In terms of McIntosh he wasn’t in our worst few players this weekend but fans are quick to slag him off no matter what.

We had 0 penetration this weekend and that’s came from pivots and back rowers in my opinion.

Benny Mc can catch and pass but doesn’t influence a game, shaul is only decent in open space and Clifford didn’t have much good ball and then went off injured.

Jordan lane wouldn’t get into the batley side and whilst griffin is tough, will work hard and carry well he’s not exactly a classy back rower.

I agree that any domestic forward we can get in will help us, especially if it can get us a quote spot. I’m hoping Dan smith has a bit of ball playing ability to help us with second phase. Although, I’d like to see some of our forwards stop trying to be ball players and just carry straight and hard.

Ligi Sao has extended his contract according to HDM

So contract situation is therefore

2023
Adam Swift, Danny Houghton, Chris Satae, Andre Savelio, Brad Fash, Joe Lovodua, Joe Cator, Kane Evans, Cam Scott (one-year option), Ben McNamara, Connor Wynne (one-year option), Mitieli Vulikijapani (one-year option), Josh Griffin, Denive Balmforth, Jamie Shaul, Scott Taylor, Brad Dwyer, Kye Armstrong, Jude Ferreira.

2024
Ligi Sao, Tex Hoy (one-year option), Carlos Tuimavave, Darnell McIntosh, Jake Clifford (one-year option), Jack Brown, Davy Litten, Charlie Severs.

2025
Liam Sutcliffe, Jake Trueman, Jordan Lane.

The DJ strikes again.....
According to the article in the HDM, the option to extend was in the club's favour.
We had a new Manager, surely it was more prudent to let Tony Smith decide, if the player had a good working relationship with the new manager?
We renewed the contract, even before a ball was kicked.
If Satae has his contract already renewed, that leaves us with only 2 quota spots available, ie Lovodua & Evans..
We have very limited scope to bring in any new players..
What a mess !!!

A deal so good they kept it from the fans, a bit like when shaul signed his recent extension, nobody really knew if he'd signed it or for how long...why activate it in the off season though and not during the season when you can see if Saos form/attitude warrants an extension??

I wonder if this was announced after the world cup the, how the reaction would have been, think most fans would have been pleased including me.

Club really shoots itself in the foot sometimes, by hiding things.

If he can improve his discipline then he can be a good player, certainly works hard and and has a good engine.

This for me sees the end of Satae, I think we at most could have kept one of these, that would give us 3 quota spots.

What a shambles this club has become, how can they expect supporters to keep coming in their thousands whilst constantly keeping us in the dark with these secret extensions? I dread to think how many others are actually signed up for 2024

Fans cry that we have so many off contract during the seasons, turns out we don’t so they cry that a contract was extended before the seasons started.

Whilst it’s the club didn’t extend it, ridiculous people are crying. As someone else said if the club announced it straight after the World Cup everyone would be buzzing.

Also people quick to blame the “DJ” but Ligi Sao is a World Cup finalist who plays big minutes and has good ball playing ability. He’s a Smith player through and through so maybe he signed off on the extension before the clause expired.

My gripe is the reoccurring lack of communication with fans regarding important matters. We pay a lot of money to follow this club and are needed more than ever with our current performances and financial situation, think we deserve at least a bit of honesty and clarity as to who is and isn’t off contract at the end of the year.

Luke Gale was a world cup finalist, imagine if we'd given him a second year too. Realistically, we should have seen how Sao was getting on this season form and attitude wise under a new coach before giving him an extension

Agree with nearly all of this although Ligi is already signed up for next season

2023
Adam Swift, Chris Satae, Andre Savelio, Brad Fash, Joe Cator, Cam Scott (one-year option), Ben McNamara, Connor Wynne (one-year option), Josh Griffin, Devine Balmforth, Brad Dwyer, Kye Armstrong,

2024
Ligi Sao, Tex Hoy (one-year option), Carlos Tuimavave, Jake Clifford (one-year option), Jack Brown, Davy Litten, Charlie Severs.

2025
Liam Sutcliffe, Jake Trueman

Cator, Savelio, Dwyer, Griffin and Scott benefit of the doubt for me I'd offer them a one year deal,few if cheap keep, shame Laney and MacIntosh are contracted they'd be out the door for me. Kye Armstrong highly rated and wanted by a few other clubs so interesting to see if the club mess it up with him.

The difference was Ligi Sao was a finalist 2 weeks earlier. Smith also said when he came in that he was taking control of all rugby aspects so I’m not sure why fans think he won’t have signed off on this.

The only thing people can be ed off at is the lack of communication. My only thought can be they thought we’ll trigger the extension and then announce a new two year deal when we agree one

When will people realise clubs never announce things as they happen. They release them when it suits. I have no doubt they were waiting to announce Ligi (if it’s even true) until when/if he has a top game.

I aibt a problem with keeping Sao thought he was our best forward last year, had a disrupted start and plays on the edge but would be alot better alongside better signings. At least hes one who does show some application just needs to tidy it up at times and played in one position.

I'm still waiting for them to announces Shauls 3 year contract he signed I'm 2020

Also anyone thinking Smith didn't have a say in the Sao deal is deluding themselves.

That doesn’t make any sense. How does one delude themselves?

Dont get why the club are playing games with the contract annoucements, triggering a 1 yeat extension for Sao isnt going to get people racing to the turnstyles whenever it was announced. Also agents are in the know so its not like it has been kept secret to keep other clubs guessing.

Comms are poor from the club and need to improve.

Cam Scott is one

I can live with that, while I dont think he's a superstar in the making he wont be earning that much. We cant replace the full squad as much as we would like to.

Agreed, Scott is a decent squad player.

It's the top end old players and overseas players that are the issue, every squad needs the liked of Fash and Scott on their squads.

We'd be a much better team if all players put in the effort that Fash does every week. It's a shame he's of the stature he is because if we was built like Sao or Satae he'd be a wrecking ball.