In all honesty I don't think we'll get a like for like replacement of Fonua unless we get someone from the NRL.
If we don't sign anyone I'd be very happy keeping Michaels to start for us. As for a realistic option in England, I'd look at Jodie Broughton.

I was a Lineham fan but he now seems lazy and doesnt do enough work off the ball like we need.

Keep forgetting about him, would be a good signing strong elusive player with real pace, think he would work well in our side, is he OOC though?

I'd have Briscoe back and obviously Mcgillvary but both are under contract.

Not heard we are even looking for a backrower, all talk is of a winger, I suppose speculation won't come from the club until Ellis announces what he is doing.

Plus last season the club did their recruitment very quietly, nobody even mentioned Connor and Griffin signing.

just have confidence in the staff at FC, they'll get it right, and that's not a phrase you could use too often in the last 10 years

Atkins!!!!! Jesus hes the epitomy of 54ite. Dont rate McGillvary either

Think were pretty much sorted for next year. The younger ones have stepped up - Fash, Matongo & Turgut back up forwards, Logan, Michaels back up backs

Rawsthorne too.

I'd much rather us stick with the above names and use the surplus salary cap (especially if Ellis is retiring) on either extending deals of those already here or aiming for an impact prop/second row.

If we stayed as we are personnel wise for 2018 we'd see the young guys gain a wealth of experience and it would allow us to grow as a club and promote from within. Every off season doesn't have to be about who you sign, I'd like us to use this off season to consolidate and put the faith in the young guns we've got. This will be more relevant and beneficial in the years to come with the new ruling on which players will be able to get visas to come over from the NRL and, as we are in a position to have quality depth across the board in most/all positions in the youth setup, we may as well start the ball rolling now.

tala and mahe get us on the front foot coming away from our line, which current back up winger/centre will give us that when mahe goes?

We need to replace fonua with a similar style of player or we'll be significantly weaker next season

the only other player who gave us what mahe does now was briscoe, but he's another who i feel hasnt been as good since he left us

You mean apart from his CC winners medal, GF winners ring , 5 tries at wembley and the lance todd trophy?

He's been injured quite a bit but coming back into his best form from what I've seen

what i meant by that was coming off the line for leeds, seemed to be better for us, had better players around him too


the cc cup medal was v a mickey mouse team remember

I wouldn't be surprised if we went for Chris heighington or someone similar to replace Ellis . It's going to be difficult to get top players from nrl now , so next option is players at the end of there careers .

I thought rawsthorne did OK for leigh last night despite only just arriving there. He's very raw but he is obviously a talented player but probably a season or so away from being a starting winger IMO.

I've heard a winger is off our radar and looking at centre.
I actually think Griffin is made for our wing. His metres a carry are very close to fonuas. Think in 1 game he came off bench to wing and made 150 metres in a single half. Has other attributes in attack also. His weakness at centre is reading of defence. On the wing would simplify his game. Think hes been given a rough ride by fans imo . No where near as bad as made out. In his worst games he's not been alone..The team performances have been dire. In some games when front running as a team he's been good
Wigan away hudds away stand out..Think a run in the team whilst in form we'll see his best

I would love Griffin to work out as I do think he has the size, pace and skills to be a fantastic outside back, but for one reason or another its just not happened really for him yet. he could well be a ready made replacement for Fonua on the wing.

not a bad call that, think he would go well in sl to

Heighington would be 35 when the season starts, so I would be looking for someone younger.

For the backs we

Winger Rawsthorn, Talanoa
s Logan, Carlos, Connor
Both Griffin.

So think we need one more, preferably a winger, but if there is no quality available then keep Michael's.

Going to be very little recruitment again, which is good.

Probably only 1/2 signing with Abdul and Hadley also coming back.

Chris Heighington, Is it 2010?

With Hadley and Abdull returning Thompson can go back to the wing.

Dont forget at Wigan he was running against an injured Gelling.
He needs a stint in the second row to get more involved and learn how to tackle.
My opinion he will never make a centre position his own at the club but like you say maybe concentrate his efforts for next season if he is still here as a wing replacement for Fonua.
Expect we will see him on bench tonight

That's not a bad shout, was brought to the club as a utility back and I think he's done really well for us giving the huge change in role.
Trim down his bulk a bit, he's already not slow in any case and he might be an ideal replacement for Fonua, if as you say we do bring Hadley and JA back. Along along with Green, Washy, Turgut, Matongo, Fash et al it could be a bit difficult in who to leave out in the forwards.
yes we will get injuries in the forwards but I for one was glad he's got another deal and if that is a consideration, it'd be interesting and could possibly solve the problem. it also avoids integrating/bringing in another player and known quantity, I suggested previously that utilising the squad we have and bringing players through as opposed to just signing another player to replace Ellis could be profitable all round.

Would rather play Abdul on the wing next season than Thompson. His speed and mobility with his build is too valuable not to play in the forwards. Personally think he'd get ruined on the wing for us.

There's no harm in theorising, this is what forums are about, and the reasoning I gave is with respect to the amount of forward we would have at the club, not to say that's a bad thing but if we have a player that MIGHT be capable of being used elsewhere to replace an outgoing player, in a position he has played before why is that such a bad thing?

Don't get me wrong if we have specialist wingers that's great, in fact if we have Michaels and Talanoa next year with Rawsthorne as the understudy and Logan pushing for a centre spot too I'd be more than happy, if Michaels is not renewed then we must give Rawsthorne a try otherwise if we sign a winger what then, injury replacement only, what about the clubs other junior wingers/backs?

I think if we are to move forward with development then getting back JA and Hadley and consilidating with what we have player wise, and let's be honest the bulk of last season and this aren't doing badly so far, is a way to go without having to break the bank.
You sign more headline names/players from outside (than we alreeady have) and junior players get fewer chances.
This was the problem in 2015 and indeed last year also. Radford started to address that which was obvious from his pre season selections and I don't want to see us revert back to signing names/other teams players at the expense of devloping our own youngsters and giving them valuable game time. If our youngsters aren't good enough to come through then that would suggest there's a problem with the coaching at that level.

This year Radford has trusted to his youngsters for the first time outside of injury crisis and it's paying dividends though they are still behind some other teams youngsters, Fash is the standout but I think he was ready for more games last year IMHO.

The last thing we want to be doing is signing externally and restricting the chances of those coming through which is massively part of a winning formula that is sustainable.
Part of the reason we had to loan so many players out this season was due to the backloaded contracts from last year which was or bust for Pearson and I truly believe Radford too. Even then despite the CC win and 3rd place the club only just broke even.

No, its super league

FC made a profit of approx £249k last season