Any word on his future?

Looking for a club??

Should we be putting Wello out to pasture and giving this boy a one year deal? He's certainly a much better player than Wello and he'll be cheap as chips. If we're not using the overseas spots elsewhere I don't see why not.

Burns, Mcdonnell, Vea and another forwards hopefully in.

Wellens, Manu, Laffranchi, Soliola, Gardner out.

Thats what i'd roll with.

I would give him a spin for a year.

Lomax FB and Walsh HB have had serious injuries.
They will both miss some games at the start of the season and will need easing in.
Wheeler has gone.

Therefore game-time at FB and HB would suit McDonnell.
Once up to speed he provides some proper cover and rotation for Wingers
as well as ongoing cover at FB/HB.

Dawson is more of a centre. Hohaia is needed at bench hooker in the main.

In a salary capped squad system a good utility to give some options
in a number of back positions would be good.

A one year deal for him would be good business.
I fear the sentimentality of fitting in Wellens may preclude this.

I'd rather see Swift used as a reserve #1 and don't forget, with Burns coming in, we've got Hohaia at a loose end.

Not for me, although it wouldn't offend me. He seems pretty good.

I don't think overseas players like McDonnell should be sitting around as squad cover, that's why we have a youth team.

I wouldn't give him a deal. Looked pretty average and I'd have Wello, Tommy. Swift and lance fullback before him if lomax gets hurt.

We have 5 capable players at fullback, surely one more would be a waste

I reckon if Lomax gets injured and Walsh/Burns are in the halves we will put Lance in his natural position at Full Back. I also think Lance will do a spell at hooker to gove Roby a rest.
When McDonnel played a couple of games he looked and played like Lance but McDonnel looked as though he is a full back or winger, where as Lance is more adaptable these days.

My thoughts exactly.

Lomax, Lance and then Wello, how many FB's do we actually need.

I just don't see the point.

Lomax will be 1st choice, Wellens will play on for another season & Hohaia will effectively play as a utility squad player with Burns signing.

McDonnell would be 4th choice. It'd be much wiser to use any cap space we have left elsewhere.

I fully agree. Whilst it would be "nice" to offer him a deal and to have that extra option available, we have to prioritise. A 4th choice fullback isn't a priority.

Any spare resources should now be put into signing a top, top class forward, preferably a prop if LMS is staying at 2nd row.

I'm pretty much on with this, plus he's a quota spot too

You lot would seriously put Wello above McDonnell at fullback?

No but it's a foregone conclusion that he'll still be here next year.

I'd say yes, BUT I'd put McDonnell ahead of Wellens as a backup fullback, which is the real question, as he's much more versatile thanks to his speed.

As I said on another thread, I wouldn't be surprised if a win on Saturday saw Wellens bow out on a high ...

I suspect so. But there does appear to be some doubt, what with them not sitting down about it until after the GF. I think the change of coach could have an impact. I think Brown is leaving and Lolesi is too? Which would open up at least two vacancies in the coaching setup. Perhaps the plan is for Wello to move upstairs?

I suspect that Wello will pack it in if we win on Saturday.

I would pick wello, lance, lomax, swift and tommy before Sharon McDonnell. He's poor on kicks, his defence is average at best, offers nothing on kick returns but does support very well.

Wow. 5 minutes and Saddened still hasn't bitten on that one.

With a question mark over our ability to keep Lomax fit, Swift should definitely be deputising at full back.
Strong and elusive runner, played #1 whenever he's been on dual reg, good under the high ball. It possible he may even be a better fullback than a winger as it removes his weak spot.
He's young, englesh and from our academy. The most sensible option in my mind. He's certainly do a lot of damage in the free role that #1 has these days.

Gardner or Dawson to come in on the wing.

You got that from the 2 games he actually played for us (and we won convincingly)?

No I got that from all the times I seen him play at hull and saints.

He's a poor version of Danny Maguire IMO

Seen nothing to suggest he is any better than Wello to me if Wello is 3rd choice behind Lomax and Lance, then any 4th option should come from the academy.

Whether Wello plays or not next year, even at 3rd choice FB. It's a luxury we don't need.