Agreed. I’d put good money on Cas finishing bottom next year - their squad’s garbage and I can’t see them improving it much. Asi is their glimmer of hope - he’s a big lad with good feet but needs a very good organiser with him. Zac Cini probably the worst player I’ve ever seen play NRL (two or three games I think?)

Asi is a decent player... Certainly upper SL standard... Put in some good end of season performances for Parra

Don't know if that will be good enough to break Cas' current mediocrity .. But until we start to show some consistent SL form next year... I won't throw any stones (they hurt when they get thrown back)

I agree.
I'd rather stay under the radar and surprise teams rather than bigging ourselves up.

Cas finished the season well. They are used to SL standard and we are not.

No easy games next season to ease ourselves into the league , everyone n their dog will want a piece of us and take the points . Going to be a torrid few games to get up to speed I suspect, let’s hope the fixture list is kind .

Seen Storton a few times now and he will be a good signing for us on the left edge. Does seem to be spelled a bit so I suspect we may carry someone like Vagana/Scott on the bench to come on for him or vice versa.

Happy with our second row options in Storton, Niketemo, Scott, Mckmeeken and Vagana if needed.

I think Scott will be starting right centre

Storton got through some work early on before swapping with Kelepi. I'm not sure if they spell Storton for Storton or Tanginoa.
He also plays right which is handy.

I imagine he and Niketemo will start with Vagana on the bench but it would be nice to have Batch back on yesterday's showing.

What gives you the impression Batchelor wants to leave HKR? I certainly dont see anything other than a guy whose loving it in east hull moreso than during his time here.

I don’t think PT’s saying Batch is coming back, so much as it would be nice to have him back.

On the above, I’m not bigging us up so much as predicting league finishing places. I’m not bigging Wigan up by saying they’ll finish top again. And I’m not slagging Cas off by saying they’ll finish bottom. It’s quite easy to spot trends on which clubs will rise and fall, with the odd surprise here and there.

I'd love to see Batchelor come back, but can't see it just yet.

I'm sure that the main reason he wanted to go leave, was to win silverware. As much as they are building, they haven't won anything yet. However, we are also building, but in the early stages. We are a totally different club now, on and off the pitch. Some say the recovery areas for the players is only bettered by the likes of Wigan. That in itself, could be a selling point for potential incoming players.

I think Storton will start for us, personally, he's a grafting second rower, with Seth, the other. For his utility value, Griffin included, I can see Scott and Griffin, maybe taking up a bench spot.

Also, at only 20, is Seth going to play every week.

Nice to have the options

Nothing at all. Just commenting.
I'd like to see Lewis here too if that makes it clearer.

If you'd have Scott on the bench, who are your centres?

How do you come to that conclusion? Almost two thirds of our squad were either playing SL for us last season or SL for someone else this season.

I’ve no wish to over sell next year’s team but no point underselling it either. Broadly speaking we have near as damn it as much experience as Cas. Not saying we are better, but we have every chance imho.

No, the main reason he left was for the money and there is nothing wrong with that

All our opinions differ that is just the way it is. However out of all our signings so far Storton is the one who has impressed me the least.

He probably won’t for a while, he’s not a player who draws the eye. He’s a coaches player rather than a fans. But like Pitts and Kay people will grow to like him imo.

If he gets picked for the final then you’ll know that coaches rate him. HKR don’t need to play a departing player, many don’t.

Exactly, he’s not going to be busting the line regularly but I’ve seen him about 5 times this season and each one he’s a busy player who runs good lines, chases and tackles well and is a solid edge player.

He’s every bit a player who will allow us to transition and challenge into playoff spots.

Not saying he is a bad player but I have seen nothing so far. However I do think we will probably uses him differently than HKR and again my opinion , but I think prop would suit him better rather than an edge forward.

I don’t agree having watched him. He’s not a player to bust tackles or hit the line with the impact needed at prop from what I’ve seen. Hes been utilised in almost all KR games on the edge and looks pretty good there.

What makes you think prop would suit him better than second row where he plays majority of his games?

In that case I'd like to see Bevan French and Jai Field here.

The point was that we were talking about Storton and his second row partner was someone we all know.

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... ommunities Always stood out at academy level but never quite realised the potential his early career suggested. Worth a place in next years squad?

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... ommunities Always stood out at academy level but never quite realised the potential his early career suggested. Worth a place in next years squad?

They've also released Mickael Goudemand and I think I'd rather have him

Didn’t realise he was in our academy a few years back.

Personally I’d like us to pick up another forward to bolster the squad but based on Steve Mills’ comments I think we will only move for a player who improves our first team which I don’t think will be the case here.

I remember watching Ruan a lot in academy. He was very good and had a cracking offload and a big lad. I would definitely be up for signing him as I think given some time he could become a very good second row/13.

Not quite broke through but he’d be worth a look at imho.

As far as I recall we offered Ruan a professional contract which he rejected stating that he thought he was worth more, the contract was the same type and size we offered to all our Young players at that time. Therefore I don't see any reason to go chasing him now to come back. Of all the forwards we have lost in recent years, that we may want back, Ruan is low on the list. Goudemand and his partner have just had a child so I think he is wanting to return to France for family reasons, would be a good pick up for Toulouse for next year regardless of which league they are in. Cant see Catalans Dragons resigning him.