract and announcing it at the right time may get them to buy a season ticket.. wishfull thinking

Devils advocate.

The early statement of intent by signing two quality players from the NRL would raise interest and attract people to see what else the Giants are planning particularly after the free ticket beano ... strike whilst the iron is hot... it’s what Town do and that’s not working too badly...

you cant announce uate when you dont know what division your in, might not come if relegated.

dont forget also theirs current players in the squad who dont know their futures and if they know someone else is coming into their position they might throw the towel in and upset the team morale

If the rest of the squad don’t know he’s signed, then they must be the only people in the RL world who don’t!

Why?

If they announce it and they get relegated the fact he’s not coming and they said he would is not the biggest problem they’ll have!

Personally, I like that idea of showing a montage of him playing to the crowd. Depending on what he’s like about cameras, I’d have also have thought about a Skype call put up on the big screen for him to say hello to the crowd!

They had a big crowd on, for which they should be pleased. It would have been a good moment to pile on the feel good factor by showing off a massive signing.