One thing in our favour especially with kiwis is our history. Players are well aware of some of the stars we have had in the past. In addition players with an aoura such as Kearney and Barnett say good things about the club when consulted. Of course the thing that will really tempt top players is success, unlike football money isn't often the prime motivator

What I like about Motu is not just the big signings like Pritchard and Manu who are known quantities but the unheralded ones like Carlos and the binman. He obviously has some great contacts which spread beyond Leeds (or previously Huddersfield) reserves.

And, as has been pointed out, Hull have a pretty good history in doing the right thing with recruits, not too many tales of players being shafted, which also helps.

You have peacock and you get leeds cast off, you have motu and you get beasts from the south sea islands

That's where the value in the market lies. I fear we've been very naive. Or Peacock is SmokeyTA.

peacock was a great player but it 's probably harder to go from playing into off field management than it is into coaching. Completely new skill set to be learnt and in all honesty, very few have ever done it with any real success

Moth Tony took that route and is getting these plaudits. And tbf to Peacock he's prepped on the theory. Plus he didn't have any non-fed spots to play with for 2016. If things don't pick up, it'll be Chester that carries the can - this time.

I thinjk peacock's 5 year plan is to be employed at leeds by 2021

I think the plan was always to replace Chester with Peacock

peacock stated a number of times he doesn't want to coach. I reckon he'd step in as cover though

Motu's recruitment has been nothing short of exceptional. I have no idea how he signs Pritchard, Manu, Taylor etc. on top of the high earners like Ellis and Minichello that we already had.

How on earth is this squad costing the same as our squads from the last 5 or 6 years? Either Motu is a miracle worker or our previous salary cap management was abysmal.

don't be surprised if peacock back at leeds soon,

The word is that Peacock was at Widnes today, not Warrington. Not good signs.

I know what my money's on.

+1

Motu's return to the club has been critical.

He's obviously well known in the New Zealand and Samoan RL community and has used his contacts and friendships to secure signings such as Talanoa, Feka, Pritchard, Manu and Tuimavave.

He loves the club and wants the best for it. Perhaps the same cannot be said for people in his position at other clubs currently in Super League.

Howes country estate and Bombers beach house?

Our recruitment (Motu's) this year has been so special. We are so lucky to have him and his contacts and friendships.

He was a fantastic player and person for Hull FC but he is proving to be an even better recruitment manager/director of rugby or whatever his title is.

I've nothing but good thoughts about Motu and who can forget him scoring that try at Cardiff. Happy days then and it looks like the start of happy days now and Motu is the common denominator.

I remember the debates on who to keep Motu or a Briscoe
I wonder what would have happened if we had let MT go

That is a great point!

My hubby commentates for Warrington and he didn't see him there, very strange.

peacock might have been scouting. rovers are desperate for a couple of signings and as he is not part of the coaching set up he might have been better off having player conversations with either leeds or widnes. maybe there are a couple of widnes players who can't get in the team and are looking for first team rugby. just a thought

AP must be yearning for the halcyon days of having his leg lifted by the previous triumvirate of the Fat Controller, Uncle Peter and Agent Howes.

I can't believe Gentle was involved in any nest-feathering, if what we suspect was true. I hope McRae's awful deals were down to blustering and blundering, rather than any deliberate deception, come to that.

I always remember McRae giving an interview on Aussie TV when he was coach of South Sydney and they were rooted at the bottom of the table. He was still talking an amazing and convincing story then. He was, and is (I believe) a very plausible speaker, but an underwhelming achiever. But everyone believes him, he appears as an RL oracle. Pearson was a ripe peach needing to fall into secure hands. He felt his old acquaintance was secure in his rugby knowledge. How would he have known any different? Others (who should have known far better than him (like the Rabbitoh's board)) fell for it too. He's convincing, that's my point.

But Gentle? Nah. I reckon he concentrated on coaching and was convinced by Bomber too. All just my opinion, of course.

Yeh totally agree, think gentle was probably in the dark about most the signings to, and did a good job with what was given to him