Results would suggest that our pack do 'compete'. The scorelines this year (Saints aside) have all been close so yes maybe a class half back would have made the difference.

That and a more expansive game plan ie play a proper loose forward!

Have you seen Thorman play !!

What do you mean? are you implying he actually plays

You never saw Peter Sterling then ???

A "top 7" isn't the only problem with our squad but it is THE biggest one and, although having one would make a huge difference, it wouldn't be enough in itself.

We also lack a top centre and we have too many forwards that don't go forward. A top 7 is a big priority but two or three more quality players are needed along with a whole new coaching set up to replace RA and the rest.

Your right let's not bother eh.

The pack do compete, we don't need a 7 to carry us we just need one to organise us better, give us more direction and to give us more cutting edge in the final third of the pitch.

A SH for me is someone who controls the game along with the hooker, if we bring in a quality no.7 and get him linking with Berrigan at hooker then our backs will see more quality ball.

Took the words right out of my mouth.. our pack compete's greatly i think we just lack a bit of ignition within the backs at the moment and some creativity with the 6/7.

I think the return of Motu & Raynor will prove a little lift personally

We've all seen over the last 2 seasons what a good SH has done for the team. First Matthew Head, then Adam Dykes (when fit) transformed the way we played and gave direction to all the hard work the lads put in.

We should stick a good offer in for Burrows

Well a reserve NRL player is making us tick why not take a punt with one of them? Oh yeah Kath doesnt rate them unless they're as good as Joey Johns does she!!!

What is it that rovers fans dont get?? We did rate him, but you paid silly money!!

Hull offered 60k
Wigan offered 60k
Rovers offered 104k!!

Barrett carried us on his own at times.

And as Matthew Head and Adam Dykes showed, a top half back isnt about being glitzy its about doing the little things right, like a good kicking game and knowing when to ship the ball and actually putting centres through gaps etc.

I think the pack competing thing is out of context, that was more about Johns.

I just think too many people are setting the requirement too high. You dont need a superstar, just someone better than Thorman. I dont think Orford is a good solution, too big a risk with his age - and you'd have to question motives to move away from Manly.

You need to get someone young and have patience. Succesful teams all have settled half backs who know the players around them, the lines they run etc.

And you could sign any of the worlds best half backs but if the players around them arent running the right lines, working off them, supporting, what good is it?

Doesnt look silly money now though.

If we could we should have matched that offer he was just the type pf player we have needed for years and has proved that he had what it takes to make a top SL player.

Buggs

We didn't have cap space. It's that simple.

Hire a quality coach and let him decide on player recruitment (and backroom staff) simple really

Thats fair enough then, not sure how people know this though.

If true the club should have come out and said this at the time.

Maybe we should have done a Wigan and employed his Wife/GF/Dog as a highly piad cleaner at the club

Thing is that Dobson has gone to a team on the up and has fitted in nicely with their game plan. Do people think that if Dobson came to us we would be second in the league. I don't. We need a couple of decent fowards, it's true a good S/H always looks better behind a good go foward pack. A quality S/H is not an instant fix to our problems. IMO.

If there is a good young halfback available then it would make sense to go after them, Soward, Carney etc. However the problem is when they are good and young they have dreams of playing Rep footy which often deters them from moving over to SL and they are also still gorwing up which is another factor in them staying put. So we are really going to end up looking at players around 25 and upwards. There are plenty of good ones but some won't want to leave and some won't be available. If we got for 2/3 years then I would be happy with that. 2/3 years is a long time in SL and he could maybe influence a youngster at the club enough for him to take over when he leaves.

With Dobson in our side we would have won a couple more games IMO, which would put us joint top.

Our pack is doing OK, our weakness this year has been in the backs and halfbacks, our backs have imporved the last couple of weeks with Horne and Whiting at FB and Centre.

I agree the pack is doing ok, however its still early in the season. After a season of defending our line and running into brick walls thats when things start going a bit,"Pete Tong."

Who?

Aye, Whiting has done pretty well at right centre and hope he continues there until we sign a quality centre.