Poor decision from Radford

Wilf im gutted to see him go a great player and a great guy who I do not think we really saw the best of with the way we used him will be a top signing for Widnes, but you have to look at the game time we are using him, its a lot of cap to play half an hour a game I have got to back this decision I think its the right way to go to promote a young lad and develop him, its clear to me the squad needs a total overall

Confirmed on FC website now. Very disappointing, especially if Horne and "Yeamo" get yet more extensions.

Unless we find a truly exceptional halfback to manage us on the field the "legend" that is Houghton will continue to be one of our major obstacles to progress to a better level. Heremaia at least possessed decent skills and a level of intelligence not normally seen in recent years at the KC. He is nothing exceptional but when Widnes come next year we,ll know they have a better acting half than us and there is only scant evidence that Cunningham may get to that level over the next couple of years. Depressing decision unless there is some exceptional recruitment news

Couldn't agree more!

Houghton, albeit a 100% tackle all day sort of player, has stifled our recruitment for too long. He lacks so much quality in attack but he's from Hull.

Heremiah has added a real spark to our play the ball and attack in general which will be sadly missed when he puts on a Widnes shirt.

Cunningham is a future international imo, good decision to release Heremaia.

All the best to Azza. He's done a great job for us. Unfortunately he never had a sustained run in his hooked position due to been first choice cover in the halves.
Unbelievable how much quicker we are when he is on the pitch.
However by next year Cunning ham should have a full SL season under his belt. From what I've seen of London (not much as I normally turn their 1 sided games off) he has held his own.
Plus there's other areas we need to strengthen and I imagine he has a decent salary.

gutted about azza.
good luck to the guy

who has he put "in the bag" so far?

He's 32 in a couple of months. As much as I like him as a player you have to recognise that in a salary capped sport you don't have much room to play around can't get everything you want. The hard hearted but sensible decision is to go with the younger option who will not just be cheaper but potentially could improve (only potentially I know and some don't) rather than the veteran who won't get better and possibly, as they get more injury prone, become less valuable. Still he has been good for us and I hope he goes out this season in style.

does that logic apply ro R.Horne, R.Whiting, G.Carvell and K.Yeaman?

Smacks me as a cost cutting measure with dwindling gates there's a need to get rid of high earners for local cheaper options.

I doubt that, money will bb spent elsewhere and we will be a full cap again next season, it's about getting the balnce right and value for money from players in the correct position.

Leeds and Wigan are great at this and the reason why they are the most successful clubs i SL.

Look at who Wigan have lost the last 2/3 years, yet they are still winning things.

liam colbon?

why not wait until we finish our recruitment for 2015 before coming to any conclusions

Are you suggesting that Leeds & Wigan are under the cap?

Horne yes he is OOC, but onyl if we have a replacemnt signed or one ready to come through.

Carvell yes, OOC and had players ready to replace them.

Whiting, no, under contract and still plenty to offer if used correctly

Yeaman, no, under contract and dont have the replacements in place, hopefully 3rd choice centre next year.

No point in releasing players if we cant get replacements in and its always hard to get rid of players under contract.

No, did you read my post, a said they utilise the cap and get the right players in the right positions and fill the rest with young players, that is what we should be doing and we have started with Heremia.

What would be the point in that, when they can whinge and whine about rumours.

Seen he has signed a 2 year deal with Widnes, would anyone on here moaning about it, given him a 2 year deal?

I've never quite understood the constant criticism Houghton gets.

Is it down to one or two saying how slow he is at the PTB, and everyone else jumping on the bandwagon?

I couldn't see anything particularly bad with his play last weekend, but what I did notice was how slow Heremaia was in comparison - surely not!

Good post, can't argue with it.

Houghton for me although works his socks off and puts everything in for me just lacks the ability to quicken us up. Dont get me wrong his scoots downfield are great but far too often his distribution is poor and is something that is lacking in his game and needs improving.

Time will tell if Cunningham is ready for SL level, hopefully after a season at London he will be. If I'm being honest and we had to let one of Houghton or Heremaia I would have let Houghton go as I feel Heremaia offers a much better skill set and more all round to the team in general. I would imagine both are quite high earners too so having both only playing half a game is a lot of cap to waste, but Houghton has a better injury record and age on his side so can see both sides of the argument. End of the day the squad needs adjustments and with the salary cap we have to maximise the outlay and use it wisely to get a better balance in the squad and improve the areas that need adressing.

Like has been said already better to get rid a year early than a year too late.

Totally agree.

I think it's some sort of myth regarding Houghton and once someone says it one or two believe it and jump on the bandwagon as you say.

Never noticed any difference when Heremaia has taken over.

good luck aaron, hopefully houghton and cunningham can be a good combo,i think on what ive seen cunningham is more like josh hodgson, and that cant be a bad thing,

What ive seen of him doesn't impress me much