Current rumours seem to be around this guy Mago , and ratchford - I realise that’s all they are but they all have the ring of wakey about them

If there is anything in Mago, Anthoni and Ratchford, and we were fortunate to land all 3, which I doubt we would, I think we will have a very competitive squad. Ratchford wouldn't be coming as cover in his eyes, and would add competition to the halves, full back and centre.

Also reading last night it looks like AJ Wallace's move has hit a snag

There is a great episode of the James Graham podcast with NRL “Super Agent” David Riolo in which he explains how the system works.

Agents do not wait to be contacted by clubs. Initial conversations happen with current clubs and then availability is issued and sent to clubs should their current club not be looking to offer them a new deal or if they are under contract but they are wanting to move them on due to salary cap issues.

Playing second grade in Australia for a season also has a very damaging effect on a players value which in the NRL which is why they target SL clubs if that has happened which is probably why Atoni is being shopped to us.

Ratchford would have to be a short term deal but there may be other options.

AJ Wallace deal issue I believe is agreement on a deal between clubs. So likely a fee etc. personally I’d rather us invest in Windrow and we have plenty of second rowers.

Ok if we must.

One player we were linked with I already knew which SL club he’d signed for - have the odd connection in the game.

No prize for guessing who I mean.

Another player linked to us was never leaving the NRL let alone joining SL lowliest club.

However I mainly gathered it from the fans forum when MC dismissed Gale and Lawrence out of hand and then added that it’s best not to believe what you read or words to that effect.

So no great insight bar one player, just going on what was said by MC, possibly as reliable as it gets, though I’m not claiming he’s a saint in these matters. He actually says it every year but nobody seems to listen.

True but this season the NRL/reserve grade seems especially player hungry, particularly where under thirties are concerned. Really not much out there with plenty of players getting second chances.

Even PNG who really disappointed have seen a few players get an NRL deal, players we’d normally have a shout with. Hard times.

You do realise the art of point scoring involves you winning them rather than giving them away?

I don’t recall anyone saying that but if they did, then it was Poching. We have a different coach now, he’s called Applegarth.

It was MC actually, at the previous fans forum.

That was back in July though not long after Proctor had been sacked. He was instantly linked with a move to Super League and Salford were mentioned in the press. The top table were asked if Wakefield were interested and the response from all three up there was a general head shake and a no.

So you think you win a point, in a game no one is playing, by saying you don't recall something and then guessing someone else did.....incorrectly?
Score.

and?

I suspect Atoni has agreed terms but it will be all the crossing of t's and dotting the i's. This based on the comments by Mash in latest media reports.

Him and Proctor will be here before Christmas

I'd be happy with that

That would be a very nice Christmas present for us fans

That's wishful thinking is it?

is it?

Not wishful thinking. That’s as far as I should go.

Piece in the Sydney Daily Telegraph this morning included the news that the Sydney Roosters have released Atoni from the remainder of his contract so that he can join Super League club Wakefield Trinity…

Many on line comments (from Aussie readers) expressed surprise that he’s going to SL as he’s far too good!

That makes a big difference to our pack.

Yep it does but I am sure some of our supporters will still be able to turn it into a negative. This is just what we want some punch up front.

If Napa or AN other get signed then that total changes the power of the team.

What it gives us is five genuinely big units in Atoni, Whitbread, Proctor, Butler and Eseh and maybe one more to come.

Combined with grafters like Pitts, Ashurst, Batty, Borden and Crowther that’s a decent pack.

Nine is covered by Hood, Bowes, Kay and Smith.

6-7 by Lino, Smith and Gaskell and Kay in a huge emergency.

Tbh the only position I see without an obvious back up is FB. Though you get the feeling Hall could probably do a bang up job if needed.

I also believe that decent backs are fairly available at present, either on loan or permanently, unlike forwards.

Nobody is pretending we have the strongest squad in SL, we clearly don’t, it it’s ok. The trick is do Applegarth and Ford have the nouse to mould them into something more.

There's Kelepi to go in there as well. If we could pull off Napa then the pack would be a improvement on last season.

I still think we need a Hampshire/Ratchford type player who can cover 1 and 6. I'm not suggesting either of those, just that mould of player. I can also see Shaul becoming available again at some point, even if it's on loan.

Centre looks light as well to me, but if we can tie Croft down then that'd solve that issue with Hall, Lyne, Gaskell and Croft as the options.

Good signing. Only slight surprise is that it’s a 1 year deal.

A couple more signings if good quality and we should be ready.