We're not showing an interest, but Cas are. It's not money, more ambition apparently. At least he will give Adam Quinlan some respite from being their fans' object of derision for a bit

Now he's declared his hand I reckon we'll make a move. If we want him we'll get him.

I reckon he has already signed for Cas

Not convinced tbh.

Last week he was international material and a player we should build our team around for the next few years. Today he's overrated and easily replaced



Next week he'll have a sudden change of heart.

George Lawler " I never wanted to leave Rovers I want to stay and win silverware."

Tony Smith " It's fantastic that George has put pen to paper and committed himself to Rovers for the next 5 years. Every other SL and NRL club was desperate for his signature but George knows we are an ambitious club who are striving to avoid relegation.

Could be affordable Aaron Woods, he's on about 170k a year over there.

Would be nice getting a younger player though, hoping Brett knows of some reserve grade gems like Carlos who don't break the bank.

Did I hear right, Fafita to Hull? https://m.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=28 ... alink&_rdr

Did I hear right, Fafita to Hull? https://m.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=28 ... alink&_rdr

Rovers have confirmed that Lawler is leavings at the end of the season.

Woods hasn't done anything of note since leaving Wests has he?

Always struck me as a 'looks like tarzan plays like jane' kinda player.

Although I'm probably being too harsh on a guy that played for Australia and SOO

Quote ="Riderofthepalehorse"Did I hear right, Fafita to Hull? https://m.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=28 ... alink&_rdr'" Didn't watch the video but Andrew started out at Wests, we should be staying well clear though. His knees are shot by all accounts. David hasn't done much since signing his mega deal at wakey.

Quote ="Riderofthepalehorse"Did I hear right, Fafita to Hull? https://m.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=28 ... alink&_rdr'" Didn't watch the video but Andrew started out at Wests, we should be staying well clear though. His knees are shot by all accounts. David hasn't done much since signing his mega deal at wakey.

For me Lawler is a good player and would be a good addition to the squad but feel priority would be a forward more in the type/size of Taylor/Satae plus some pace on the wing.

Would be using Faraimos quota spot and invest that in the front row.

Poss move Ma'u on too. We've got Lane, Savelio and Cator on the rise, so maybe look at a cheaper back row option. Plus gives us another quote spot.

Jury is still out in Bowden. Needs a big year, but he's picked up that nasty elbow injury.

Siosifa Talakai been offered around according to Matt Shaw

Usually plays back row, but looks big and rough enough to play through the middle. Makes in excess of 100m a match in the NRL, and a good age too.

Wonder if we are still looking at Scott Sorensen too? Only signed a 12 month deal at the panthers, we were heavily linked with him last year in the press.

You beat me too it, watched him the other morning , reminds me a lot of Sam Moa, short stocky but very powerful , I think he d be a good swap for Mau, would offer cover at prop as well as playing second row, hits big too.

Lachlan Croker former halfback who's transitioned into hooker so you'd expect would be very handy in attack, is also another interesting one, as I'd love to see us add an attack minded hooker.

I'd honestly sound Saints out about Dan Norman, needs some game time now is he ever going to get it at Saints? 6ft5 prop aged 23 who must be itching to play

Just had a look and Talakai is contracted until the end of 2023, and only extended in April this year. So it's probably a non starter.

Although with Fitzy taking over at the Sharks next year and looking to reshape the squad maybe he could put in a good word for us

Lawler has gone from hero to zero In about 2 weeks.

Called up for the England knights,,Rovers fans saying he really deserves it, has played great and they need to build a team around him to an average player who isnt really a loss.

He has been great for them for years and loyal as he easily could have left.

Yesterday is probably why Lawler wants to leave Rovers, he wants to play in big games for a club like Hull or Cas he could have easily sat in a comfort zone earning good money for Rovers, but he is probably fed up with winning the odd game and celebrating gallant loses.

It may very well be part of it.

The flawed thinking that has gripped the club about losing now to win later has probably been more disheartening than the losing itself at times.

This, from Moneyball, resonated with me.

[iOf course, no one in pro sports ever admits to quitting. But it was perfectly possible to abandon all hope of winning and at the same time show up every day for work to collect a paycheck. Professional sports had a word for this: “rebuilding”. That’s what half a dozen big league teams did more or less all the time. The Kansas City Royals had been rebuilding for the last four or five years. Bud Selig’s Brewers had been taking a dive for at least a decade.[/i

There are differences between MLB and SL, and I’m not suggesting individuals have behaved unprofessionally or didn’t try. But a malaise set in at an organisational level. Patience (aka acceptance of losing) is definitely a virtue that can be taken to far, even for club with limited resources.

I [ithink[/i the leadership at Rovers might now be awake to this. But if not, stuff like this will highlight it.

Or maybe his partner has just got a good job in Manchester or something.

A good summary and the ‘Moneyball’ book and film do challenge the traditional approach to running sports teams.

I agree too many clubs sack a manager or have a takeover and then commence a project or process to take their club ‘back where they belong.’ If all were successful in football, they’d be about 50 teams in the Premier League. No club has a given right to be anywhere other than their current league position.

Along with recruitment, the role of the Coach is also pivotal and can make such a difference. It’s still early days with Brett, but he’s only made one signing (Grub), but we are already seeing a material change in our attitude, work rate and defence.
Previously, we had Brian Smith transform an indifferent Hull side and turn players like Andy Dannatt and Paul Eastwood from average club players into Internationals. So sometimes it is buying the right player, but also getting players to apply themselves correctly.

With Rovers, they seem to have changed approach several times under NH. They created a good team under Justin Morgan, but have just drifted since. Their squad strategy changed, they had some quality players, then went for less quality but more strength in depth and said they are now aiming to go for a smaller squad with more quality. They’ve also become a plucky loser team. One short kick off last season on Sky propelled them to innovators with an expansive game, which ultimately ended in defeat.

With regards Watson, it will be interesting to see how he goes at Huddersfield . They are showing signs of imprioving, they ran Saints close the other night. However, he has openly stated that they are on a ‘process journey’. This will result in either him being an astute appointment, or a failed 2-3 year tenure, only to be replaced with another transition period.

Yep, not everyone can succeed, but everyone can aspire. What has been hard for me sometimes is to remember that Neil Hudgell, Jamie Peacock and I imagine Bud Selig did aspire to success. They genuinely believed in their patient rebuilds, and didn’t anticipate the extent to which others would say it was worthy and the right thing to do and want no part of it themselves.



True enough. Over 15+ years you’re bound to see changes in approach and given limited resources the club has to prioritise rather than being strong across the board. But I think there’s been a tendency (in the past, rather than now hopefully) to decide what ‘we’ want the solution to be and work backwards from that, rather than rationally analysing where value could be found. Neil Hudgell grew tired with it a while ago and although I’m sure Mike Smith was a competent, hard-working administrator and fine servant to the club but he wasn’t the strategic vision guy. Hopefully, from my perspective, Paul Lakin and Tony Smith can change perceptions of the club, including that plucky loser opponent tag. Or at very least try in a way I can believe might work.

Thought I read Satae OOC somewhere - is that right?

Quote ="Mrs Barista"Thought I read Satae OOC somewhere - is that right? '" We've got an option for another year. viewtopic.php?f=34&t=608437&p=19118218#p18928894

Quote ="Mrs Barista"Thought I read Satae OOC somewhere - is that right? '" We've got an option for another year. viewtopic.php?f=34&t=608437&p=19118218#p18928894

Looks happy and settled to me as does Ligi Sao so i dont think there will be a problem with these two been with us next season

I don't think we can be over confident. Forwards in short supply so market might be competitive as Lawler is finding with 4 clubs in for him.

Whilst nothing is ever certain until contracts are signed (even then not always the case) I think Bonaire makes a very valid point about both Sao & Satae looking happy and enjoying the game. The togetherness and team spirit that certainly seems very evident under BH can not be underestimated and it’s something that they seem to hold in high regard.

I also believe as a club we are moving forward and that they would very much want to continue to be a part of that.