And with the introduction of an extra super special game, where you get drawn against a team based on whatever the governing body feel like basing it on that year rather than anything fair, to be played at a neutral venue.

So today's T&A seems to indicate those signed on for 2018 aren't now definitely signed on following relegation

Seems like there was a clause in the contracts then, which i expected to be honest.

WE really are showing our pedigree as RL trailblazers. While everyone else in professional rugby is worrying about the 2017 league we have already put that season to bed and are concerned with 2018. Onwards and downwards.

Spiffing. No idea who's playing for us next year then. No idea who's coaching us. What a great proposition. Where do I sign up for a dozen season tickets?

I don't get it, Lee Smith is quoted as saying he wants to play for us next season but 'there's nothing myself or the club can do about it at the moment'.

Why not? What is stopping the club from sorting out 2018 contracts now? Technically we've been able to do it since the anti tampering deadline passed months ago.

I think it may to do with budgeting for home games. Like this season teams in League 1 get magically selected who they play at either home or away. If nothing changes with the structuring of league 1 i'm sure the management will have to look at which sides we play at home, the then likelihood of away support, then gauging walk up support. When you dont know who you ar eplaying and when can imagine its difficult to budget. It's like say the Keighley game they will know if we play them at home they will bring a few. If we dont get the opportunity to play them at home as with say hunslet there will go our biggest chances of revenue from away support

We can't possibly be waiting for the fixtures to come out before we start signing players, that's insane.

If that's right we really are fecked.

Of course Lee Smith wants to play for us. We don't expect anything from our players.

Totally agree, but surely any club looks at certain games and targets extra revenue for local derby, big away following etc. There is only rugby league to have a semi professional league where the teams dont play each other home and away. I'm sure if they knew now every team in that league would be coming to odsal they could pinpoint one or two they might think will bring a couple. How unfair would it be on both us and keighley if either didnt have the home fixture

Well i think they have a month to start announcing some signings. If we get to the end of the season and we still have no one signed up, then i think that will really put of people getting an ST. I'm not panicking YET. But stuff needs to start being put into place over the next month. The 2018 squad doesn't need to be signed, sealed and delivered before the season end, but at least a couple of signings just so we have something to go off. I know they are going hard on the WC recruitment, but i'd imagine we'll only pick up a few players form that.

Overseas players are like gold dust given the current visa situation. If you're a half-decent player whose made it to the World Cup, I'm not sure what the odds are of you choosing the Bulls agent to sign on the dotted line for, unless you're that good that you don't have any better offers from SL clubs or Championship clubs. Maybe we don't yet realise that playing part-time in the Third Divison is not a big selling point, nor a great career advancement, and given top wages aren't likely to be waved about - what then is the selling point?

I'm not sure FA. Chalmers said he'd be "all over" the World Cup to sign players that made a name for themselves. It sounded good at the time but like you say we're a C1 side now that's pretty much part time. Not SL anymore.

Also, it's not 2000 anymore, many of the players that are turning out for the developing nations in the WC are already affiliated with NRL clubs. The chances of picking up an unknown Pacific Islander are bloody slim since NRL clubs cornered the market there about 17 years ago.

There may be the odd PNG player but I think we'll near the bottom of the pile when it comes to clubs recruiting players from the World Cup.

Looking at the squad lists from the last WC, there were only three teams - PNG, USA and Italy - who weren't full of players already playing in the NRL or Super Dooper League so can't see there being much to choose from.

PNG is where we need to be looking. We need the new Menzie Yere and his ilk. Perfect for our level.

Hunslet did ok recruiting PNG-ers in recent years. If they did it we can.

That'll be harder than in the past with the emergence of the PNG Hunters. Just seen 10 of their players were in the last PNG test squad, with 4 others from NRL sides.

Good point, seems Chalmers plans to be "all over" the World Cup may turn out to be "all talk". At least he acknowledged that players they recruit would have to be eligible for a visa so no repeat of the Phoenix fiasco hopefully - but that's a low expectation really. Whether we get anyone half decent from the world cup remains to be seen. You may get an Offerdahl type player emerge. I guess we wait and see. I harbour irrational hopes that we'll re-sign Damian Sironen but really he's far too good for C1.

Well Sam Hallas is here next year which is a great bit of news.

Sam Hallas has said he wants to be here next year. It's still up in the air as to who we're able to retain

I'd say after reading the article he's happy he's signed for Bradford and dosent feel like the others that his jobs under threat hence why bulls allowed the article on the site it's factually correct he will be here next year.

It's a pity that Sam won't know most of the other new members of the team next year, because after today's showing on the pitch, not even the most ardent Bulls fan would give the time of day to that shower who were on display - let alone a first team place !

Unfortunately so is Lee Smith, assuming his contract doesn't become null and void.

Apparently James Davies been offered PT deal.

Well if that's a 'statement of intent', then the intention is mediocrity...