Those with a connection to Wakefield may play with more pride and heart, just a thought.

Why? Never understood that theory.
For me, as long as we sign 3/4 experienced players in the areas we are weak, especially the centres and scrum half, then signings like Shulver make sense. If we don't look to strengthen the starting 13 with some reasonably proven experienced types then we risk spending next season getting d*cked again. There's a long way to go, can't understand why people are panicking just yet

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Exactly.

1st bit of bad news since the end of the Bradford game really.

Can't understand why people think someone who was in our academy suddenly becomes a Johnny Thompson by birth right.
There have been plenty of players from outside Wakefield that have run their blood to water for us.... And plenty from Wakefield who have not.

Don't worry, the club are waiting till you know you will definitely be in the 'middle 8's' then you are going to recruit properly, a'la 2015 !
Joking aside, your owner/directors have no aspirations of the top 8, just the glory of 'staying' in SL, via THAT mini-league.

. I like you, you're funny!
Remind me how long it is to the start of the season?
Don't think the recruitment it done and dusted just yet.

Come on FFF. It's not a Trinity decision when we recruit players.
The rest of the league will decide when we are allowed to recruit.
The committee is headed up by Mr Rowley as President with Mr Lowes head of communications.

Its difficult to know what to expect next season. We accused last seasons squad of little or no effort and circumstances only added to the worst season I can remember.
Its about building a culture and putting faith in the 17 selected . Why some feel the need to bag players before they pull a shirt on I find difficult to understand.
The selection will be down to B S and that's the part I am most happy about, Im sure we will see better performances from individuals and on a team front from all incoming players.
The culture thing may take a season or two but its important to start the process now.
A H K R type of season would be a massive improvement and with more signings I think we are capable of achieving a more settled season with the odd work man like wins against the top teams , and good games against the rest.
I class it as a kick on season and expect us to be much stronger at home.

I've no problem with Liam Finn. Unfortunately, Thurston wasn't available.

He seems an honest enough player, and he won't be expensive, as opposed to an overseas couldn't-make-the-NRL type of player who will want housing and settling in and will spend too much time dreaming of getting back on a plane. We could always wait for another Tim Smith to come along and frustrate and disappoint us all year, at a high salary. From what I gather as well Finn seems popular in the dressing room, and if there was one thing we lacked was some spirit. Like people like Kirmond, it's not what always what you do on the pitch that matters.

Someone like Hampshire would have been good, because I like his attitude, but I can't help thinking that a Miller and Hampshire half-back pairing would have been too young.

As for terrykelly, I bet his kitchen cupboards are always full, because as soon as we're mentioned on TV, his wife must roll her eyes and say, "I'm going to Asda".

As I said some weeks ago when Vasty raised this - I'd be happy with Finn; he's a solid, steady player who can do exactly what we need - guide the team, dictate the plays and provide a foil for Miller's duracel bunny style of hb play.

And all this Cas reject nonsense has got to stop; when will people realise that CAS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN US?! Of course we'll get players from them - partly due to geography, but also due to the fact that someone who isn't quite good enough for Cas could easily be good enough for us; they're a top half of the table team - we're cellar dwellers, looking to improve.

Perhaps he doesn't have a choice in the matter. Maybe his parent club want to send him to Cas?

In relation to Finn, IF he signs I think he will be a good addition to the squad.

Milky does the off the cuff broken field running and taking on the line, Finn provides the guidance and kicking game. If Finn signs he would be a significant improvement on Smith, who some people seem to think was untouchable because of 1 good season before he went to Salford.

It could even be that we have a quality SH lined up and Finn is cover for SH and hooker, it seems a non argument at the moment.

That I could live with

Page 4 and we have not had confirmation of him signing yet ?.

It was said Brian Smiths remit is to lay the foundations for the next 10 years and this team is already looking like one that will give us the start we need. It may not be full of superstars (at the moment) but it certainly has potential.
Given the roller coaster ride of last season i could do with some stability and good fortune and the feelgood factor is definetely here
Cant wait till February.

If we sign Finn he has what we need experience at taking a team round the field simple as I did hear we had spoken to Cooper Cronk but he laughed when we started to talk money as he did with 8 other SL clubs. As for young Hampshire has anyone thought that Brian Smith don't see him as what we want at this moment in time and would not fit into how he wants the side to play.

Anybody who has ever seen Ryan Hampshire play knows that he is exactly what any team needs. I really like Wane, I like the way he plays and sticks with young players and expects them to perform, that said I think that he should have played RH ahead of Smith, Smith is the sort of player that plays well against poor opposition but never quite lives up to the hype in the big games. I thought he cost Wigan the Grand Final and that if Ryan Hampshire had been given a run of games at 7 they would have won some silverware. If Wakey got RH on loan for a season then I would expect us to qualify in top 8.

Thought that was impossible!

How fickle are you.

A top 8 place on the back of a 20yr old kid, have you been sniffing glue?

LSD in large amounts

Just nipped over for a browse to see what is going on in Nutjob land and they have Finn going to Halifax







By the way they are generally not very complimentary about him as a player and plenty are glad to get shut.

It's hard to disagree with your post Bren but, we were stronger than Cas until they got Powell in charge and with Smith at the helm we certainly shouldn't have any kind of inferiority complex.

They may have been stronger than us for the last 2/3 seasons but, we should ALWAYS be aiming to finish above them.

The one thing they have shown is that with a decent coach and plenty of team spirit, you don't need a team of superstars. Their game is all about being well drilled and working hard for each other

We should be looking to do the same.

That was the quality that Peter Fox had when he coached the old Bradford Northern years ago. No real stars but a 'team' who worked for each other.

They're even less positive about Ryan Hampshire. Can't believe he'd want to play for fans who generally don't have a positive thing to say about him.