When a club makes a signing of a true world class player it not only makes a statement of intent that the club means business it also enables the club to make further better signings on the back of it, it reminds me of when we signed Knocker Norton, it wasn`t just the signing of Norton but the players that followed because we had signed him,hopefully the same can happen with Gareth Ellis and proper sustained success is just around the corner.

Some of the bitter Leeds fans are hilarious! Not only is this a brilliant signing in its own right but it will be further confirmation to other potential signings that we really mean business. Hopefully the "lost" fans will start to believe in the new set up now and start returning as so far they are delivering on their promises.

Some people now seem worried that this could signal the end of willie etc. but I'm kind of hoping this signing will see top class players desparate to join the revolution as we march on to World Domination.

Maybe getting a bit carried away their but you know what I mean.

It might also have the opposite. If a big club comes for him he might think he may get more game time somewhere else. Fancy a swap with hauraki?

Manu will sign a contract.

Moa, O'Meley and Aspinwall to leave (out of the forwards)

Think the club are aware we need props too, with the rumoured bid for Tom Burgess that was rejected..........for now

I think and hope O Meley will stay.

You made your own bed with that one mate.

Good signing for Hull and your management team obviously did a good job to tempt him away from Leeds who were the obvious main rivals.

We did. I'll take it that's a no to a swap then?

Kallum Watkins

With a possible bench along the lines of:

Heremaia
O'Carroll
O'Meley/New Prop
Whiting

We desperately need Manu to sign a contract extension though.

I trust Gentle/McRae that this signing won't upset the salary cap balance and will still leave us the money needed to sign a centre. It's all well and good having a quality pack but we need to backs to go with it.
Hopefully Ellis' signing will attract other big-name players, especially when we've had players like Fitzgibbon in recent years who has a great standing in the game.

No your all right think we will keep Watkins!

Thought as much.

Where is sgtwilko eh?

cracking signing, not sure it's the right signing but it is a cracking signing.

Well done FC, great signing for any side in SL.

I highly doubt money and it been 3yrs wasnt a key factor (no matter how the club dress it up) hes in his 30s and will be his last club so will of wanted a hefty amount.
BUT he will be worth it IMO.
What this does to your salary cap is anyones guess and as an outsider looking in id say you need to be hoping Manu stays, and theres enough room in the cap for Briscoes replacement, a decent centre, a prop is orge goes and a quality half. Highly doubt there enough room for all of that so youve got to be thinking theres some good youngsters coming through.

So we need a centre to replace Martin (if he goes), a winger to replace Briscoe (if NRL comes calling) and a prop to replace Moa/O'Meley (which it's expected that one will go.

I fully expect one of the four 2nd rowers to go to prop, most likely Tickle. This could be us taking advantage of the interchange rule getting fit players to play throughout the forwards.

Slowly building. If we can get some youth developed at the same time, we might not need new players. Turner is looking a lot better than last year, and Sharp is improving immensely. Let's see what the young uns can do.

Possible scenario....

We had 60k spare on the cap anyway. Ogre leaving do his wages and the spare 60k close to covering Ellis' wages?

Keep Moa and move Tickle to prop.

Lose Martin and Aspinwall and use the wages on a right Centre?

Either persevere with Horne for another year or replace him with a quality 6 on similar wages.

All of a sudden we start to look like a quality team IMO and no real salary cap issues. Possibly a bit too simplistic but I think it can be done.

Jamie Ellis at 6?

No........Not certain he is going to take us to next level.

Holy this is class!!

I wonder what sort of effect this signing will have on the likes of Martin and Aspinwall?

I don't think Tickle should move to prop, he isn't big enough, besides, he's having a blinding season so far in the 2nd row.

Is horne on that good of a wage that you could replace him with a QUALITY 6?

Welcome to the mighty Black n Whites Mr Ellis!

Be disappointed if ogre and moa both go but cant see either staying now