The lad has turned out to be a very good signing, why wouldn't we want to keep him?He might be 32,but he looks as fresh as a daisy! I appreciate that players ages are important in our ongoing recruitment strategy, but considering the importance of next season,IMO the here and now takes precedence at this moment in time.Don't agree we have plenty of wing cover,I certainly wouldn't play Lineham there again.

Sorry but what? You literally don’t agree with have plenty of wing cover despite having 5 wingers on the books for 2023? Exactly how many wingers do you think is adequate cover? 7?10? Wingers maybe.

So he takes precedence over Murphy, Taufua and Kershaw along with possibly Kay who’s scored more try’s almost than Evans has had training sessions in his league career?

I like Evans and he’s done well. If we signed him I’d be happy but he’s been made out to be some sort of necessary signing who’s a must sign. I just don’t get it.

He isn’t necessery as the squad is. He would be 4/5th choice most likely.

If your argument is he solely he offers more than limeham who is likely to be our 4/5th choice winger I’m afraid I don’t stand with you on that.

Would I prefer Evans to Lineham? Yes I would probably. But you can’t just rip up a guys contract. It’s not his fault we are in this position. If and I mean if Mash wants Evans then he may explore options such as sending Lineham out on loan season long. But I’d guess that the focus is on other areas of the squad such as forwards and perhaps a centre/fullback cover.

Just to add to the above. Although Lineham didn’t have a good 2022 if he does pull the shirt on again I’ll be cheering him on. I think there were some circumstances which contributed to Linehams below average form. We may see a different player under Apelgarth.

What a ridiculous, over the top post Trojan Horse,shame,you are usually a reasonable poster.
You are seeing things in my post that aren't there; never said he'd take preference over Murphy,Kershaw and Taufua,but I think he would be in competition with them.As I understand it, we have the 3 wingers mentioned, plus Kay and Lineham.Kay is regarded more of a 9 these days and the last time I saw him on the wing he looked average at best IMO. Lineham? I think his SL wing days are gone.So I reckon 3 wingers,4 at a pinch!
Everybody knows you can't just rip up Linehams contract, why mention that? (your not his agent by any chance?)
Just to reiterate my last post....IMO Kyle Evans has gone well for us since we signed him and I think he warrants another contract.He brings cover and competition to the wing spots, and he might,just might, prove useful in covering other positions in the back line.

Not staying with us confirmed by the club as we have 4 wingers already.sad to see for me

I’d have liked to have kept him but I won’t be too bothered if we spend the money on other signings that are needed.

That's all it is, just talk.

Saints just given Jon Bennison the five shirt and a new contract, so I doubt they are or ever were that interested, just some director being flash.

But yes we still need to tie him down if we can.

Disappointed we haven't kept him, but if the finances are needed elsewhere, fair enough.

The Lineham money and player are lost so let's forget about him when mentioning the squad.

Not just the numbers unfortunately. Murphy in particular is going to be very expensive to keep and Kershaw won't be cheap. With Taufua and unfortunately Lineham on big money it's really hard to justify any more cash going on that position. If Evans was willing to stay on a cheap one year deal then that would be fine, but the bloke needs more than that, so I can't blame him for not accepting if that's the case.

I do find it perverse that we are having a discussion about to many old players at the club, yet people are now getting upset that we are losing an older player in what is traditionally the position most dominated by youngsters. I get it, he's far better than we hoped he'd be, but he's just to late into the game of RL to make it worthwhile.

I'm not playing up to you here, but I'd rather the cash went on your lad, or any number of the young academy kids, long term Ollie Pratt is a far better bet.

Haven't we been through this? How do you know Lineham and Taufua are on big money?

Anyway, Mash has said we can't offer him a contract because we have 4. He doesn't mention contracts. No mention of Evans not accepting a cheap one.

So just how expensive and not cheap.
What's the actual cost.

It's a lot of swings and roundabouts with Kershaw v Evans. I guess Kershaw's trump card is age. With 2023 being a critical season I wonder if that is the right call.

I’d say Evans and Kershaw have a very similar style of play tbh.

Kershaw has age and experience in his locker. No doubt our right edge was good back end of the season with Kershaw on the wing. It’s more likely to be the right call or rather carries less risk.

Apologies, reading back my tone probably was a bit flippant.

I’m just stating fact and however you dress it up we have 5 players capable at playing on the wing already.

He probably would warrant another contract but for the fact we have 5 who can play his position already makes it highly unlikely it will happen.

Mash today pretty much said the same thing. We have to spend the money we have wisely for 2023 to add quality and depth in the areas needed.

It’s an unfortunate circumstance for Kyle we have many wingers on the books. He would very much still be a punt though having only played two superleague games and the rest against young/fringe players.

Real shame we can't keep him.

Thanks for the apology Trojan.

I didn't actually think he was anything special. Lots of enthusiasm, but we leaked tries down his side against Wigan and Toulouse. We'd too many three quarters on the books last season that we didn't get enough game time from, looks like Mash has learnt from that and is prioritising other areas. Right call in my opinion.

It is the right call but I question your reasoning - how many times do we have to see it before the penny drops - when wingers are left to cover the opposing centre and winger, the problem isn't with them it's in the middle.
Evans showed the other night that in equal numbers he is more than capable in defence.

Bang on this some right Scape hosting of some of the backs who were exposed by being too slow in the middle

"We've got Lewis Murphy, Lee Kershaw, Jorge Taufua and Tom Lineham.
When you're breaking it down and looking at your squad balance and what you're spending cap-wise, can you afford five wingers in your squad?
He won't be coming back at this moment in time."

Above is a quote from Mash regarding the 'wing' situation. Looking at the last sentence, I wonder if the door is still open for KE and we are waiting for 'player movement'.

Perhaps I am reading too much into his words.

Not disputing the numbers, just the rankings.

Murphy
Taufau
Evans
Kershaw
Kay




Lineham

I'd go

Murphy
Taufau
Kershaw
Kay
Evans/Lineham

I don't think I'd put Taufua above Kershaw on his Trinity games.

My opinion is

Murphy
Kershaw
Taufua
Lineham/Kay

Kershaw did excellent end of 2022. Will be interesting to see who Mash goes with between Kershaw and Taufua as tbh I do want to see what Taufua can bring despite being happy with Kershaw.

On form it’s got to be Kershaw.

I go with the coach but I can’t deny I’d be disappointed with Mash if he didn’t.

For me Kershaw was one of the stand outs both at the end if this season and the previous one.

He’s not error prone never really was, and he’s not raw, he’s an accomplished winger with a blockbusting style all his own.