Imo, he would make an outstanding old fashioned loose forward given an extended run there. Despite him playing for you, he's a player i really rate.

Always has looked a L/F to me too.

Suppose Mcrae did say a champion player that would cost what 150k in wages ? I suppose if we can bring another forward in then will make us look stronger

The current board and coaching team have been restricted by the last board and Agar.

However I don't think that the old board signings where too bad.

Has any other team brought in a better FB or HB than Mckinnon and Seymour.

Ellis provides good back up and O Carroll gives us much needed depth in the props.

Lynch is great signing (by the new team)

Another forward and I will be pretty happy with our squad, much better balanced than last year, new coaching staff and a chance to play some young kids.

That's pretty much how I see it. I would have liked a better centre, in fact I think it was priority, but having let so many forwards go we needed to replace them. I am happy with our overseas signings.

We will finally get what we asked for and see some of the younger players get some game time.

cant believe your still blaming agar

Very concerned about our pack now for next season. 4 props and 3 SRs in total with maybe one more "squad player" of some kind coming in. That is madness and it is a little baffling that we are close to the cap.

No doubt when we have lost a couple of forwards to injury and we are getting battered up front in games, it will be down to "bad luck".

I can't believe the underwhelming news that has come out of the club only days before passes go on sale.

I don't remember anyone saying we are after a squad player?

You don't think that is the inference in today's HDM from McCrae? We're certainly not going to sign anyone of any note or better than our current 3 backrowers.

The current squad +1 looks very threadbare indeed in the way of depth. We have released so many players and yet we are "close to the cap"?

These academy players that Agar's never given a chance are going to have to be decent or we'll have real problems next season in the pack.

No, I think that it was to quash the ideas that we are going to sign Lyon/Jennings/Thaiday/Gallen etc etc. They are 'champion players' IMO.

Our pack looks very very thin. It is very strong if we have everybody available but when injuries strike (even just an average amount) we're going to be screwed. We have 4 established props and 3 excellent backrowers and that's it !!!

I'm certainly no fan of Radford's but why convince him to retire and then not replace him?

Fitz, Radford, Dowes, Lauaki and Washbrook all gone and only Lynch and O'Carroll (plus maybe one more) coming in. I think that is complete madness.

I agree...

Totally Agree.

Maybe McRae has been reading the forums, maybe he thinks we need to get a grip of reality.

I think we possibly have space for a decent signing if we release Obst. Someone in the McKinnon, Seymour, Lynch bracket but not a World Class Star like half of this forum are expecting.

p.s I notice Smailes mentions "It has seen players such as Manly duo Jamie Lyon and Tony Williams suggested as possible targets in some quarters" in the article. He must be reading this forum

All we are saying is give kids a chance.

Once Obst goes and we get one more addition to the pack we will be in good shape. It just means the youngsters will be called on which we have al been asking for.

Also looks like we weren't far short of the cap in the last few seasons after all, which is puzzling given some of the comments made by AP.

If it is true that a high profile Aussie has changed his mind at the last minute recently, where has that salary gone? It must have been fairly substantial.

What were we going to pay Gleeson with this year?

Top earners leaving.

Long
Gleeson
Fitz
Hame

Top earners arriving.

Heremaia
Seymour
Mckinnon
Lynch

Wash and Dowes - Martin and Ellis.

Phelps money on Moa/Houghton upgrades.

Radford money left and maybe Obst if he goes. So some money left but not loads.

id let obst and sharp go and look to bring in someone like mitch brown and larne patrick

Brown has signed a new contract and Patrick is under contract.

Can't see any of our new recruits being on anywhere near what Fitz, Long and Gleeson earned.

Why? They won't have come over for nothing, they will be comparable I reckon.

The likes of Ben Crooks,Liam Kent etc should finally get a chance.