ben has being great for us,
thanks for all your efforts ben and good luck in the future

I do think it's a decent deal if you got a fee - I don't think he's at a point in his career where he will get better (29, is he?) But, he was OK, and always put a shift in.

Have to say tho, the last game of the season, I had to respect Lauititi having a crack and a wind up with the Cas fans - he loved being the pantomime villain, and I think it's awesome when players get involved with the banter and give a bit back, or even a bit to work with! ....Contrast to Cockayne, who decided the best way to respond to some stick was by spitting at us...

They are very different types of people so tough to compare their integrity and "social skills" but equally, I'm always baffled when fans have what they call banter with players, that in any other walk of life would be agressive and disrespectful behaviour, and then complain wen a player reacts.

In terms of personality, I would suggest Lauitiiti and Cockayne are polar opposites so their varying reactions to stick isn't really that surprising.

Ben has been on my facebook group this morning to thank the fans which was decent of him

The club have said on there facebook feed that Vince is in rehab with his injury which has lead to him leaving by mutal consent

Thanks
The Mellars part is good news for all I think. Kay I would progress but all depends whether he and Wakefield can agree his worth.

if it were abuse I'd say so - I've no time for that in rugby league cause I'd do anything to be out there playing Super League, even if it was for Wakefield.

And I aren't complaining - it was only himself he made look a doilem. There are better ways to have a go back than spitting, how about coring tries like Ali did? that shut us up



Chanting "gypppooooo" at someone coming off is hardly something you'd cover your kids ears for.

Likewise, if Ali were getting genuinely abused he wouldn't have been joining in.

I thought the atmosphere was cracking TBH

Whilst it's hard to argue with your sentiments regarding junior development, we are always going to be a "selling" club.
What we have to do, is produce more good quality young players and we will then, either be rewarded by their services on the pitch or, paid handsomely by other clubs to secure their services.
Personally (and I risk some flack with this comment), I don't think we are producing enough good players of SL standard and if and when we are back on our feet, this area should be given plenty of priority.
We chop and change our academy and junior coaches on an extremely regular basis when, what we need are top quality junior coaches who can bring the guys through to SL standard.
Wigan are the shining light in this area and they are "happy" to move their youngsters on, or develop them and make a killing in the transfer market (the Tomkins brothers and Farrell would be good examples of this).

I think you're on thin ice suggesting that Cas fans were engaging in a bit of harmless banter; you do, I'm sure, recall the disgusting abuse meted out to Richie Mathers at both home and away fixtures? Chanting "Richie Mathers is a **** can hardly be described as banter.

And qasn't it the case that Ben spat on the floor in the direction of those chanting, rather than 'at' them?

[size=85=#FF0000At least star more of the word out if you are trying to get round the swear filter Bren. I realise youa re quoting but not a good word to use really - Poptart[/size

No flak from me. A few exceptions have gone on to disprove the rule but the waste of talent this club goes through is ridiculous. We spend time and money developing them but give them no or extremely limited game time to take them onto the next level. Successive coaches have shown they'd rather play a poor but experienced import or use seasoned pro playing woefully out of position. The licesenng period was the ideal time to battle harden some of the kids but Trinity failed to utilise it.

the major worry, which some people seem to missing is that we are not in a position to bring anyone better in.

with every loss of a player our team is becoming poorer and poorer (no pun)

I have joined the doom squad now.

I think the argument is that we probably can because the players released were on vastly inflated contracts.

I agree Ali handled it well and Ben's responce (though I didn't see it) was not good, but either way he wasn't the instigator.
And the word you use may be offensive to some, even if only to the travelling community that don't want to be linked with BC. It's clearly not meant as a compliment.

of course it isn't a compliment, although I do believe that you get what you give and vice versa really. Whether he instigated it or not is irrelevant.

Ali for example was genuinely having a good crack with us, I know because I was in the middle of it and it was anything but offensive.

As for Bren's comments, I can't argue that those kind of chants are poor form (although neither can I argue that Richie Mathers isn't ...one

) but it's tit for tat. I don't think either of us can take the moral high-ground with regard to any of that... I just think spitting at/towards/in gesture to anyone is a terrible reaction from a "pro"

Spitting at anyone is disgusting whether it hits them or not.

Anyway, if Wakefield made money out of his move, it's very good business.

Not if we are running with a significantly reduced salary cap.

[size=85:12no8la6=#FF0000:12no8la6At least star more of the word out if you are trying to get round the swear filter Bren. I realise youa re quoting but not a good word to use really - Poptart:12no8la6[/size

Apologies - I should have made more judicious use of the * key.

I agree though - not at all a good word to use; his wife and daughter were near me at the time, and they agreed.

I think you are right in that we don't produce enough superleague players, although some who could make it never seem to get a proper chance to prove it so their development is stunted and they drift away.

I read on twitter that Matthew Cook from our academy has just signed for Hunslet on Stuart Dickens recommendation. Now i've no idea whether he was good enough or not but that scenario seems to happen an awful lot.

that's A RELIEF , I thought I was being deported to Napoli

.

I was gutted when Ben went two years ago (check out my avatar, never changed it lol), and I am delighted he is coming 'home'. Thanks to all the Wakey fans for your nice comments wishing Ben all the best at Rovers and thanks for looking after him for two years, his comments show how much he has enjoyed his time at Wakey but I think the pull of coming back to his first SL club, who he helped get promotion, was probably just too much.

Best wishes for next season

At least he finished on a high with a superb performance and helping us to beat Cas


He had an absolute stormer that day and I hope he goes well for you guys (apart from the 2 games against us of course)

A player I would have liked to have kept if only for his try scoring ability and sheer guts and enthusiasm. This is depressing. Kirmond next no doubt to complete the miserable exodus of the majority of those worth keeping

Great player and a fans favourite, I will miss his never say die game play. Thanks for the memories Ben and good luck.

I'd agree in part in that I think only signings will come after the main loss is announced I.e. Danny Kirmond then no doubt some signings will be made. We still have some good players on our books and could still cover a 9 aside competition!



Anybody heard any reasonable rumour of how much we got for Cockayne?

You would hope we got at least the £30,000 quoted but it is strange that despite this being in the public domain it is now undisclosed. I guess we can take from this that MC outsmarted Hull KR and got more money or he panicked and sold for less. I guess we will never know.
I would also like to wish him well he always gave 100% and the alternative we now have is Reece Lynne a player famous for his strong running and deft handling skills both with and under the high ball. I fear that some on here suffer from mass memory loss if they think he can fill the wing position successfully. If so they have been watching a different player to me however if it helps them sleep to believe that Cockayne was not a valuable member of the squad so be it.

I bet christmas is a right laugh round at yours innit??