Would you rather we went into the season with no halfback cover?

TBH Paul it's what we usually do.

But as I say, compare it to 2005. It's pretty much the same positions, too (a prop, a scrum half, a winger, a back rower, a centre/utility, then another backrower compared to another utility). I don't personally think that the getting to know you issue should have made much difference. Certainly not enough for us to be a noticeably better side next year just because we'll gel more.

No, but I also would not want to jeopardise 2012 with panic signing.
We have Tansey anyway for the halves, we would be better employed signing a competent fullback IMO.

Rovelli is only being talked about as a 1 year signing. How would this compromise our 2012 recruitment?

It doesnt look like Orford is coming back so L'Strange will move to 7, if Orford comes back I can see L'Strange moving to 6 and Kearney to 1.

So as it stands, we've retained Fitzgibbon, Tickle, Manu, Houghton, Whiting and Yeaman, some with upgrades. We've released Calderwood (who played 4 games), Cusack (about who plenty moaned we only needed 2 out of him, Radford and Dowes) and Craig Hall. We've brought in Sharp, who has potential and is likely to play more than 4 games. We are looking to bring in a back-up for Horne/Long, on a one year deal, who has experience. We are also linked with Westerman. If the Westerman signing comes off:

Tansey
Sharp
Berrigan
Yeaman
Briscoe
Horne
Long
Fitzgibbon
Houghton
O'Meley
Manu
Tickle
Westerman

Moa
Lauaki
Radford
Washbrook

Rovelli
Turner
Dowes
Whiting
Lyne
+academy

Looks OK and certainly not weaker than 2010 IMO. Even without Westerman, we look to be putting Fitz at prop, so not too shabby.

the set up for 2011 could potentially be a great improvement

does anybody know where westerman started out? i don't think he started cas...

Wasnt it with us?

I thought so but can't find anything online to say so...

Exactly, even a two year deal might work as we will have other spots for next year. The point is we need someone for next season, surely Rovelli is better than relying on Washy or moving Berro.

Well it's an unknown quantity but surely this season we will be able to develop more than we could last year as we already ahve the basics in place. It might not be significant but the likes of Fitz and Ogre will be better for having a season in SL and Long will know more about the players he is playing with.

Done what ?

With regards to Westerman i suppose its just a case of wait and see although i am beginning to think its just another end of season rumour with little or no substance.

My thoughts exactly .

Do you honestly believe that Rovellli is going to come for just one year? If that's the case then fair enough. I just don't see it happening.

with the limited cap space which will be available,westerman and rovelli would be perfect.i'd rather have rovelli(even though i have only a small knowledge of him)as backup half than washy,berro or tansey.

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 105045.stm diskin definitely signed for bulls,but in all honesty i dont think if i would have offered him 3 years.

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 105045.stm diskin definitely signed for bulls,but in all honesty i dont think if i would have offered him 3 years.

I know we were talking to him a couple of months back and negotiations were going well just that a deal had to be put in place for Cas to part with him.

That's no exactly substance I guess but there has/was/in contact with the player/club.

With the amount of Aussies that's cried off back home this season , A year seems about right.

With Rovelli, he doesn't seem to have the best rep in Aus, so maybe we've offered an initial 1 year contract, but imply that if he puts in some good performances, he could get an extension. It'd give him the oppertunity to improve his rep in a league where many hadn't heard of him, too.



As a rough estimate, do people think that we'll have enough room under the cap for both Westerman and Rovelli, now that Dowes has been signed up?

I would have thought we would be talking to the other players with spare money that didn't include what Dowes would be taking up. I think the fact the club put a deadline on the deal mean't they were prepared to start using his offered salary else where.

In short terms I wouldn't have thought it would affect other talks.

Cheers Paul, although thats i bit different to the rumours flying around that he is expected to sign this week in a deal worth £175,000

Depnds if he sees it as for one year. He may fancy his chances of impressing enough to earn another deal either with us or elsewhere, but we're his only chance of coming over ATM. Wouldn't be the first to take a shorter deal to put himself in the shop window.

Yeah, maybe a bit like Cordoba did.