menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... holdsworth Apparantly we've made him an offer. There's a thread on the Salford forum. Comments...

menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... holdsworth Apparantly we've made him an offer. There's a thread on the Salford forum. Comments...

Its been going round for awhile now, hes also going to Cas, Hudds and Wire if things are to be believed.

I should hope not, as this would be deemed an illegal approach!

Technically true, but do you think this rule is enforced or even enforceable?

I'm slightly surprised it is even legal. My contract runs out end of next Feb. I don't find out if it'll be renewed until late in Oct. I'd be outraged if I wasn't allowed to explore alternatives.

Drifting feyly off, I'm imagining a RL world with adverts and applications...
SL stand-off required. Previous experience desirable, ability to pass left and right essential.

Holdsworth would be decent enough from looking at opinions on here. Not sure it'd be the best possible use of a valuable quota spot, though.

If the rumour of a Finch/Holdsworth half back pairing are to be believed then from a quota management point of view, surely this would mean 3 existing quota players leaving (Galea, Webster, Dobson)? That looks a high price to pay (in terms of team dynamics & quality) in order to secure 2 decent, but not top drawer half backs.

Like the advert by the way! Maybe it should also include, training will be provided?

On second thoughts, scratch that last bit.

Finch for Dobson (if he goes to Canberra) Holdsworth for Webster - doesnt sound bad at all to me!

really

It's not that crazy is it really, every player going gets linked with Wire, they're bound to as you're one of the few, if not the only club that's able to spend big.

Even I've been linked with Wire and I haven't played since 1993.

It's not illegal if the club allow it.

Give it another ten years and you may get an offer more local.

Yeah but being tapped up by Burger King to make Whoppers instead of big macs is hardly a fair comparison

Considering Salford are trying everything to keep him I hardly think that they have given anyone permission to speak to him, do you?

The best plan is stick with Dobbo, bring a six that can compliment his style rather than duplicate it. If we have to lose one of our overseas players he would have to be fed trained, if not we lose two, which would un-balance the team too much.

Most clubs allow their players the chance to speak to other clubs to see their true market worth. Otherwise the player just refuses to talk to them until after the date they can speak to other clubs as it's unfair asking a player to sign a deal without seeing what theyre worth.

We did it with King a few years ago. I think most SL clubs realise that it happens and there's not much they can do to stop it

I personally can't see Salford allowing him to speak to other clubs though especially considering how McRae spat his dummy out last year other Turner and Myler

We've done it with players like Manu this year. Pointless blocking any player talking to other clubs. It happens irrespective of whether its blocked and most clubs would prefer it to happen and they know about it rather than forcing it underground. At least clubs can counter the other sides bids if they know about them.

Far more pro's than con's for allowing players to speak to other clubs.

Exactly, and as a club you're hardly going to endear yourselves to the player by purposely limiting his options.

Yup.

So the situation here is that Salford have allowed Holdsworth to see what his worth is. Rovers are a club speaking to him and Holdsworth will then be able to review the offer from Rovers vs Salford and other clubs interested. If Dobson and Galea go and with Cooke going i'd imagine Rovers will be able to make a fairly competetive offer. (both financially and attractiveness of Rovers as a franchise club etc)

The thing is, we're also (officially I think) in talks with Galea and rumoured to be with Webster too. Even assuming that Dobson did want to go back to the NRL for 2011, which he has (only slightly ambiguously) denied that is too many quota players. Perhaps we're operating as bidders in a Dutch auction.
Then there are the Finch rumours. All sound very 'fluid' to me.

Most talks are very fluid at this point in the season. I'm surprised the Holdsworth talks have even become public knowledge and hundreds of cross-club talks go on at this stage of the season that never see the light of day.

The strong rumour earlier in the year was Galea to Hudds was a done deal. The rumour from within Rovers was that Webster was going home. I'll believe it all when it's announced officially.

I agree. Plenty of stronger rumours than this in the past that never materialised.

I imagine after an initial purge of expenditure to attract the crowds and keep us in SL, the club will (should) be looking for 'better value for money' players and not pay over the odds. People have said they wouldn't waste a quota spot on Holdsworth, but really its down to what sort of wages he's demanding.

Yeah, I think this year's recruitment will be interesting. Are we shooting for the stars or going for stability?

Here's my stability team:

Briscoe, Fox, Welham, C. Hall (Hull), Colbon, Holdsworth (Reds), Dobson/Finch, Clinton, Hodgson, Vella, Newton, Walker, Murrell.
Bench: Lovegrove, Watts, Netherton, Fisher.
Others in contention/reserve Cockayne, Cook, I'anson, Ratu, Wheeldon, Taylor and other homegrown youngsters. Maybe G. Horne for utility.
Out: (Cooke), Galea, Webster, Mills.

Alright, it isn't what we'd ideally want, but it'd make a dent in the deficit, if that were the priority.

I think that has to be your priority and Hudge has said the same. I also wouldnt be surprised of Dobbo did leave if you only brought Holdsworth in and didnt replace the 7. Maybe Spaven/I'anson or someone like that could get some game time for a year which would take another 100k out of the deficit.

No you need a good player for every position and leaving a pivotal position like that empty is whats been our downfall this year. I'm not bothered about big names, I'd rather have good quality hardworking players than 'stars' only tempted here by the pay packet.

We're only short at 6 so if we address that and replace those that leave with good players rather than big names, I'll be more than happy.

It's a balance - you don't want to get stuck in a downward spiral. IMO that crosses the line from what Rovers fans can still retain a level of relative optimism about, into a cause for Hull fans to be 'optimistic' and Rovers fans not to renew season passes.
If we suddenly have to go to break even next year - something only Hull managed last time, I think - then I'd look somewhere else to make savings than halfback. Or at least not try to make all the remaining savings there. I doubt, without pretending to know, that any cuts will be that immediate and swingeing. We'll see.

Hall would be on a good bit less than Webster. Holdsworth on less than Cooke. Then you've got Mills and Galea's wages and a reduction for Walker.