he's just been given co-captaincy at Dewsbury IIRC

Liam Higgins can now be crossed of as one of the outsiders--

[uPublished on Tuesday 13 December 2011 07:33 [/u

SHEFFIELD Eagles have added extra power to their front row with Liam Higgins rejoining from Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.


Doncaster-born Higgins played eight games for the club at the start of last season before moving back to the Super League.

Wakefield’s new coach Richard Agar released Higgins and Eagles boss Mark Aston has moved swiftly with a one-year deal

you all heard it from me first the man in the know,my mate in hull tells me it is definitely PAUL COOKE anyone want to have a bet with me.?

We will respect your knowledge olddon!

Not me, get on at 11/8 with Double Movement.

I don't think you'll go far wrong.

Gareth Raynor, remember who told you

What about him?

It's more likely to be Holroyd than him!

Does anyone else think it might be Kyle Briggs?

Quote ="chunkster"[size=150The player in question has been offered a deal by a super league club for 2012 season but wants to come to us[/size'" I might be wrong but there's one quote (above) on all of this thread that leads me to believe that Paul Cooke is not the player in question. Had it not been for that quote then he would have been favourite. But-- Keith Senior has certainly been offered a "pay as you play" deal for 2012 with the Rhino's (but he's not a Half-Back) [iA four-time title winner with the Rhinos, Senior agreed a move to Crusaders earlier this year after suffering a season-ending knee injury, with Leeds sanctioning his release. But the Crusaders' withdrawal from Super League left Senior without a club, and it was then revealed he had the option of an extra year with Leeds. Adding to his 365 games for the club seemed unlikely, though, after the 35-year-old criticised McDermott in his recently-released autobiography. But Hetherington insists Senior still has a future with the club. 'We offered Keith a one-year deal for 2012 before his injury and, at the time, Brian McDermott did explain to Keith that the club would be stepping up its search to find a 'Keith Senior replacement' and if he stayed, he would have to fight for his place like all other players,' he said. 'As we know, Keith later signed for the Crusaders with our best wishes but this, unfortunately, was to fall through and Keith's situation is made more complicated because of his knee reconstruction. [/i=#0000FF'We will continue to look after him and all his rehabilitation until he is fully recovered and Keith has also been offered a job to work for the club at the expiry of his playing contract and a pay-per-play contract for 2012, which he is still considering. If he was to get a better offer from another club, he would also have the option to take it up. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 277968.stm

Quote ="chunkster"[size=150The player in question has been offered a deal by a super league club for 2012 season but wants to come to us[/size'" I might be wrong but there's one quote (above) on all of this thread that leads me to believe that Paul Cooke is not the player in question. Had it not been for that quote then he would have been favourite. But-- Keith Senior has certainly been offered a "pay as you play" deal for 2012 with the Rhino's (but he's not a Half-Back) [iA four-time title winner with the Rhinos, Senior agreed a move to Crusaders earlier this year after suffering a season-ending knee injury, with Leeds sanctioning his release. But the Crusaders' withdrawal from Super League left Senior without a club, and it was then revealed he had the option of an extra year with Leeds. Adding to his 365 games for the club seemed unlikely, though, after the 35-year-old criticised McDermott in his recently-released autobiography. But Hetherington insists Senior still has a future with the club. 'We offered Keith a one-year deal for 2012 before his injury and, at the time, Brian McDermott did explain to Keith that the club would be stepping up its search to find a 'Keith Senior replacement' and if he stayed, he would have to fight for his place like all other players,' he said. 'As we know, Keith later signed for the Crusaders with our best wishes but this, unfortunately, was to fall through and Keith's situation is made more complicated because of his knee reconstruction. [/i=#0000FF'We will continue to look after him and all his rehabilitation until he is fully recovered and Keith has also been offered a job to work for the club at the expiry of his playing contract and a pay-per-play contract for 2012, which he is still considering. If he was to get a better offer from another club, he would also have the option to take it up. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 277968.stm

Could be... although he has a contract at Bradford he could hardly be described as one of Mick Potters favourites.

The reason I "mythically" priced Paul Cooke at 11/8 was because of Chunkster's quote shown by DragonFan ... It could have well been shorter had that quote not existed.

Kyle Briggs will probably have a Super League option for 2012 even if it's not with Bradford.

I think a lot of fans would be more likely to invest money in a player like Kyle than Mr Cooke.

Paul Cooke is a very risky investment.

Don't know if I'm merely picking up on phraseology here but ... Kyle Briggs hasn't been 'offered a deal for 2012' ... he has a deal and a squad number (27) with Bradford Bulls.

We'll all have our preferred choice tonight when the name is announced.

No doubt there'll be cringes and cheers whichever way it goes.

I hope everyone will try to back the club in whatever way possible regardless of who it is.

Personally I'll be happier with Kyle Briggs than Paul Cooke simply because Kyle is less of a risk. If it is Mr Cooke I hope he'll be there to answer questions because we'll all need some reassurances from him.

Well I hope you are all wrong and it's not Paul Cooke.
Because if it is, I will be in a bit of a quandary.
To back or not to back ... that will be the question.

I don't see how the hell he can get back up to speed, given that:-
1 He has been out of the game for a year.
2 Showed a disaffection for rugby.
3 When he was fit and playing in his last year he was pants.
4 He'll be too fat.

I will sit at the back so I can sneak out.

That'll be the cue for a certain chant.

Indeed ... and I am famous for walking out if things aren't going the way I hoped.



Going back to what chunkster has said, and he's the only one who knows, I will be disappointed if it is Cooke since chunkster said he is a class above the likes of Rooney and Briggs et al.
The Paul Cooke of TODAY would not get within twenty yards of any of them in a 100 yard sprint.

TBF When Chunkster said 'No disrespect to the above players but this player is on another level in my opinion', the list didn't include Kyle Briggs as it was ....

(Jamie) Rooney? Jordan Tansey? Gareth Raynor? Jamie Thackray?

Fair play, but I would have Rooney any day of the week.
I just don't see how anyone can say Cooke is a class above him or even Tansey. The others in the list are irrelevant anyway, not being halfbacks.

The point still stands. Is Paul Cooke, as of today, a class above the likes of Jamie Rooney?
I would say no definitely.
Chunkster said we would not be disappointed, well clearly that's another area of contention, since a lot of us are!
So I don't see how Cooke fits the description, and if it is him, the club are taking an extraordinary step which could backfire.
We'll see.

Cannot make it tonlght, struck down with the dreaded lurgy.



David will be there to give me a report .

ill b there

Just got back ... it is Paul Cooke.
I am going to pledge some money after all.


COYD

Really positive meeting tonight, Drooling over the prospect of a Player of Paul Cookes calibre joining the club. I will pledge a small amount at the moment but next year slowly increase if this squad builder continues.

If we can raise the funds to sign Paul Cooke then watch out cos the DONS are marching on COYD

I intend to contribute. Lets hope we can raise enough through the squadbuilder to sign Paul Cooke.

Its a risk to sign Cooke, but in my opinion, a risk worth taking

Come on you Dons

For people who don't know me i work as part of the community department at the club, having just returned from the meeting i came away feeling really positive how the meeting went. I think the 'opportunity'to have the chance to bring a player of Paul's ability to the club should be one that we can't afford to miss.
Not only will he had quality to the team, its the 'WHOLE' package that is more appealing to me. Paul would be a great addition to the community department,like Tony said he will raise the profile off the club no doubt and will certainly make our case stronger when we are trying to create links with new schools, colleges and partners etc. His presence alone will be a big lift to all. I for one will be looking at ways in which money can be raised for this opportunity to happen, i am willing to meet up with any supporters who have ideas, one thing i can look at is running a touch rugby competition, which could be branded the 'Paul Cooke Touch Rugby Competiton', this could be run as a weekly comp where teams pay a fee to play each week, one way where we might look at getting local businesses to put teams in aswell as the local community,we could run a bloc of 8 to 10 weeks Feb to April then again June to August,this is jus an idea.I think we need to jump on this while the fire is hot, so any ideas dont hesitate to contact me at the club on 01302 765888 or 07506647573. Thanks