I see it quite often outside Galloways in Billinge.

You would

Surely you're not supposed to be so definite, this is a rumours thread after all............................

News on our Marquee signing:

Big Mac has found a lovely red and white one. Comes with 400 seats free as well. Will look awesome in the carpark.

There is a rumour that this rumour thread is not producing any half decent rumours at all.

Would another centre surprise anyone?

Lyon coming at last

I'd certainly have one. Jones has been superb, but would prefer our young talent to be drip fed through rather than relied on as first choice.

Would this centre be of good quality?

Wasn't told the name but was told he's good quality. It's not a cert but contact has been made.

Can't be English then because all the best super league centres are under contract

Martin Gleeson......just joking. No way would Eamonn have him back. Cudjoe impresses me everytime I see him.

Been linked with Stefan Marsh in the passed who is OOC, but you said quality. None in UK OOC, unless you look at Bradford. Luelia looks decent, Crookes a three quarter also. Not much about really.

Great, if true. So Jones also gets the push then?

Ludicrous. What the heck is the point of having a youth system if we are going to drop the good young players?

He's only 18, he's got loads of time yet.

If we do sign this top quality centre, could turner be used somewhere else, turner says he prefers backrow.

Could he play wing?

No he hasn't! The career is pretty much over by the time he's 30. He needs time to get used to first grade and grow before he's at his most effective, and the only way he will get that is by playing at first grade. We should be retaining our good young players and not buying in where it isn't needed.

We need AGGRESSIVE PROPS!!!

We do need aggressive props but IMO a good halfback is vital!

Would you say Jones was upto playing super league week in week out because at this stage of is career I wouldnt

As most know on here, I'm not one for getting carried away when a young kid comes thru but I think jones has been very good, he's more than just held his own so far.

He's only 18 years old and the big question is, will have the second season syndrome that the likes of Gaskell, foster have had?

It's a big risk for brown to give jones the starting spot in the centre as he's not played enough and we can't really 100% judge him yet.

If we do sign a top centre on 2 year deal then it's not the end for jones, he's only 18 and could benifit from learning off a top centre.

At the end of the day, brown wants to win things, of that means dropping young or old players for the sake of the team then it needs doing. He will be judged on results and trophies and not how many young kids he brings thru.

In a ideal world the whole team would come from the youth system but anyone With half a brain knows that won't happen.

Not the push, but he could be used more selectively and avoid the Foster syndrome... built up by the same fans who them crucify him for failing to produce those performances week in, week out.

There are not many RL players who manage to claim and retain a first team shirt at 18. Even the messiah of RL Tomkins was eased into the team, and he's that good you're not even allowed to tackle him or his mates wait for you by the gates. What hope do mere mortals have?

I think if Jones played in 40 to 50% of games next year, it would be a reasonable balance.

I totally agree re. the yard dog prop and organising hb though. They'd be higher up my list than a centre.

And you can judge that how exactly? And what is his 'stage'? Do all players develop simultaneously in rugby league or something?

No offence intended but really it annoys me when people start boxing up individuals as if they arrive on the scene pre-packed. Everyone is different and the only way we are going to find out whether Jones is 'up to' playing SL week in, week out is by playing him week in, week out. He's not a child and he is physically well developed. He's coped very well so far, and in some very challenging matches too, so he should stay and play IMO.

And what's that? Again, you're assuming everyone is the same and they just aren't.


Probably because they are held back.


I'm not sure you're correct there actually. Didn't Nobby play Tomkins when Tim Smith sustained an injury and Tim Smith was never seen in a cherry and white shirt again?


We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. From my POV if you're good enough, you're old enough, and he looks good enough. He has a lot to learn but he's made an extremely good start. And everyone has to make a start somewhere.

Jones has played wing on occassions, and would get enough game time at centre comfortably even with another three quarter, especially if we do release Meli.
Agree with St.Pete though for me a half & a huge prop are a far greater necessity.

Here's a speculator - As Lyon played in Super League pre 2008, does he still have an exempt status although he's been back to the NRL?

I'm pretty sure you lose it if you leave the competition. You never know though, stranger things have happened.

No, Sam had actually played 14 games before being rested v Salford as he was going to France with the England squad (he wasn't picked to play, he was just selected to give him experience). He'd played more games than Smith.
He therefore missed the next two games and was on the bench v HKR when Smith tore his bicep, a season ending injury.

The strange thing about that game was that Noble had intended to bring Sam on at fullback as some stage of the game, but because of Smiths injury it never happened.