I think they argument has been what yet he offers enough as a quota player. Were he a British player we’d picked up from somewhere I’d call him a bargain. The truth is though that you should be expecting something really special from overseas players, something that isn’t available in a British player.

I don’t think we were getting that. I also don’t think we are there yet with Whitbread. What I will say is we are now heading in the right direction hopefully.

I’ve been willing to give him some leeway because he’s quite young and relatively inexperienced hence why I think he’s worth another year.

Not that what I say matters much.

Personally, I think Whitbread has gone well for us.

Further to Magoulas, and the Warrington exodus, I see also, that Mulhern has been released, think he could do a decent job for us. Still reasonably young, and British too, so no quota spot

That does surprise me I’ve been impressed every time I’ve seen him play.

I’d go for him but that’s just my perspective. Does seem an odd decision by Warrington.

Certainly have some issues over there.

Could it be a case of too many big personalities, and not the hearts to match them

Its been a right clearout they're having.

Would certainly be pleased with Mulhern, he is our type of player. Someone with something to prove and we can offer him that platform.

I think possibly in the past it was the case you’d expect something special from a quota player. That bar imo has been lowered somewhat with the continuing rise in NRL salary cap and lack of quality uk props/forwards. I can’t imagine the money it would cost for us to bring a Solomona type forward over but I’d guess we would me more priced out these days.

Your point about offering something that isn’t available over here in uk is a good one but I think shows that there is these days in 2022 less quality available in the forwards. It gives players like Whitbread the opportunity to get a decent gig over here where as historically they may not have found that opportunity.

Either way Whitbread is the right age, has the right attitude and has something about him we are starting to see more of. Another player about to hit his best years. This year he’s had consistent game time which will have really helped his game develop.

Mulhern has been arguably our best prop this season.(although, granted he's not got much competition for that title!

). Unfortunately for him, we have signed a load of new props and allegedly he was asking for a big bump in pay which the club weren't willing to give him. Would be a very good signing if you went for him.

Not with a big bump in salary he wouldn't

Why not? Come next season we will probably be free of a few big earners. If this guys good enough why not spend it on him.

I’m sure if Bill isn’t resigned that money could be used for the purpose. It props we’ve been screaming for after all. We have plenty of options in the backs.

If you believe everything you read because we are easy pickings due to the number of times we cry Wolf over how poor we are due to our lack of support. I don’t know how much we earn from sponsorship but I believe we have a good three inch space left on the shirt still available.
I guess the loss of Lino, Miller, TJ, Batchelor, Tanginoa, Fifita, Arona and Bill will save us a fortune but unfortunately we would just waste it in order to boost the bank balance. I will admit I do not possess the positivity some of you have because all I have heard in the last few years is how we spend the least. I would hope by now we would have improved our revenue streams but current comments suggest not. I know we have lost Sky money but so has every other club, it is not unique to us. I expect we have not needed to pay rent on a property we now own and we know that the loan was deferred, so how much did that save us. We have not exactly lavished large chunks of money on the ground with the exception of the floodlights but did the club pay for these.
We are entering if we survive a difficult next season with the possibility of a much weakened squad because who would want to join us with our recent form, knowing that there is a real possibility of relegation. We have had several seasons to turn things around but all we appear to do is weaken the team every year. I know the above is the worst list but how many of us actually believe it won’t happen especially with us requiring a transfer fee for two of them.
I really do hope I am wrong, I do but history is on my side.

Understatement of the Century......


And is history on your side - especially with the spending ability.....

You are correct but it doesn’t make the points I raise any less valid or do you think we have progressed on the field over the last few seasons and if not then why.

I love the way you dress up speculation as fact.

Every year you and others adopt this mantra and every year nobody leaves.

You have no actual idea if any of the players you mention are going anywhere, your just repeating gossip. Some may be but you don’t know that. Teams get rebuilt by new coaches and ours is probably overdue.

Yet somehow we have not lost a major player in years and that includes Academy players.

Why? Because we are not the most skint club in SL or the one bogged down with huge contracts.

Smart clubs like us and Leeds have been cutting our cloth for years others have not. That adjustment or lack of is about to come home.

There are at least four SL that I know of who are more or less insolvent. Only saved by wealthy backers. However the current financial situation will soon see the banks adopt a more rigid stance.

Watch this space and see these speculative clubs you so love fall one by one.

So you don’t need to pretend to hope you’re wrong, you just are.

Too factual for one or two to comprehend, and those that don't want to believe you as well.

I did say it was the worst case scenario based on those players linked with other clubs. You are correct I don’t know but with your contacts please explain why every season the squad is slowly being weakened and why we appear not to be able to reverse it. If I remember it was you who suggested that with TJ being due a testimonial year shortly it may make him stay or the chance to play in our redeveloped ground would be such a draw to make them stay, do you actually believe these statements.
I don’t know other club’s finances I won’t ask how you do but I do know that we appear to like to make a point about our salary cap spending being the lowest in SL, this is not something to be proud of. I would have hoped by now that we had progressed with the improvement in our finances to be able to strengthen and to end the constant struggle to stay in SL. What marketing do we do and why does it fall on supporters to produce an history of the ground, surely this would be the first thing thought of by the club. I suppose we are lucky you came up with the idea all on your own maybe you could be a marketing consultant for the club.
I do not love other clubs despite you keep suggesting I do, at least I have in your eyes expanded my loyalty beyond Castleford.
We will see what happens at the end of this season I expect that Bill and Arona will leave, the rest we will just have to see along with the quality and ages of those we bring in.

His facts were a little incorrect when he used Steve Ella as an example of a veteran player at 28.

His fact and not facts as you only single out one, depends on the context of the particular fact, if Steve Ella had been playing with a team of players far younger than him, then indeed it would not be out of context to call him a veteran, depends how desperate you are to make a point really.

Or how desperate you are to back Vastman. It was you who claimed his fact based superiority, I was merely pointing out that as per usual your defence at my expense was wrong again. I think the reason given above suggests a little desperation on your part don’t you.

I back anybody that talks sense which does usually include vastman, I'd back you if you could get past your bitterness towards the club but I'm not holding my breath, it's a forum all the time squire not just when it suits you, and my reply to your post was not in desperation to be on his side but to point out my non agreement with your post, you could have just ignored my post, just like I promise you I will ignore your which will undoubtedly will be on it's way, goodbye.

It's always you and them.

He was an older player with an injury issue when we signed him. If that's not within your parameters then strike off Steve Ella, the point still stands.

For the record sometimes older players work out sometimes they don’t. Ditto younger players and everything in between. It’s a judgement call from people far more qualified than us.

You are scrambling for a reason but the subject at the time was veteran signings not injury history. With Brough then it would be valid or even Atkins when we resigned him a second time but Steve Ella was just wrong. We shall see if those people far more qualified than us get it correct at the end of this season.

Is this what you do, lose an argument and use pedantry as your last defence. Must be a hoot in your house at Christmas when the party games start.

I did not lose the argument I was not the one who brought Steve Ella to justify your opinion. I know you just can’t say you are wrong, it is sadly what some now accept as the norm.
If PT is thinking of telling me off don’t worry I have finished safe in the knowledge that despite his protestations he was blatantly wrong and not for the first time.
With regards the player in the topic I actually agreed you cannot assume he would be the same player had he signed for us but unfortunately he didn’t and now he is back at an NRL feeder club, from which I suppose he hopes to get a contract.

Ok ok have this one on me.

Another example I believe in respect of a player being at the correct club is Konrad Hurrell. He has many flaws but these in most cases are covered and he is put into position that best suits his attacking abilities. I think his time at Leeds showed that for them he was just not a good fit.