You sign two world class half backs? Easy as that is it?

We didn't even really need to sign Crocker tbh seeing as we have 47 second rowers at the club already, why would Wilkin leave arguably the best team in the country for an average Hull side. Plus he's a rovers fan.

Damn, you have to spoil every plan don't you.

who said it would be easy? taking easy options is why we're in the we're in !!

As a club we have to try and get 2 top class half backs. You dont get them if you dont approach teams and give them an offer they cant refuse !!!

As for Wilkin its a long shot but again if you dont make good enough offers you dont get.

For a team of our stature we should be able to tempt the best players and not look at also rans, and the ones other teams dont want
we should look to get best players and leave the others with whats left

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motu Tony - rid of
Mark Calderwood - undeserved flack we could sign greg inglis and put him on our right wing and he'd look crap, wasted a mo but wouldkeep
Kirk Yeaman - second row or centre keep
Gareth Raynor - wrong side of 30 seems to be picking up injuries rid of
Richard Horne - keep end of
Chris Thorman - rid of even if he does have a good rest of season not the answer for our problems imo
Ewan Dowes - keep end of
Shaun Berrigan - keep end of
Peter Cusack - rid of duplicate of all our forward line
Lee Radford - rid of see cusack
Danny Tickle - keep Kicker and good player on his day
Michael Crocker - keep(if he ever comes) nasty b*****d and a winning mentality something we don't have
Richard Whiting - keep squad player good rugby brain but would be better if he had pace as well
Danny Washbrook - keep used as a ball playing loose man
Willie Manu - one of the few tackle breakers we've got keep
Graeme Horne - rid of squad player
Jamie Thackray - tackle breaker impact prop keep
Paul King -rid of to many chances keeping hold for sake of it imo
Danny Houghton - keep can't see why lee is in front of him
Tom Briscoe - keep class youngster
Mike Burnett -keep solid second rower
Thomas Lee - rid of never make it imo would love to see where he would end up if he left
Craig Hall - keep class player
Dominic Maloney - from what i've seen keep
Josh Hodgson - haven't seen him apart from getting smashed all over in pre season
Sam Moa - keep fitness permiting
Hame Lauaki - keep on previously seen if he ever comes

Do they?

You can approach a team about one of their players, that is ok. Appraoching the player is not (though i reckon this is ignored by ceratin teams. think of our recent past with one of our players jumping ship)

For the right price ANYONE is available

Yes



You can approach but mid season, get a hold of anyone whose a great player simply aint gonna happen without a big sum of money behind it.



Salaray cap, quota and transfer funds have also got to come into contention.

I'd be interested to know who these people who think we should "get rid" of 8 or more players think should come in to replace them. They are just going to come running to us, presumably.

What stature would that be?

You might have missed it. I [ithink[/i James Rule might have mentioned once that we were an A grade licence club.

Think he means the potentiol this club has to be the biggest in S/L if we get a board and coach that know what they want.

Please don't encourage them - they'll only start a "Who should we sign thread."

Typo

I agree we have potential, but right now our stature ain't so great. We're rapidly losing all the kudos we gained with regular top 6 finishes and final appearances - prospective players are likely to focus on the current problems instead.

Until we get a high quality coach we will struggle to attract the calibre of player required IMO - regardless of how much cash we wave around. All clubs have the same cap available now, remember.

Do they....didnt know that.

nail on head

the only advantage we have with our clubs size is on things that don't count on the cap, such as coaching staff, yet we just don't bother to use that to our advantage.

Like Wigan did for Gleason? We have short arms and deep pockets when it comes to buying quality. It needs to change. Money will become available if Croker , Lauaki dont get here. If they do get here, then start culling players and dont say you cant other teams get rid of their surplus mid season like warrington, wigan, and we have a few under performers we could do without and injury plagued players who we can move on.

One of the 3 top grade franchises to be handed out

One of best supported clubs ( who gets better crowds than us? Leeds? who else?

Best stadium in rugby league

One of best youth development around, look at number of home grown players we have produced?

That sort of stature

Doesn't do us any good though does it.

All down to the clubs style of Rugby IMO.

First team play defensive no frills rugby hardly allowing young players the chance to express themselves.

When in Rome do what the Romans do. Thats exactly whats happening when young players move up to first team.

When young players break through at Saints or Leeds they look exciting.

I dont believe whole sale changes are required. Our form seems as though it is mainly down to a lack of ideas, coaching and confidence.

Assuming Crocker and Hame arrive here is what I would like to see.

I have left in contract expiry dates as this will play a big part in who leaves.


1 Motu Tony 2009 - Tough one. A fit Tony is a good player to have in your squad, Although I think there is more to his injury than the club are releasing. RELEASE

2 Mark Calderwood 2010. I am happy with his contribution so far and can only see him getting better. STAY

3 Todd Byrne 2009 - Already gone but that would have been my choice anyway.

4 Kirk Yeaman 2010 - STAY

5 Gareth Raynor 2010 - STAY

6 Richard Horne 2011 - STAY

7 Chris Thorman 2009 - Just not good enough for where we want to be as a club. Possible replacement for Tony at fullback but should be nowhere near the no 7 next year. RELEASE

8 Ewan Dowes 2010 - STAY

9 Shaun Berrigan 2011 Quota - STAY

10 Peter Cusack 2009 Quota - I really like Cusack but I dont feel as though we needf him Dowes and Radders. RELEASE

11 Lee Radford 2010 - One more year me thinks. STAY

12 Danny Tickle 2010 - STAY

13 Michael Crocker 2011 Quota - STAY if he gets here. Desperatly need his leadership qualities.

14 Richard Whiting 2009 - If he can make it through the rest of the season playing all games keep. If he gets another injury RELEASE, another Lupton situation.

15 Danny Washbrook 2011 - STAY

16 Willie Manu 2010 - STAY

17 Graeme Horne 2009 - Squad player. Deputises well on taking up little money on the cap. STAY

18 Jamie Thackray 2009 - At the minute STAY. But i would leave the decision on his contract till the end of season. If someone else is available of better quality he could make way.

19 Paul King 2010 - He will stay because of his contract but I would RELEASE

20 Danny Houghton 2010 - STAY

21 Tom Briscoe 2013 - STAY

22 Mike Burnett 2009 - STAY

23 Thomas Lee 2009 - STAY same reasons as G Horne

24 Craig Hall 2010 - STAY, but the jury is out.

25 Dominic Maloney 2009 - STAY, one year extension

26 Josh Hodgson - STAY

27 Sam Moa 2009 - Only one I am unsure on, maybe 1 year extension. Depends how he goes for rest of season and also who else is available.

28 Epalahame (Hame) Lauaki 2011 Quota - STAY

So I have it as Motu, Byrne, Thorman, Cusack all to go for certain. You could also possible add into that list Whiting, Thackray, Maloney and Moa depending on thier end of season performances.

Money from these releases should be used to find a 7 and a centre. The rest to fill the gaps left by the others.

This is why I cant see Horne and Lee moving on as to already have to replace 4 or possibly 8 players it is alot of upheaval. Wholesale changes I dont feel are the right way to go.

Tony
Thorman
Radford
King
Cusack
Moa
Byrne
Thackray... all can leave

G, Horne
Lee
Washbrook
Hall...All need to improve or ship out.

We need to start been ruthless in our player retention , To many Average/ utility players and not enough focus on specialist positions.

the problem is when you have micky mouse as coach the players just think there in disneyland - and come for a holiday

7 a side next year then?



We need to replace players before we have a cull.

Obviously . Contracts are up at the end of the season, A new coach "now" would have plenty of time and a bit of cap space to fill these gaps.

Thats why these threads are a joke (not aimed at you personally)