We'll be ok.
Where would we be without a bit of adversity.
Onwards and upwards.

If you're looking for consistency then Sammut is definitely not the man for the job. He will provide a lot of entertainment and moments of brilliance but that will be scattered amid a whole lot of poor displays. I like the guy but reckon he can be infuriating too.

tit

Same wits spoiling every thread.

So who would you see as a realistic option for us at stand off if Holdsworth departs? Based on who would realistically want to join FC or whose club may well welcome the cash we can offer?

Funny how a few months changes everything at FC. I'm sure I wouldn't have been the only one on here in conversation with a friend on the way to the semi final against Wire saying 'all our hopes rest on DJ today and it's massive he's fit'.

I honestly think Holdsworth was the best option on the table, he needs another year with Miller, settled and behind a decent performing pack. Not sure thats an option now as he looks to be outward bound. I don't think it was any surprise that when the pack played well he looked good. Miller needed to offer more options, and act as a foil for Holdsworth, but the biggest gap was the lack of an attacking coach and a ball playing full back who can hit the line and ask questions.

Just my views as someone who has only seen the tv games.

wow

your mother must be proud

I think he needs another year so agree, but he does appear to want out.........

TBH I was never a big fan of his.

its a Daniel Holdsworth thread, why even mention us shower from the East? because you wanted a reaction and I gave you one.

www.newsnow.co.uk/A/675136771?-4338:2393

www.newsnow.co.uk/A/675136771?-4338:2393

2nd highest earner at the club according to the HDM, no wonder we want rid!

Have we not learnt our lessons with Seymour, why do we need to do this in the press! Just get it done then tell us about it afterward!

Salary cap management under mcrae and gentle was shocking. Will take 3 + years to sort out

Because Holdsworth has asked for a release?

I doubt the coach had any say in the salary a player got.

No it wouldn't, most players are ooc in a year or 2.

We may be paying larger salaries to tie the young talent to long deals.

In a year or 2 Tom Lineham could be one of the top players in the league and we'll have him on a good deal!

On top of 10 years to sort out Rule and Kath mess?

Didnt AP say we've spent around £150k on upgrading 3 or 4 deals for young players for 2014

No, but in choosing to sign players who will demand a big salary, the coach is partly responsible.

Yep, we have a grand total of 7 players contracted beyond 2015. 2 of those were extensions signed in the last fortnight, another a new signing (who doesn't even count on the cap) 2 or 3 weeks ago.

So of the remaining 4 signed under McRae/Gentle we have Houghton and Lineham's long-term deals, Green, and Arundel. Can't see a lot of poor cap management in those 4 tbh (obviously apart from Arundel's massive and continually increasing wedge).

My suspicion is that our possible 'over-spend' is mainly a combination of 3 things:

1. A handful of players (probably Ellis, Holdsworth and Miller) being offered bumper deals to get them here;
2. Gambling on our youth and paying several of them slightly more than market value to secure them for a while;
3. Market values of players increasing recently.

I reckon we've seen the state of the market with talent in less abundance and clubs scrabbling around over players they wouldn't have previously been interested in and placed more emphasis on not losing what we have, which is leaving less room for signings. I don't think we're alone in having a squad that doesn't look like a great use of the cap compared to others/recent years. There might be more to come for them yet, but does Wigan's squad for next year look like it will cost the same as this year's (and 2012's)? Or Warrington's? Squad strength is coming down almost across the board, but I doubt clubs are spending significantly less than the cap for them.

There was a comment that Miller is one of our highest earners , in a HDM piece I think so not necessarily fact , but if that is correct then it was a major gamble on a young unproven kid which may or may not be proved to be a good one. It does though illustrate that the shortage of available talent , even during a period where the game is perceived to be poorer than say 5 years or so ago , actually means that there is more pressure on the cap. It is a strong argument for raising it as it will only get worse and this is a bigger problem than the consequences of giving the clubs more financial freedom. Some of this goes back to the RFL's failure to get a sponsor , get value for the product on TV and generally not create enough revenue for the Super League clubs over the past few years.

Are we paying DJ off or is he opting out of his contract?

If he has asked to leave, am I correct that we don't have to pay him anything? Hull will look for a transfer fee I believe.

Win win then if he is to be replaced by a decent halfback. what is it with our HB recruitment since Cookie n Broughy?

It depends what we agree on.