There is no way Finn and Miller will go through another season injury free so we do need good cover for them. Having a 13 who can genuinely play 6 or 7 would help a lot.

Not confirmed he said he was talking to both them and us

Yes, he's a good player. Principally a ball handling loose forward/second row but has been known to play stand off. Not had a great deal of game time this season with Manly and at 32 is probably past his peak but still has plenty of quality.

His name sounds rather rude to me.

It is also mentioned on the 18th man website and could join us as early as next week.

Also it is mentioned here that Scott Grix and Steve Michaels could well be Wakefield bound for 2017

Indeed, Scott Andersons Wakefield career could well be over.

Mateo would be cover for our halfs

If Mateo is the one providing cover for the halves, a couple of questions.

Firstly, is he any good in the halves, and apart from his offloading game, what attributes will he bring. Kicking game etc. Having played over 200 NRL games, I would think he is a good player.

Also, at 32, and 17st, is he quicker then Finn. A lot of bigger players tend to be slow on cumbersome.

Only asking, as I don't watch a load of NRL to be honest.

My initial thought would be to play 13, assisting the halves

Decent player. Definitely more of a ball playing back rower though.

Not confirmed but my info is that we were outbid by Toronto, whether he wants to up sticks with his family I don't know.

He played for Tonga against Samoa this year at stand off, so must have an idea what he is doing.
I'd still prefer him to be 13 and add to the half backs we have rather than replace them.

Signed for Salford along with Luke burgess

According to the 18th man

And the club themselves ( jus checked)

Have we actually confirmed any new signings for next season considering the fact that we are in the top 8 has made it easier.

How many sides have confirmed signings for next year? I now there's a few like Griffin, O Connor signed for Hull and Thomas Leulai & Frank-Paul Nu'uausala signed for Wigan but there's not been that many yet as there. Who have I missed?

Saying that we've only just been confirmed in the top 8 and we're only in July & there's a fair few games left yet till the end of the season

This quote sums up how used we are to having a huge turnover in players between the end of one season and the start of the next.
Nobody is signed and it's disaster, not a stabilisation of the club.
Maybe now we are in a position to make our signings at our own pace and not throw silly money at players that don't really want to come?
If Marwan wasn't at Salford, would Burgess and Mateo gone there to play in the middle 8's, or would they have come to us?

Makes me smile to read that clubs are signing players for the middle 8s, who'd have thought

Not quite the fuss made last year? Strange.

Exactly.

Sad fact is and its always the way with us it seems - Salford were willing to pay more money for the rest of the season.
we are still in the running for next year for him but if he has a blinder in the super 8's salfords chq book will be open again

best we can hope for now is Salford to not do so well.

we have only signed him and burgess for the lower 8's. He will probably be with you next season still.

With the wonders that Kear has managed at Batley, with a salary spend of £130K, we can look forward to a team of world beaters and still have enough change to make BV into a palace



Seriously though, it will be great to have some stability in the playing roster and if Chester, Kear and MC can unearth some quality to go with what we have now (accepting that Hall and Scrutton plus one or two others mat be leaving), that would be great.

It's superb to be secure in SL and perhaps, the fact that we are already certain of playing top flight next season, will give us some advantage over Shudds, Salford and KR (Leeds will clearly be ok).

Shudds, KR and Salford may have some serious opposition to maintain their place this time.
I am glad we don't have the issue again. St.Johns Ambulance would need to be stationed in the East stand in old gits corner.

I wonder when Eddie will condemn Salford's recruitment for the M8's as being against the spirit of the competition?