Just to confirm, the club have never let Thornley go.

He's left us twice and both times we had a deal on the table for him. It was his choice and reading IL's comments from the last time it happened, he was pretty miffed about it too.

Even if he plays 10 games this season, you'd hope that's 10 games where Isa doesn't have to cover and some young kid doesn't get over exposed. I'm more than happy with that.

It's a squad game and he's a squad player.

Damned if they do and if they don’t I guess. They needed to announce the Thornley signing and were being called out for not doing so last week and now they have. I think Jonh nailed it with the Thornley signing in calling it a ‘moneyball’ signing. Is he going to terrorise teams, lay 30 try’s on a plate for his winger and be an absolute game changer for us? No probably not but he’s going to play a part in fixing a huge issue for us and that’s trundling the ball away from our end. He’s a big body with a point to prove and he has a good try scoring record. He is a low risk signing IMO and I don’t think he’ll let us down.

The other lad is a long term thing. They’re not going to put a press release out saying ‘we’ve signed a young prop nobody has heard of to play reserves’ but I’ve seen clips of him and there looks to be some talent there. If it doesn’t work out then nothing lost but if he’s another KPP , it’s happy days.

I like Bibby don’t get me wrong but deffo see him as a centre. Slow and dreadful under the high ball so can’t stay on the wing for me.

Give him the number 4 shirt and a good run of games there and we’ll see him thrive.

Hopefully Miski is good and can make the right wing spot his own.

Our wages and salary structure are essentially out of kilter. IL explained recently that we are up to the cap because we are paying the likes of Partington, Smithies, Havard, Byrne, Shorrocks etc. more than they could really expect anywhere else. Obviously, the powers that be see potential in these young lads, don’t want to lose them and are paying them a premium because of this. Otherwise, we could no doubt afford to bolster the squad with a couple of ‘ready now’ experienced pros.

He absolutely 100% did not say that

My mistake if he didn’t then. From memory, I thought it was something along those lines.

He said they would have their salaries increased. I don't see why this is controversial to be honest. They came to the table for their initial contract negotiations having never played first team, just happy to get signed. They come back to the table years later as proven regular SL players. Obviously they would be worth more on the open market during the second contract negotiations so will be able to command higher salaries as a result. Some may take a bit less than another club might offer them if they are settled or have an affinity with the club, but I doubt they would take much less.

Yes
And he threw out a hypothetical line that said players such as KPP signs a contract and as you say is happy with that, but 1/2 years later after they come back and want 100k a year.
Now don't take that literally, he was just explaining that players want increases year on year as they are developing and that there is a cost/price to pay for that.

I know for a FACT Partington/Byrne/Smithies etc over the last 2 years were and still are on a fraction of that 100k that some people have jumped on and claimed they are all on.
Each is different but on average its half of that figure or less.