Shame that we don’t get dispensation for TJ as homegrown then.

I thought we did, thats why were able to sign him as our home grown marquee

We do.
Trojan is being sarcastic.

Quote ="FIL"Doesn't look like Brodie Croft is going anywhere ??.... https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/footbal ... a286&ei=63'" Sounds like the Dragons desperately want Croft... https://www.totalrl.com/leeds-rhinos-to ... ion-grows/

Quote ="FIL"Doesn't look like Brodie Croft is going anywhere ??.... https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/footbal ... a286&ei=63'" Sounds like the Dragons desperately want Croft... https://www.totalrl.com/leeds-rhinos-to ... ion-grows/

But he's not a wakefield lad. He's from Leeds.

He was actually born in Germany if you want even greater irrelevance mentioning.

Sorry you are wrong Lino will be in Leeds for the first game of the season.

In a Wakey shirt more than likely

No doubt but the rumour was he was off to Leeds, I believe.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... ommunities

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... ommunities

Unless Powell wants him in a full time environment ASAP, in which case we will probably sign him and send him straight out on loan, he isn't anywhere near ready to play SL yet, we will look to sign him next year when he is out of contract, probably as a direct replacement for Croft, who unless he improves a lot this season, seems unlikely to be offered a new contract

Not a rumour as such but Harvey Livett tipped to leave Giants before the start of the 2025 season.

He’s a player I really think would be a great pick up for us. Can cover various positions and offers a bit of a point of difference as a ball playing forward.

I've always liked him, though not sure he would improve us now

He would come as back up and would be a good back up option. I’ve never really rated him highly and he’s never really stood out for me. I guess he would offer solid cover and if that’s what we’re after then so be it.

I think we've progressed enough as a club to look beyond the likes of Livett. Looked like potentially something special during his debut season at Wire but has tailed off drastically. The type of player we would have had to look at during our final few SL seasons.

Not for me thanks. If he wants to move because he has fallen down the pecking order at Huddersfield, he won't be any higher at Wakefield, in fact, when you look at the ability and versatility in our existing squad, he would be even further away.

Vasty, I don't think you replied to that post as you intended.
Just check that's what you wanted to do.

Was he polite or something?

Lol. Yes he was actually.

With Doyle having a shoulder op and not be fit until start of season I would go for another hooker. Powell did say we might sign one more player so who knows. He did give Harvey lots of praise though but I feel he would be targeted in super league.

I think 3 x hookers is enough personally. Smith is a quality young player and needs exposure to the first team to progress. He is England academy’s number 9 and done it all at that level. You may not have the confidence in him but it’s about expectations being realistic. He should be getting a good 10 games or so this season to properly introduce him into SL.

Doyle will be fit for the start of SL. We have 2 x hookers so we don’t need another. We also can play Russell at 9 the odd pre season game.

To sign a 4th hooker to have them sat on the sideline through the season is wasteful imho.

If we are to sign another player then it must be a player who improves the starting 17.

A quality 9 is a must ahead of 2026.

I’m not sure where we get one from at this stage ahead of 2025 especially with no quota spots.

It’s not ideal but we may have to dip into the loan market again for 2025.

Tom Forber would be a potential realistic target. He’s been with us before, unlikely to be in the 17 at Wigan when everyone is fit and showed he’s far too good a player to not be playing SL when he took the starting 9 spot for Wigan in their run at the back end of the season and playoffs/Grand Final win.

I’m confident we will be targeting a more sustainable long term solution from 2026.

Well, it is (almost) Christmas.....

The key signings for 2026 will likely be at 9 and 13 I expect.

As you say quality at 9 isn’t around at the moment so I feel we may have to look outside UK for a quality 9. Though perhaps that depends on Doyle and Smith in 2025. They could end up being our 2026 partnership.

Personally so long as whoever comes in will challenge for a starting spot and improve us I will be happy.

Wigan favour their young hooker so go for Kruise Lemming or if we get a quota spot Daniel Levi. All depend on how Whalmsley, Antoni and Bain go this year