Not 100% sure on Cross, but adds competition to a weak position.

Two things I do like is
We are actively trying to recruit and the right positions and we are willing to pay fees for players.

Yeah im not fully sold on Cross, think he's better on the wing than at centre. However its another player who won't demand a huge amount and doesn't take up a quota.

12 tries in SL for Cross last season...3 more than our top try scorer (Martin with 9)

in a much better side.

Only issue for me is we'd probably have to offer him a decent wedge and likely a 3 year deal to get him to move over

how many against us?

[quote="Steve0":1rw1ksuh]Cross would be a good signing, centre is our weakest position currently and Cross would be a welcome addition. I imagine Salford won't command much of a transfer fee for players given that they have to cut costs by 40% as part of them being in special measures[/quote:1rw1ksuh] sorry Steve i think its a poor signing if we are looking at a new centre and we should be then save the money and find what we really need for 2016 This is just a slight upgrade on Chamberlain and he is pants

[quote="RockNRolla":3h6zd2f3]Be a very good signing if we can get him over the line.[/quote:3h6zd2f3] need to be aiming a lot higher than Cross as a centre if we are to climb the ladder in 2026

[quote="Chris71":90ag4c3u]Agree, given the current state of the non quota player pool Cross would be an excellent acquisition and even more with our need to add some quality in the centres.[/quote:90ag4c3u] But he is not quality Chris

[quote="bonaire":1kmhkbzh]But he is not quality Chris[/quote:1kmhkbzh] He is given what's available, he's been playing well regularly in a team that plays very good rugby and has finished above us consistently over the last few years so he's good enough for me.

[quote="Yippee try yay":3aif0zhu][quote="bonaire":3aif0zhu]But he is not quality Chris[/quote:3aif0zhu] He is given what's available, he's been playing well regularly in a team that plays very good rugby and has finished above us consistently over the last few years so he's good enough for me.[/quote:3aif0zhu] That’s my point, whilst Cross isn’t world class quality he is a decent centre and would more than improve us in an area we are lacking. Without any quota spots and a pretty abysmal pool of players that were available by the time we started shopping then I’d be disappointed more if we didn’t make a play to sign Cross. Think under Cartwright every player has an opportunity to improve and also gives Cartwright & Myler chance to fully evaluate where we are come the mid point of the season. The noises coming from the club to me indicate that things can & will be changed should players of quality become available. We still have to be realistic as to where we were and where we are currently, hopefully with the improvements at the club we’ll see an decent up turn in games which will help in terms of the next recruitment cycle.

[quote="bonaire":26sy0qtj]need to be aiming a lot higher than Cross as a centre if we are to climb the ladder in 2026[/quote:26sy0qtj] Any realistic names to suggest or is this just another moan?

[quote="number 6":153ji6ni]how many against us? [/quote:153ji6ni] Just the two against us last season...only one in the 58-4 demolition

[quote="Steve0":1oh2i7j7]Just the two against us last season...only one in the 58-4 demolition[/quote:1oh2i7j7] pfft....not good enough then

[quote="Chris71":13l1bjh8]That’s my point, whilst Cross isn’t world class quality he is a decent centre and would more than improve us in an area we are lacking. Without any quota spots and a pretty abysmal pool of players that were available by the time we started shopping then I’d be disappointed more if we didn’t make a play to sign Cross. Think under Cartwright every player has an opportunity to improve and also gives Cartwright & Myler chance to fully evaluate where we are come the mid point of the season. The noises coming from the club to me indicate that things can & will be changed should players of quality become available. We still have to be realistic as to where we were and where we are currently, hopefully with the improvements at the club we’ll see an decent up turn in games which will help in terms of the next recruitment cycle.[/quote:13l1bjh8] But adding another average Joe if he is coming on say a 2year deal doesnt help at all in the next recruitment cycle.We are now overloaded with additions on 2/3 year contracts and several of those would have to be offloaded end of 2025 season if we are to add some necessary real quality and pace especially at centre,and add some depth in second row and front row Just dont see the logic or strategy because unless we offload or pay off players then we are left with virtually the same squad we have in 2025 playing in 2026 If the club has money to spend then save it and find one or two top quality players who can provide some excitement on the field get fans interested again and start pushing into the top four

I know it never paints the full picture on things like defence and positioning etc but if you look at his recent YouTube highlights he actually seems far from the solid player (guilty myself on another thread) most have had him down as. He’s mostly played wing last season but he looks like he’s a really good runner out of backfield making breaks and has a lot of pace. Would 100% add needed strike and pace to our backline. He played in the centres a couple of seasons ago at SL if you go through the highlight vids, and assuming he can still make a fist of defending in that position he’d be a cracking signing. So much so I’m now convinced the likes of Leigh or Saints would highjack any deal if he was available.

[quote="bonaire":y396pena]But adding another average Joe if he is coming on say a 2year deal doesnt help at all in the next recruitment cycle.We are now overloaded with additions on 2/3 year contracts and several of those would have to be offloaded end of 2025 season if we are to add some necessary real quality and pace especially at centre,and add some depth in second row and front row Just dont see the logic or strategy because unless we offload or pay off players then we are left with virtually the same squad we have in 2025 playing in 2026 If the club has money to spend then save it and find one or two top quality players who can provide some excitement on the field get fans interested again and start pushing into the top four[/quote:y396pena] Another moan, if only you went to the fans forum to mention your concerns.

[quote="bonaire":21gm7b2n] if we are to add some necessary real quality and pace especially at centre [/quote:21gm7b2n] I’d agree that signings like Briscoe, Hardaker, Holmes and Chamberlain are somewhat stop gaps but if a Cross deal did happen he’s in his prime years, got plenty of pace, a good injury record and is a proven top 6 SL player with a decent try scoring record. In an ideal world I’d have hoped we could have brought in someone like a Lafai in his 20s, but players of that quality and age only ever come over now with some kind of baggage or issues, it would always be a risk. Super duper Rovers (who can do no wrong) have done well with the likes of Evalds and Burgess proven SL quality who wouldn’t have ever been classed as superstars, I’d also include Gildart in that too as he never got a look in really at NRL level. A hypothetical scenario but if Cross did happen but there’s no reason we couldn’t have a backline of Moy, Martin, Cross, Rapana, Barron for 26. A lot of pace there.

[quote="DSJ1983":iucp63k5]I know it never paints the full picture on things like defence and positioning etc but if you look at his recent YouTube highlights he actually seems far from the solid player (guilty myself on another thread) most have had him down as. He’s mostly played wing last season but he looks like he’s a really good runner out of backfield making breaks and has a lot of pace. Would 100% add needed strike and pace to our backline. He played in the centres a couple of seasons ago at SL if you go through the highlight vids, and assuming he can still make a fist of defending in that position he’d be a cracking signing. So much so I’m now convinced the likes of Leigh or Saints would highjack any deal if he was available.[/quote:iucp63k5] Always sceptical of highlight reels after seeing Pele, Okunbor and Bieneks, but looking at Cross' from 2024, he does have good footwork and is a good finisher

[quote="bonaire":ljvexguw]But adding another average Joe if he is coming on say a 2year deal doesnt help at all in the next recruitment cycle.We are now overloaded with additions on 2/3 year contracts and several of those would have to be offloaded end of 2025 season if we are to add some necessary real quality and pace especially at centre,and add some depth in second row and front row Just dont see the logic or strategy because unless we offload or pay off players then we are left with virtually the same squad we have in 2025 playing in 2026 [quote:ljvexguw]If the club has money to spend then save it and find one or two top quality players who can provide some excitement on the field get fans interested again and start pushing into the top four[/quote:ljvexguw][/quote:ljvexguw] Whilst I get where you are coming from with Cross, I do think you are being a little blind to our current situation. If we remain a bottom-four side, then our chances of acquiring 'top quality players' becomes doubly difficult, as we found with Lachlan Lam. The chances are anyone of decent standard will most likely have a more tempting offer put to them from someone else. Our only recourse in that scenario is to put more money on the table to sway a deal our way, but in its self can cause problems further down the line. We need to push ourselves further up the ladder, to at least mid-table respectability, in order to make ourselves a more enticing prospect for high quality players to want to come here to then help push us onto top four challenges. Due to the fact that we have contrived to dig ourselves into an almighty pit over a number of years, we are not going to able to get where we all want to be in one single leap, it's not going to happen that way I'm afraid. If we are to be challengers once more, then it will almost certainly have to be done in stages, from bottom-four to mid-four to challengers and (hopefully) winners. And we will have to shop accordingly in order to reach our initial, albeit modest, goals first, of at least looking like a club with intentions to succeed once more. I don't think Cross is a perfect signing, if it comes to pass, but he would improve a weakness in the current squad to a degree and in turn hopefully help push us in the right direction. The key question for me with Cross would be length of contract. Two years maximum would be best, but if he holds out for a three year deal then Myler/Cartwright have to weigh up their options, would that hamper future recruitment to an unacceptable degree? These are the type of decisions Myler and Cartwright have to get right if we are to be successful once more. Because of the last five years, we really are a long way back from where we would all like to be. This is going to take some time to fix the mess we have got into. Making some signings that on the surface appear to be underwhelming is a situation we are probably going to have to accept for at least a further year. We need to make ourselves an attractive proposition to potential quality targets in order to achieve our longer term goals. It's not ideal, but it is the harsh reality of where we are right now and there is no getting away from the fact that it is a long road ahead of us and we have to plan accordingly. I'm sure every single black & white would love to be watching a top-two side by 2026 but it is extremely unlikely to happen in that short space of time. I'm afraid that's just the way it is right now, but we live in hope, we always do!!

my only real issue with cross is that it will likely be a 2 or 3 year deal meaning we have him, hardaker and chamberlain here at least for 25 & 26, possibly 27 for 2 of them when none are really at the level of player we would ideally like. Centre is a key attacking position and along with 2nd row, one of our weaker areas which limits potential to improve there for another 3 or 4 years

For me the weaker positions are Chamberlains and Briscoes. Briscoe will hopefully (cos he's finished) be understudy to Martin so if we get Cross he would be first choice ahead of Chamberlain so in improvement imo

[quote="Steve0":1w7fjcgr]Always sceptical of highlight reels after seeing Pele, Okunbor and Bieneks, but looking at Cross' from 2024, he does have good footwork and is a good finisher[/quote:1w7fjcgr] Agreed. The highlights don’t actually lie, Pele, Okunbor and Bienek are all big units capable making for a semi decent highlight reel. This highlights don’t show the serious issues with fitness, work rate etc those players had at SL level. At least with Cross he has the highlights with the footwork, speed, finishing but we also know that he’s managed to consistently play well for 3 seasons in a SL side that’s always in and around the play offs, those other players didn’t have that track record. Now that the chance of a marquee level overseas centre (would have been my priority) has sailed Cross would tick all the boxes for a realistic signing. Like I say I think we’ll struggle to pull it off as I think he’ll be in demand by lots of clubs.

[quote="Jake the Peg":2i3q27pj]my only real issue with cross is that it will likely be a 2 or 3 year deal meaning we have him, hardaker and chamberlain here at least for 25 & 26, possibly 27 for 2 of them when none are really at the level of player we would ideally like. Centre is a key attacking position and along with 2nd row, one of our weaker areas which limits potential to improve there for another 3 or 4 years[/quote:2i3q27pj] 100% see that logic and personally I wouldn’t have gone for Hardaker (age) and Chamberlain on multi year deals for that exact reason. I think Cross though is the type of player who could maybe step up a level or two, he’s a late bloomer in his career. I also think we have to look at what’s available in context to other SL clubs. Keighran and Wardle are the benchmark best centre combo in SL, top players but when you compare to some of the top SL centres over the years the level has definitely dropped. I just don’t see where the centres the quality of prime Seniors, Lyon, Watkins, etc would be available to any SL club. Even any homegrown superstars will be snapped up by the NRL nowadays in their early 20s.

It’s a tough one, however we are not going to go from 11th to Top 4 in a season. Think we all realistically expect 8th at best next season and then kick on from 2026. I think Cross will be a decent addition. There appears no scope to add top quality for 2025. As I’ve mentioned before, other than the halves, our Centres have been a real weakness in recent years. Primarily due to fitness, Carlos and Sutty hardly played together and the back up options were not Super League standard. Cross is a no risk upgrade. He’s played in the Super League and if he’s fit and can give us 20+ games next season, then that gives us some much needed stability and allows a more settled team which in turn should deliver improved results. I’m sure they’ll be a review if all contracts during 2025. Although not ideal, we now have more funds to move on players if necessary to improve the squad further for 2026.

[quote="Rugby Raider":2g6xkl92]It’s a tough one, however we are not going to go from 11th to Top 4 in a season. Think we all realistically expect 8th at best next season and then kick on from 2026. I think Cross will be a decent addition. There appears no scope to add top quality for 2025. As I’ve mentioned before, other than the halves, our Centres have been a real weakness in recent years. Primarily due to fitness, Carlos and Sutty hardly played together and the back up options were not Super League standard. Cross is a no risk upgrade. He’s played in the Super League and if he’s fit and can give us 20+ games next season, then that gives us some much needed stability and allows a more settled team which in turn should deliver improved results. I’m sure they’ll be a review if all contracts during 2025. Although not ideal, we now have more funds to move on players if necessary to improve the squad further for 2026.[/quote:2g6xkl92] But we could be in the battle for a top four position in 2026 if we can add three quality players at centre,second and front row. Lack of real pace is still an issue but a quality centre would give us a decent backline with the two wings we have and Moy/Rapana fighting for the full back role or even moving Rapana to centre. Adding a couple of big name powerhouses to the forwards would make a huge difference but as i said we cant do any of this for 2026 without moving several of the 2025 signings on and possibly only Sao moving on if Cartwright extends would give us just one quota spot as it stands Understand adding experience for 2025 to try and stabilize the clubs on field perfomance but there seems no strategy for 2026 given what is likely to be a lack of quota spots.and cap space