If only there was another Bruce Burton to be found. Didn`t he come straight from Sandal Rugby Union Club.

Johno to me as improved massively this year and deserves his place in the team. Muzza is a no from me unless he loses weight and speeds up which I cant see he is turning in to another pauld handforth, good kicking game but fat and slow. We need a ridyard type player

Realistically our BOD have limited experience in running a rugby club and less in the area of recruitment/contract negotiations, so they will depend upon RM 100% to spend our limited budget.

So our recruitment will be dependent upon what he wants to do, who he likes and who likes him.

What we dont know is what the size of his budget is for next season. If it’s unchanged or lower he will struggle even to match this seasons performance unless he can unearth a cheap gem.

As a fan of a rival team, Murrell worries me more than Johnston, because Murrell has a natural rugby brain whereas imo Johnston doesn't. When I've seen Johnston this year I think his passing game has certainly improved a little in terms of putting people through gaps, but I kind of think Grady's angle running has made him look good down that left hand side at times; he's a bit of a luxury player to me, will do the odd thing that's out of the ordinary running with the ball but not really the guy who's going to create flowing passing movements, it's all a bit telegraphed.
Murrell is obviously very limited in terms of pace but he can read a game and see opportunities, and he's a better kicker than Johnston. For me, against the better teams, Murrell is the more likely of the two to have the guile to open up a defence, even with his lack of pace.

A fair and reasoned assessment there.

We could have the best centre in the world playing for us and he would still get allowed the same amount of space as our current centres ie. very little. Why is that? Watch any video of us playing and watch accuracy of our passing from hooker to first receiver and then from our halves, its really no wonder we score so few points.

Not a great situation to be in if we are honest.

If we didn’t have the BoD you have now you wouldn’t have a Club!

On the other hand it has proved to be a worse situation at other clubs when owners / BoD ‘s over involve themselves with recruitment, picking the team.

In my opinion centre is the most underrated position in the park. Let’s hope somebody agrees with me and spends some money in that area, but also gets somebody who can utilise it as

I'm not the biggest RM fan but the fact that so many on here are suggesting how many positions need improving does say how well he's done to knit those lads together. Three top four finishes in four seasons on our budget says that. It's time now though to get a couple of top, game breaking players and kick on. We also need to get shut of the 'best part time/underdog' mentality. If that is your aim then that is what you'll be, and that's not good enough for Halifax RLFC.

Unless Fax go full time, then how on earth can we aim for anything other than "best part time team"!?



But we can't afford to go full time, and neither can lots of other clubs. Widnes are now doing a Leigh with the help of the ludicrous and unfair parachute payment, and unless they bounce straught back up, we'll see yet more evidence (if any is needed) that the vast majority of RL clubs (and ALL non SL clubs) should really be part time.

Please feel free to expand on your comment.

As in, there’s not a queue around the block to be in the board of directors at Halifax - no directors no club! We have the board we have and should be grateful someone has taken it on!

Can’t believe the Marshall bashing on here. Three middle 8s in four years in the lowest budget of all the contenders. Yes we were found out in the middle 8s but we were always going to be, being part time. We are the best part time team in RL. Richard has built a structure within the club which is drawing attention across the sport. Can anyone name another coach out there who would get the players we have achieving what they are achieving, build pathways for reserves and junior players and all for the money we pay Richard?

I won’t hold my breath....

Hear hear.

I have already made my point that Marshall is one of the best coaches and when you add in everything he does for the club i doubt there would be anyone better.

It would be nice to turn the telescope the other way around and see the picture from RMs eyes Ie he works for a club that has constantly struggled to make ends meet .constant fall outs at bod level. Players taking pay cuts loss of his attacking assistant coach Marlon . Having to choose between n signings or reserve team and yet still gets us in the prize money...that he doesn't get for signings.geez guys!! Give me a break he must think.

Quote ="jensenFF"It would be nice to turn the telescope the other way around and see the picture from RMs eyes Ie he works for a club that has constantly struggled to make ends meet .constant fall outs at bod level. Players taking pay cuts loss of his attacking assistant coach Marlon . Having to choose between n signings or reserve team and yet still gets us in the prize money...that he doesn't get for signings.geez guys!! Give me a break he must think.'" If he does, he won't be dwelling on it for long he will be thinking about the next step to try and improve things. On the theme of recruitment, from about 11 minutes in he said in the 2018 season review that it will be carefully bringing the right players for Halifax. https://t.co/Q6dycCfSmU

Quote ="jensenFF"It would be nice to turn the telescope the other way around and see the picture from RMs eyes Ie he works for a club that has constantly struggled to make ends meet .constant fall outs at bod level. Players taking pay cuts loss of his attacking assistant coach Marlon . Having to choose between n signings or reserve team and yet still gets us in the prize money...that he doesn't get for signings.geez guys!! Give me a break he must think.'" If he does, he won't be dwelling on it for long he will be thinking about the next step to try and improve things. On the theme of recruitment, from about 11 minutes in he said in the 2018 season review that it will be carefully bringing the right players for Halifax. https://t.co/Q6dycCfSmU

I don't think losing Mr Billy was any great loss!

Think you will find RM is actually paid very well indeed and likely to be the top paid or one of the top paid in this league.... When he signed a new contract he also got a wage increase.... Then when everyone had to take a 10% cut he did too, but he was still on more money than his last contract paid, so in theory still got a rise... No doubt the club has done well but I'm don't think it's purely down to RM. I'm not a fan and never will be of him.

I'll ask again, who instead of RM?

Anyone who can see where we need strengthening and will do something about it. I'd like a Ryan Sheridan, Paul Anderson, to find our own Daryl Powell.... Not sure what me giving a name actually does as this is just my opinion... I don't rate RM, never will but many out there do and love the bloke so my opinion is just that.... an opinion.

@ Chris Smith, yes everyone is entitled to an opinion, and free speech is what this forum is about, however quote :"I'd like a Ryan Sheridan, Paul Anderson, to find our own Daryl Powell.."
That sentence does not make sense, please explain. Sheridan is assistant to Powell, and Anderson did not cover himself in glory at the Giants. As well as the pay off to R M, employ someone who would probably demand as much if not more in wages, where is the money coming from, you got deep pockets?
R M has made some dubious signings, but so did Ferguson at M.U., did you call him out too?
Lots of people agree R M needs someone else to help guide him, a F D or whoever, as he is probably too close to the players to make rational decisions sometimes, again where is the money coming from. "Supporters" understand that things should/could be better but with the constraints Fax work with we have to make the best of what we have available. There is a saying my old fella used to say "Rolls Royce ideas with a push bike income". Unless you know different ?

It would be ok getting people in to try and help RM but he would have to be willing to listen to their advice. One criticism levelled at him is that he will not listen to anyone else, be that people previously at the club or people currently at the club pointing out areas for improvement.

Fans are always going to disagree on players or where teams need to improve but when it is a majority of fans including some players, backroom staff and directors that can see where improvement is needed and nothing is done about it for numerous seasons then there may just be a problem.

Someone with no experience or someone who lost the plot at Huddersfield despite having all the available resources, you've totally lost me there how they'd be a better option than what we have.