Can not get all the negativity from the fans on this forum .One month ago we were odds on to go down we now need 1 point for S L next season W Poaching as had nothing to do with Chester 's long contracts to old players.W P as gone down the youth road and it as worked big time Fan's are not happy with Butler though just 24 years old ,Think they said the same about Whitbread think some might have changed there mind .W P as made some very good signings with the money he had to spend . If we stay up I am looking forward to what the Coach does with the money he is given to signe players .Maybe we are coming to the end of the millstone that as been round our neck for the last 4 years called Chester

I agree.

Problem is fans talk the talk but don't walk the walk. They all cry out (see Batchelor) when we lose one but then cry out when we promote the new Batchelor's. They want youth to be given a chance but only if everything is perfect.

I'll tell you know, if we go with youth next year posters on here will go apoplectic after the first loss. They will then trot out that we've let all the good ones go and blah blah, forgetting that it took Batchelor years to really cement a place.

This is the difference between SL and the NRL. In the NRL it's the king is dead bring on the new king. SL and Trinity fans in particular belong to a kind of death cult where they just endlessly mourn the passing of players to pastures new lamenting what could have been. Those players rarely do anything but that's conveniently forgotten.

The proof is right in front of us this year, TJ and Tupou our superstar duo leave and within a third of a season their replacements are ripping it up.

You have to move on, encourage new growth and keep your nerve. Not easy but who knows we may be lucky and have our own version of a golden generation. Obviously with a bit of help from some older wiser heads.

Bachelor is a really bad example to use. He has learnt his trade here and just as we are about to reap the benefits of a quality player coming into his prime we let him go/allow him to be poached.
Really bad move IMO. Feel he is a future international and he's still young for a forward.

For a start how can you allow someone to be poached or leave, he's not cattle, he was a free agent for heavens sake!

We were out bid. If someone offers more for a house you want than you do have you allowed yourself to be poached, when actually you simply couldn't afford to up your offer. Why is a RL club any different. Why do people seem to think it exists in an alternative reality?

As for Batchelor, how do you know he's coming to his prime? He might already have passed it last week. There are no guarantees and you don't have a crystal ball. Personally I don't think he has peaked yet though I don't think he will improve hugely from this point.

So it was imo it was a valid example to use.

We wont know anything for certain....
In my opinion, Batch (who has been excellent and my POTS) went backwards for a season in terms of improving.
So whos to say he wont stagnate, go back or forward at HKR?
Also posters seem to conveniently forget, that Batch is OOC.
So he can go where he wants for the right contract - Dont think it would be HKR for me tbh, but good luck to him.
Let's face it, some of the "big star" signings from the NRL haven't all worked at other SL clubs, so lets support the likes of Butler (still learning and within our budget for example) instead of pulling them down.

Up the Trin.

Indeed.

I'd love to know who these great players are who we have lost and have come back to haunt us.

Players (home grown) who would almost certainly have positively changed the course of our history had they stopped

Absolute certainty:

Gareth Ellis

Tom Johnstone had he left in 2016 but not now.

Would have done but for Injuries:

Nigel Wright

Thats it.

There are a number of players who may have enhanced us rather than turned the team into gold had they stayed but even that's not a huge list and all were covered for by other players.

Example:

Ben Westwood - but it's far from certain.

I don't want to lose Batch or Aydin if possible but not because they are Academy products but because I know both are useful players at present. However if the players who replace them are as good or better I won't lose sleep. If those who replace them don't come up to scratch then I will, but they are bridges to be crossed later not now. Neither however are likely to be world beaters or the types of players you build teams around.

I guess it’s necessary to make some justify the loss of players, they are not going to a better team, they are easily replaced, they are not as good as some think all valid if true but sadly not. If it makes you happy to believe these then go for it, I look forward to their replacements like the player from Salford strongly rumoured to be heading our way.

So let’s get this right you slag everyone off for remaining positive. Then you threaten us with a no name rumour to illustrate your point, how brave and how typical.

What a worthless bit of drivel that is. Seeing as you’ve not named anyone how can we possibly challenge you as we will never know who this figment actually is.

Either give us or name or pipe down.

Just accept he doesn't want to play here. It's no one's fault. He just wants to move.
He only signed a one year deal last year if I remember correctly so that he could look elsewhere this year so he was never likely to stay forever.
He's good but as you say, we are 11th so he can't be a world beater can he? You can't play that card both ways.

I'll say it again, we have lost 2 top earners and replaced with young starlets already in the budget, so we have money to spend.
Who would you buy if you think we'll take the cheap option?

I assume he means Elijah Taylor.

If he came I'd be pleased. But I'd hardly say it was a strong rumour. And I'm sure we wouldn't be the only one interested if Salford don't re-sign him.