Hope so but thats a big call without seeing him play! Might be masterstroke going forward but when Aiton came over he had 6 years first grade experience and over 100 NRL games under his belt. It's a big ask for a young bloke just turned 22 to be thrown into a team that hasn't won for four months. Given our situation we need any signings we make to hit the ground running so i hope he's a good 'un.

All I meant was he liked defending.
Now I've seen the Samoa games he is clearly a good player

The only problem I have with half of these players is, they seem to use us as a stepping stone to move onto bigger English clubs, and in the mid to long term this is something that we have to sort out if we want to move forward as a club. Paul Aiton, Talima Tautai etc, moving on to Leeds and Wigan after seemingly only being here for five minutes, I know we are hamstrung so to speak as to who becomes available, but it's just a bit sickening when Trinity seem to give these guys a break and a chance over here, and they then jump ship pretty quickly. Even going back to Henry Paul, I didn't see Wigan taking a chance on a Junior Kiwi until we took a chance on him and he almost beat them on his own over at Central Park. I remember the arrogance of Wigan fans that night saying he'd look good in a Wigan shirt, and low and behold.....I really hope Sunday's improved performance is the start to us not being a 'feeder' club if you like, and that includes our own like the promising Johnstone. It's going to be a long hard road, but if we do get out of this season's mess, like I have said, we can't keep producing our own talent, and keep bringing overseas players to the club simply to then let them go onto pastures new so quickly.

I concur with what your saying but I'm afraid until we're on a level playing field with the 'bigger' clubs that's how it will be.
Players chase money simple as that. Very few of them display the same loyalties as us supporters and it's hard to stomach but that's life!

Any clues Bazzo?

Article says Sio has signed an 18 month deal for Trinity and flew out today from Australia. YT shows although plays 13 for Samoa he often takes the acting half position for his country...wonder if Howarth broke his arm so Sio comes in to cover. www.loverugbyleague.com/news_186 ... ackay.html

Article says Sio has signed an 18 month deal for Trinity and flew out today from Australia. YT shows although plays 13 for Samoa he often takes the acting half position for his country...wonder if Howarth broke his arm so Sio comes in to cover. www.loverugbyleague.com/news_186 ... ackay.html

Quote ="asmadasa"Article says Sio has signed an 18 month deal for Trinity and flew out today from Australia. YT shows although plays 13 for Samoa he often takes the acting half position for his country...=#FF0000wonder if Howarth broke his arm so Sio comes in to cover. www.loverugbyleague.com/news_186 ... ackay.html'" Chuffing long time to have a pot on. 18 months

Quote ="asmadasa"Article says Sio has signed an 18 month deal for Trinity and flew out today from Australia. YT shows although plays 13 for Samoa he often takes the acting half position for his country...=#FF0000wonder if Howarth broke his arm so Sio comes in to cover. www.loverugbyleague.com/news_186 ... ackay.html'" Chuffing long time to have a pot on. 18 months

It's a sad reflection on SL that almost any reserve grade Aussie/NZ will almost certainly be better than almost any British player - it's even sadder still that he will without doubt be miles better than any of ours. This is proved by Pita who is if we are honest is pretty ordinary yet is almost our only hope of doing anything that might break the line.

So welcome our next great hope

I think it suggests that we will be losing either McShane or Godinet or even both. I regret our current position does not allow us to prepare for next season player wise so I suppose it will be the usual clear out followed by the scramble to find last minute replacements. The quality will depend on which division we are in.

I agee Mcshane will be off and probably knows his new club. Unlike many I think hes overrated and if he can go early and the club have cover let him go. When Aiton went I knew he would stiffen the leeds pack up, and improve I don't see Mcshane having the same effect .

I can't believe anyone who saw Pita play in the 4-nations would think he was 'average'! We haven't seen the best of him this year, but it's in there. Hopefully Brian will get the best from him and many more!

I don't agree. Aiton was much slower with ball in hand. It doesn't matter as much at Leeds and even then he has improved in that area but McShane brings more to us. We have lost the defence there is no doubt.

Oh come on mate.

Average or OK a bit above average is still pretty good in SL but he’s not world class is he, even if he did ok for Somoa. If you think he is then you’ve been watching Trinity for to long.



Regardless of our varied opinion the fact remains that a SL can not find or grow a British player anywhere near as capable as an IMHO an “average” non regular NRL player. Let’s be right when we signed Pita he was a total unknown even in NZ.!

I do agree however that under Smith he could well mature into a very good SL player - assuming we keep him.

I what way, jeez you talk some bull at times.

Your point is well made in general but Godinet was not unknown. He had played for the Warriors and quite a few fans on their forum didn't want him to leave. Johnsons mercurial rise limited him so he came across for a different chance and a good run at half back....................but we stuffed that idea for a while.
That's the only thing that makes me doubt him going to Sts as hooker but if it were me, I'd go as he'll be playing at the highest SL level and possible WCC at Sts.

The exit door will be well and truly open at the end of the season. Over the last few seasons im not aware of to many players extending their deals. For stability 2 year deals would appear to be best option , with an extension offered after year one. Any player who does not take up the option could be made available by the club for immediate transfer. The present system aint working the more successful clubs will always get the first pickings and tap up players nearing the end of contracts.
With 13 players off contract we can expect a really busy closed season.

Although I am one that always calls for stability and would like to keep much of the squad, wholesale changes are getting to be the norm so we may have to get used to it.
I'm starting to think we live without Smith even though I'd love him to stay. I hope he can turn his form round and make it impossible to let him go.

I'd really like to keep Anderson, Scruton, Simon and Kirke (possibly) for next year. Front rowers are hard to get and when they are all fit it is quite a good group.
We can build the impact runners in the back row.

This but I feel that still need an additional real impact prop from the bench to replace what Paea was supposed to offer plus a centre and a specialist full back rather than utility backs. Plus retain Godinet, McShane,Johnstone and Washbrook not sure about some of the others...

Agree, although I feel we need two centres, Lynn is a winger, never a centre. Not doubting that he's played well in the centre on the odd occassion but he could, with a little confidence, be a quality winger.

Agree with regards to centre and fullback. I wouldn't retain Washbrook and McShane though, time to bring in fresh blood in those departments.

Anyone know when SOO arrives? I'm sure I heard he could be straight on a plane.
He won't need the same permits and visas in France.

There is a reason that Washbrook and McShane are being pursued by other clubs and that is that they are two of our best players in an under performing team.

Luckily the club signed Johnstone for a longer contract but I think players need to be signed for a minimum of 18 months so this mid season pursuit of players may at least lead to clubs having to pay Trinity transfer fees.

No update on Sio? It's a long flight from Aus if the press report was true! Hopefully Brian Smith has a couple more cheap 'good find' (hopefully) signings to get as we're playing a half back at full back and a second row at centre.

No update on Howarth's arm?

Total opposite for me if Lyne is anything it's a centre, but not a good one. Hasn't got the speed of mind to be a winger.

Has Sio been announced by the club.... He is a player I know nothing about... Haven't noticed him in the game here in Aus at all!!

Probably because he has never played any first team rugby.