With the team we have assembled, its no wonder we are one of the favourites for relegation.

Squad coming along nicely, Tony Smith is being patient wanting the right half-back. Not sure who will make the best Captain, anything better than Tomkins. He couldn't commit to moving a few miles over the Penninies to Beverley but can quite happily drag his family to France. Or needs Sam to look after him?

With Tony Smith biding his time looking at halfbacks it got me thinking who might become available should they not feature much for their contracted side.

McLelland on loan from Leeds perhaps (Lui, Gale and currently Myler)
Atkin on loan (Brown and Lolohea). Appreciate that one is maybe highly unlikely

Any other British halfbacks that spring to mind that may be options if not getting game time outside of those already discussed?

The fact we was considering Jared sammut means they maybe thinking of moving somebody on ... and the fact we have turned down dec Patton means we are looking for a decent player higher up the market although I would of said Patton may have been a short term fix untill Lewis gets more game time... any rumours on any more players coming in I’d be happy if we got that young half from Leeds him and Lewis in a few seasons would be a great half back pairing

We do not know that Sammut was considered, only that HDM reporter understands that we had. They frequently get things wrong and even if they were right it might only be that his name was circulated. Non of our overseas players would be sacrificed for him.

Danny Brough

He might as well, he's played for everyone else.

Is he staying with you? Not that I want him, unless he brings back his "Badger" do.

He is contracted for next season yes, whether he gets a game or not who knows - Not sure of Chesters plans.

He may end up at a championship club on loan.

No chance at all

Well, Keinhorst to York for the season, to me, the worst bit of off season business Tony Smith has done, I know we have brought in some backs, but not a big if any improvements overall, targeting some better forwards and a 7 should have been the goal.

Will see how it goes

It looks like its jamie ellis to solve our halfback problem,personally would rather give keyes or lewis a run,ellis is average at best imo.

Well it looks like they can not find a number 7 so we will have to go with Ellis not a bad thing till Lewis is up to speed

Hearing Ryan Brierley has also signed.

Strange signing, although once you know who his agent is, it makes sense.

So tell us who is is agent it’s not a secret is it ?

Show Me The Money aka Craig Harrison is the agent.

Not a secret, just search the internet, be quicker than your post.

Craig is doing very very well out of his best mate being head of recruitment.

Absolutely delighted that we’ve signed two recognised halves

Thoroughly disappointed that it’s Ellis and Brierley

But we now have more then anoth cover and with it only been for a year it brings Lewis time to get better and older

Poor signings, I genuinely fear for you next season. I think Huddersfield are in the same situation but i'm hoping you can exceed expectations.

And yet people were excited to see we'd signed Drinkwater just before last season. Strange how things work out.

We have 4 HBs in the club now (one of them a youngster). 1 yesr deals have a habit of players needing to play well to put them in the shop window as well (except Drinkwater).

Let's just see shall we....

I count 5 HB's for you...

Big Fat Jordan Abdull
Joey Keyes
Big Fat Jamie Ellis
Ryan Birerley
Mikey Lewis

Dagger and Minchella can also play in the halves can't they.

Am I alone in thinking ryan brierley is a good signing.?

I also think Brierley was worth signing he is a great support player with blistering pace and so is different to our other half backs.

Abdull will clearly take one of the half back positions and will guide the team and provide the kicking game. Brierley would offer a running game and might be a good partner. Everything depends on how they go in training.

Have said for years that I thought we needed a running half.Something we have lacked for a long time.Probably because being old and reminiscing too long about our glory years when we had Steve Hartley feeding off quality backs and tearing teams apart. Not saying that Brierley is the same, but his try tally is not bad,whether it will stand up in SL we will see, but would you prefer Drinkwater? Think we have made a decent fist of recruitment bearing in mind we were at the back end of the queue due to our SL status being uncertain. It is what it is but we seem to have better cover,and if,for once,we don,t get decimated by injuries,I think we will be ok,but one thing is certain, something had to change.Lets hope that this time it,s for the better.But re. Brierley, I think it,s a decent signing.