Overall, pretty poor. Not a group of players who you would expect to be able to bring big improvements to the Bradford side although I agree with WLA that Potter should do well for them.

Some of the signings come across as desperate gambles who are more likely to flop than reach their best form (Raynor, Walker) whilst some others may be solid pros but are hardly game breakers (Elima, Hargreaves, Sibbit). Ainscough is fraught with weaknesses as it stands at the moment and needs a lot of work.

Diskin should offer more than their current hookers though and Royston is probably the best player in the Championship.

Bradford will probably get to around 7th to 8th next year but I think they needed more quality to lift them on the field and to impress the supporters enough to convince them to stick around. This cheap season ticket deal surely won't be a long term thing. Who knows though, their recruitment might not be finished yet.

Diskin is the best of that bunch yet they already had 2 pretty good hookers so it seems a strange one for me. They would be better of trying to sign at least one quality halfback because as it looks to me they must plan of using L'Estrange in the halfs and thats not good enough if they want to really make an impression next year.

The signings of Diskin and Elima are good, Ainscough could be a cracking signing and guys like Hargreaves will be solid enough but then buys like Sibbit, Walker and Raynor aren't the type i'd expect a club of Bradfords stature to make.

On the plus side for Bradford they got the 10,000 pledges for season tickets so thats a great move in the right direction. If they could sign a class half and a centre that could make some sort of impression they'll be in alot healthier state though.

Only Diskin would get in our squad out of them and thats because we are short of hookers.

Yep, good halfback and centre along with the retention of Orford then they'd look a different prospect.

bankrupt?

Personally I feel they are best shot of Orford, I was someone who was hoping we would target him last year when he became available but am made up we dodged that bullet. We have been panned in the past for holiday and pension signings from the NRL and for me he has taken the biscuit. Had he signed for us and performed the way he has for the Bulls we would have been slammed.

One decision I cannot understand is not to retain Menzies for a further year. I find that stunning he has been the shining light at that club in some pretty dark days and may be knocking on but is still top quality and I am sure will continue to perform at Les Cats to a level above anyone at the Bulls next year.

Peraps Menzies was part of the swap for Elima?

Menzies had 1 year left and Elima has a good few years in him.

Not a bad swap (if that is the case)

More on the Leuluai Rumour to Manly here:

[urlhttp://www.silvertails.net/forums/index.php?topic=185756.25[/url

MMM

Tommy to Manly, does that mean we are freeing up funds to bring in CAMERON SMITH, MMMMMM

I had this text off someone who used to be a regular poster on here.

On the story about Tommy to Manley.
Manley were up to the cap which prevented them re-signing Orford.
To take Tommy they would have to be be releasing a top player salary wise or it can't happen.
IL will drive a very hard bargain on the deal, that's if there's any truth in it at all.

Unless they have a decent hooker which we'll take in return.

Why would we just 'let' Leuluai go?

He may want to go. He maybe unhappy about the way his best mate was treated.

Who?
I think personally he is happy as can be here.

Feka?

I agree, he comes across is if he is loving it here.

It just doesn't make sense to me.

Why would we let TL and Piggy (different circumstances admittedly) leave at the same time.

It could surely only be if we had someone incredible lined up to replace them. But I hesitate to say that, because it's yet more putting two and two together and making five.

That said, it would be a very strange move to release our two hookers and have no-one else to bring in.

So to react to the fact his best mate has been treated badly, he then moves half way around the world from his best mate to stand up for him?

It may just be Tommy wants a shot at the NRL, he's won SL now so why not go out on a high.

I have no inside information what so ever. I'm just speculating as to why he may want to leave, if indeed he does.

Fair enough, all I meant was I highly doubt that was the reason anyway. I don't think Tommy would leave as it would leave a gaping hole in our side without an extra quota spot (ignoring Phelps) making it very difficult to fill.

It could be related to my post at the top of this page.

Could be, but from a team point of view surely Phelps, Pryce, Roberts and Leuluai out and Slater in makes little sense.

I'm sure that any chairman put in this predicament would be torn with indecision.

I agree, we'd obviously need a quality hooker to replace Tommy and Piggy ... but seriously, if you were offered Billy Slater, what would you do?

You'd be mad not to sign him. He'd add 2,000 fans a match with his name alone.

I still think it's pie in the sky. From a Melbourne POV, they'd have nobody left except Cameron Smith. I thought they were supposed to be selling the likes of Finch and Hoffman so they could keep their top 3 together.

They are already under the cap aren't they? They've been given the go-ahead to accumulate points again next year haven't they?

I can't see it happening, why would he give up rep honours? You could maybe say it would be just for a year and then go back but would you risk Jarryd Hayne having your position for a year and then trying to get it back?