With the exception of the possible re-signings of Horne & Long, the backs seem to be sorted for next year. The forward pack for next year is still anyone’s guess.

As it stands, we have the following for 2012:

Hooker: Houghton & Heremaia (with Obst as backup & Newton coming through).
Prop: O’Meley & Radford
2nd Row: Tickle & Manu
Loose: Westerman (with Turner/Whiting as backup).

So it looks like we need two decent props, a backup prop and a couple of 2nd rowers adding to the squad for 2012. Hooker & Loose Forward are ok.

OOC: Fitz, Lauaki, Dowes, Moa, Washy, Burnett.
Youngsters: Kent, Aldous, Green, Crooks, Cunningham.

cant see us making 9 signings for next year especialy with us signing phelps gleeson and obst early season.

Moa (Hopefully)
Houghton
O'Meeley
Manu
Ticks
Westerman

Radford
Dowes (If retained)
New forward (Quota)
Heremaia

We have space for another overseas forward, probably a prop. If we want any more backrowers then we could promote one of the younger kids, a bunch of forwards there almost ready like Green, Aldous, Kent and Cunningham.

We could aslo renew Lauaki and he can cover both options. Depends on who is available.

Starting pack of:

O'Meley
Heremaia
Moa
Tickle
Manu
Westerman

Bench:

Houghton
Radders
Dowes
Utility

Back up props: New signing, Aldous

Back up second row: Kent, Green, new signing

Ideally one of those signings will be someone who can play in the front or back row, but Tickle can step up to prop too which gives us some more options.

If we sign a quota forward be it prop or back row then he won't be a back up, he will probably be an impact player from the bench. I don't see the need or value of having a utility on the bench tbh.

I just cant see you letting Fitzgibbon leave. His performances to me dont look like that of a man in his final year. Going back over the past 10 years or so Hull have always had one talismanic 80 minute figure in the pack. Smith, Kearney, Swain, Berrigan, Fitzy.
It seems to be the Hull way. Cant see you letting him go unless you have another such player to come in.

Bloody hell paul right again






You are right tho mate, one or more of those young guns will deffo get more grass time next year and would also see crooks having a run next year on the right ocassions..

With regards Hame, If craig does leave then he would be my choice to survive the cut because he knows the calls, plays , club, players , fans and has now settled into some decent rugby AND as you rightly say he can cover all areas...

8.omeley
9.houghton
10.moa
11.tickle
12.manu
13.westerman
subs
14.Heremaia
15.radders
16.lauaki
17.turner

I was thinking more of signing a couple of English lads. If we do sign a quota prop then he will take the place of either Dowes or Radders who will be back up.

We need 5 props, 4 back rowers, 2 13's and 2 hookers. So:

O'Meley, Moa, Radford, New Signing and Dowes

Tickle, Manu, Westerman & Green

Fitzgibbon & Westerman

Houghton & Heremaia

If Fitz leaves, keep Washy and move Westerman completely out the 2nd row to be replaced by Kent/Cunningham.

I expect Heremaia to start and Houghton to come from the bench. I also expect Heremaia to play for longer.

If Fitz stays then the new signing would have to be a british prop.

paul johnson wakey?

Why? A prop to take Lauaki's spot.

In the 5 props you lised a new signing, I am saying it would need to be british. We would have Ogre, Fitz, Wade, Heremaia and Moa taking the 5 overseas spots.

You're right, my mistake. Is Andy Lynch OOC?

He would be nice but can't see it. I just don't see Fitz doing another year tbh. So if we decide not to renew Hame then I would imagine a quota prop and then promote a youngster or two to cover the backrow or if Dowes is the 4th prop then Radford could possibly cover backrow too.

Has already offered to retire this season if we could have replaced him, so cant see him wishing to do another as his body is shot , esp his shoulder

Any props who realistically you would like to see from Nrl ? I still think the's a good chance Lauaki could stay

id give hame a new deal with him been able to cover both prop and backrow and give dowes a new 1 year deal or sign a young english forward

No idea who is available? Could be someone OOC or someone with only a year left.

Maybe if Agars waiting on fitz like he's said , and he does retire hame will get a new deal ?

Petro? Even at 86 he is probably the best in the world still.

Wigan seem to have put a lot of faith in young forwards.

5 props

Moa, O'meley, Dowes, Radford, Adlous

6 back rowers

Tickle, Manu, Westerman, Green, Cunningham, Kent.

4 Hooker

Heremaia, Houghton, Obst, Newton.

If we let Fitz and Lauaki go then we lose two players who were brought in to stiffen us up and play the enforcer/wrecker type roles. Whilst I don't think that we've used Fitz properly and Hame has disappointed , effectively replacing them with youngsters leaves us back with only O'meley as the only real mongrel. For that reason unless there's that type of prop available out there then I think we may give Hame another chance in the hope he improves. We could push Tickle up to prop as we occasionally do now on the basis that we have a surfeit of backrowers. You could perhaps add Horne to that backrow list as he may not have a place elsewhere but of course it would have to be a whole different style with 13 as an extra pivot rather than an extra prop as now.