Yes, you are right, got my years mixed up, would have to take a big paycut, on over 300k a year over there and OOC so we could get the NRL team to pay some of that.

The financial gap between NRL & SL is getting bigger. I’m unsure whether we have the financial powers to sign actual NRL players.

There’s two routes, take a punt with reserve grade players or proven quote players from SL.

Definitely think we need to use a quota spot on a back rower. I’d then be inclined to try save the last one if we can recruit enough domestic based players. I’m just hoping we can sign a hooker like Leeming to save a quota spot. He’s much more rounded than Dwyer.

Having a spare quota spot going into the season could be worth its weight in gold.

Apart from the first game I've been disappointed with Dywer.

Dwyer is a headless chicken. Said it when we were linked with him. Tries to do too much on his own

A few decent hookers OOC Lussick, Clarke, Leeming. I'd have a look at Jayden Berrell in aus too.

Only problem is Saints will probably be after a new 9 too, maybe Wigan

Agree, and worryingly there are press reports about the NRL allowing salary cap exemptions for non-Australian players which means SL would be ransacked for talent, doubt the NRL would want our players but ours may in turn be wanted by Saints, Wigan etc due to a lack of other options.

With Dwyer and Leeming I think Saints hold all the cards, it seems likely they will sign one or the other to replace Roby.

Would like to see Balmforth get a run out at some stage this season

As others have said in the past, it could be a salary cap thing, now that it’s live his wages would go on the cap. Could be what’s keeping Staveley out or any of the up and comings. AP has stated we’re at full cap.

I'd ve amazed if Saints signed Dywer.

pity we cant offload evans .real waste of a quota spot.lovodua too.

Saints are supposedly signing Clark, though I did see a rumour the other day that we are looking to do a swap deal with Catalans, with us signing Tom Davies and Lussick going to Catalans, and then us signing Leeming as well as Clark, but not sure how much truth there is in that.

We are also looking to sign Sam Walters, to replace Dan Norman, who hasnt kicked on as expected. Hes a Widnes lad, and wants to return to this side of the Penines is my understanding.

I give up

would be a cracking round of recruitment for Saints

Its a big year for us recruitment wise, we have Roby and LMS retiring, and Makinson, Hurrell, Lomax, Walmsley and Paasi not likely far behind them, and the majority likely needing to be replaced in the next 2-5 years. Couple that with Lees, Knowles, Welsby and Dodd being a constant poaching threat from the NRL, our recruitment team have their work cut out.

We knew this going into this year though, which played a part into why we did so little recruitment last year. A lot is going to depend on the supposed 3rd marquee vote, as it will give us enough space to go after Luke Thompson, without hindering our ability to keep Dodd/ Welsby who are the most immediate threats. Since Thompson is a home grown marquee, and thus only 75k on the cap, that then frees up a lot of space for the rest of our recruitment. Were not likely to replace Mata'utia like for like as Wingfield deserves to be in the 17 every week, so then we have money to invest in other areas, preparing ourselves for the next tranche of retirees.

I don't understand why he does surley we can't be at cap.

If we are, it would make playing Shaul against Rovers even more baffling.

What will Balmforth be on?

Need to get him and Staverley some first team exposure or they will off, I'd have both of the before Lane and Dywer,. Staverly has alot more potential than Gardiner too.

Just have to look at Littens impact.

Dwyer to Saints? dont think so
You can see why Leeds let him go.
one season contract was the right move by the club for a change

Keeping Shaul and not letting him go to Wakefield because they messed us about a little is a stupid decision especially when you see what HKR did taking advantage by swapping an average player for Corey Hall who has everything to be a top S/L centre in the future years.
So now with Litten coming to the fore he will be paid for sitting in the stands most of the season

It was Applegarth who pulled the plug on Shaul

I dont disagree but this was the rumour why he only signed with us for a year, that he had a deal in place with Saints for 2024

Stavely, balmforth, brown and savelio going to rovers

It was Applegarth who pulled the plug initially when he’d been appointed after Wakey had agreed to take Shaul after his loan spell. Then I believe they then came back in for Shaul but the club knocked them back for messing about with the initial agreement.
As Bonaire says that was a poor decision as means we now paying for a player thats unlikely to see any game time when we could have shifted him off the wage bill and cap.

Welcome back!

Welcome back Jake, I'd be disappointed to lose all of those and would be good signings for Rovers.

Although surprised the three younger ones going there, have much more chance of playing first team than at Hull.

Think Wynne has played his last game for Hull too.

Wynne gone to Bradford on loan. Wonder if TS wants rid, he seemed to get Connor straight out and he and Wynne are/were apparently good mates.

Wynne going to Bradford on loan is an odd one for me.

Shows how far down the pecking order he must be under smith.

Fullback, 4th choice: Hoy, Litten, shaul Wynne

Wing, 5th choice Swift, Litten, McIntosh, Scott, wynne

Centre, 5th choice : Tui, Sutty, Scott, Griffin, Wynne


Whilst we fans all love wynne, he has pace and passion, maybe his time is done.

Covers multiple positions but isn’t likely to challenge in any, with promising youth coming through it might be cheaper/ smarter to let him go an invest the money/cap elsewhere.

Balmforth would be a strange one to see him leave after all the positive reviews of him since he signed .

Maybe it isn't Hull's choice, you can understand why both Balmforth and Staverley would be a little disappointed not to have made more appearances by now.

As mentioned above though, he pathway at Rovers looks pretty blocked, while he should be close to the 17 for Hull next year, with Houghton and Lovodua gone. Similar to Staverley