I rate him. He was awesome against Saints the other week. Hasn't been given a chance at Huddersfield. We never have cover half backs, and I can't imagine he could demand much money.

What's wrong with using one of our reserve or academy team half backs as cover?

Nothing whatsoever, but it never seems to happen does it? whenever we are sruggling for a halfback we play someone out of position.

Something he obviously learned from Tony Smith.

They probably aren't good enough. It's all well and good saying "use the kids", but if we haven't got any capable of playing in the first team, then what's the point in putting someone in just because he's a member of our academy side?

The few times I've seen the reserves sides this year, I haven't been all that impressed with the halves. Jonny Horton looks like he might make a step up at hooker, but not the halves. Although I have only seen them a few times, so probably aren't as qualified to say so as some will be.

But Tom Hemmingway isn't good enough that's why he's been released by Huddersfield and i rather we gave Joe Wardle or Liam Kay a go instead of signing rubbish like Hemmingway.

I'm not saying Hemingway is good enough. Was purely commenting on why we may not use our academy players, not justifying the potential signing of Hemingway.

Fairs enough.

GREG Bird's NRL career could be revived by the Gold Coast Titans pending the outcome of an appeal against his conviction for glassing his American girlfriend.

The former Australian Test five-eighth has been in outstanding form for the France-based Catalan Dragons in English Super League, with Dragons coach Kevin Walters keen for him to stay on next year.

Bird, who was sentenced to at least eight months jail after being convicted for recklessly wounding Katie Milligan, is due to appeal against the verdict in the District Court on November 23-24.

French sources say Bird has been sounded out by the Titans as halves partner for skipper Scott Prince in 2010.

Centres Chris Walker and Brett Delaney will play for English clubs Bradford and Leeds next year, and the Titans are keen to strengthen their backline stocks.

Walker was signed by the Titans as a foundation player in 2007 despite a troubled past in the NRL, and after a rocky beginning proved a model citizen.

Bird played two Tests for Australia and four Origin games for the Blues in 2007-08.

He has put on weight since moving to France after being shown the door by Cronulla, and has been playing lock for Catalan, who beat Wakefield 25-16 in an elimination final yesterday.

If circumstances allowed the Titans to sign Bird it is unlikely the NRL would intervene, although it has issued an edict to clubs that if they sign a player with a poor record they are equally culpable if there is further trouble.

Bird's manager Gavin Orr confirmed last night the Titans had expressed interest, along with several other clubs.

"I get calls from clubs from time to time wanting to know what Greg might do," Orr said. "The Titans have been in touch, but everything hinges on his court case."

According to todays LE , semi has been offfered more that we can offer and will be off to join Les or Shonney at either Bath or Glost.

Also in the same article , Hood deines that we are in for Chris Walker, and says that the the Kearney deal is not yet done.

right iv had my Breakie now so here's the full article

" Semi Tadulala is to leave the Bradford Bulls, and will become the latest super league star to switch codes and join rugby union.
"LE" understands that Tadulala who played for Fiji in the WC , will join either Bath or Gloucester, with the salary cap mean that the bulls are unable to compete with the money being offered to him by the other code.
" we would like Semi to stay but the amount of money we can pay him cant compare with whats avaible in rugby union, so i would expect him to take their offer" said bulls chairman Peterhood, who has denied Persistent rumours linking the bulls with Chris Walker , the GCT's winger. " we keep getting linked wiht Chris Walker , and i dont know why," said Hood
" i admit that we are lined to Brett Kearney of Cronulla , and er are certainly interested in him , but we are not in a position to make an accouncement on him. "

Like brotherhood

or sisterhood.

Im not sure if this is good or bad news.

Well it would appear to give the source for the Walker speculation above. However didn't Hood himself say he'd made Walker an offer about 4 weeks ago? It was in League Express IIRC. Perhaps he has amnesia?

Given Tadulala's departure we're now losing our best winger. Maybe Walker is seen as a direct replacement?

I hope we are signing Kearney and Walker because if we aren't we'll have no cover for any of the back positions at all. The rumours of Reardon and Hemmingway do not fill me with any enthusiasm.

You think they would have edited the ..er.. out dont you...

I remember reading the chief exec of the club Walker is currently at coming out and saying that Bradford had made him an offer which they couldn't beat, but don't remember anyone from our club actually confirming it.

I'm sure I read somewhere that we'd made him an offer but had no intention of getting into any auction with another club or increasing it.

Must have been a vivid dream

If those are the things you're having vivid dreams about, Sam, perhaps you should be more worried about your own sanity than about Terry's! His fantasies seem to be more, erm, interesting (to him!).

That was pretty much the exact comment that the Gold Coast dude made I think.

[url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/4552584.Bulls____offer___100_000____for_Titans_star_Walker/£100,000 for Walker[/url

"[iGold Coast chief executive Michael Searle retorted: “The offer is off the table. He’s had a £100,000 offer from Bradford and he should take it. We are not an ATM with an unlimited supply of cash.” [/i

This is taken from what was reported in the aussie press but nowhere are we quoted directly. It could just be that whilst in negotiations between walkers agent and the Titans, the agent name drops us and makes up a figure to bump up his negotiating stance, and the club have then called his bluff and gone public with it. I could easily see this rumour being totally without foundation.

Fair enough. I guess this is the source of the speculation.

Without Walker who will take Semi's place.

So far the confirmed backline for next season is:

Platt
Sherrife
Crookes
Nero
Halley
Sykes
Deacon

With Straugheir and Hyde as backup.

Straugheir is OOC, I believe, and was not on RER's recent list of reserves likely to be retained.

If the Walker deal doesn't go ahead we've been gazumped very late in the day.

Yeah if we don't get him and Kearney was are in trouble, as I imagine most other players will have found clubs already. As our current back line for next season doesnt look particularly devestating.

Any injuries to anyone and we're fekked.

I'm assuming that the club have everything under control and we'll be announcing at least 3 or 4 signings in the coming weeks.

Isn't this just the same thing we have every year where all our signing are announced together? We confirm signing where details are released by other clubs but we wait until all parties are no longer involved in play offs etc.

The difference this year seems to be less reliable leaks (e.g. Scruton last year) and quite a bit more uninspiring speculation.