Actually no we don't. Well, not when you consider what has actually been said.

We keep getting told - factually - that the club has no debt and that it reported about £200k profits.

What we do not get told is that because of accounts being prepared on an accruals basis, we probably (I'll not start posting proofs on here) have to make a modest profit to be straight across in cash terms. Don't get hung up on this, but read "break even" for "profit". And then can various people quit this obsession with "making profits ahead of team", because thats bollox - trust me!

Clear to me the club is spending everything it is able to. As you would expect.

What we haven't been told is what 2009 is showing financially. And remember...at the Forum we were told (in answer to my question) that the downturn in attendances/recession was not a profitability concern in the short term...but it would be a cash concern. I have the verbatim words written down at home, so thats paraphrasing). I would say that accords entirely with my reading of the situation.

The key point to remember: Wire, Pies, Stains, Hudds, Leeds (although Leeds are financially secure regardless), Salford, and I think HKR and Celtic - are backed by wealthy individuals (I'm unsure about Cas and Wakey and more recently Quins, and Cats will always be supported anyway). If they have a short-term cash need, who ya gonna call? We don't have that luxury.

That means our board have to be much more careful than many. Same way as an individual who doesn't have a credit card or an overdraft facility and can't borrow any money from anyone has to be much more careful not to spend more than he can afford day-to-day than someone who can plug short-term needs by borrowing.

Its hard, if you have not been there in business, to overstate the time, effort and distraction involved in managing this situation.

Posted this to try and bring some clarity.

An excellent post.

As regards the article, seems to me they are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

I presume that the T&A (Parker or Marshall or tealady, it matters not - at least its's not Dangerous Dave) will see from the T&A Rantaforum, here, letters, other forums, wherever, that fans are pretty concerned. They will know as well as the rest of us that we have loads of outs and bugger-all ins so far. So one presumes they rang Hood for his comments. Its pretty clear the article reflects an interview with him, since it quotes his comments.

What is surely clear (Sam, tell me if I am wrong?) is that this is NOT a club press release (if it was, the article would be worded differently and we'd see the content on the Bulls site?). And therefore it reflects the editing and any spin of the T&A. Suggest folk bear this in mind when treating this as an official club announcement?

Had Hood declined to be interviewed, can you imagine the furore on here in response to "Chairman Peter Hood refused to comment..."?

But he may well not be in a position to say things yet which might give more comfort, and through choice would keep his own counsel until he can say something more positive without fear of it not happening - look at the Bird debacle as an example?

I'm speculating, but it does just seem to me that whatever the guy does he'll be damned on here.

And yes, I'm as concerned as the next man too. But I try to be realistic and adult about the situation.

Thats you banned from here Then!

I'm sure this wasn't a press release from the club but if ever there was a time for positive press releases it's now, that's my point. The club's sitting back and the agenda and the media coverage isn't being determined by them anymore.

It may only amount to spin but I feel the club needs to get a grip of events and start dictating the agenda like it used to. For too long recently they've been forced on the back foot to react to players leaving. It's time we read about the positive things happening at the club a bit more (I'm presuming there are some?). There was a time when the Bulls used to dominate the positive news in the RL media, new initiatives, gimmicks, etc whatever. What we need now is for some lines from the club that give us a reason to be happy again.

It may only amount to re-assurance that the club is working on delivering a better side but it'd be more upbeat.

Can't argue with any of that!

Reminding me of the days when Caisley was hunkered down in the Odsal bunker and we heard sod all (folk with short memories may not remember we had a spell like that?)

Oh yes it was a classic case of "Infamy Infamy they've all got in Infamy"



Don't forget Sams fee being quoted will now get agents to reconsider upping the ante in negotiations and the Club are going to keep a lid on it till the deals are signed sealed and delivered

Been wondering when someone would raise that. Or maybe realise that if Hood comes out and says something like "we really need and intend to make some major or even marquee signings..." that will be an open invitation to the Caisleys and other middlemen to try and enrich themselves even further by thinking the club is desperate to sign their charges and ramping up the asking prices.

Maybe the nature and emphasis of Hood's reported comments need to be considered in that context as well...?

Finally some good news for the club. www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 64,00.html

Finally some good news for the club. www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 64,00.html

[iParramatta chief executive Paul Osborne said he was still hopeful of working something out with Robson after the grand final, and reassured Moimoi that he was very much in the club's long term plans.

''Fuifui is under contract next year and he isn't going anywhere,'' Osborne said.[/i

Doesn't look like Moimoi will be coming, I for one am relievd that we won't be signing the big lump. He's not all that.

Lets hope we pass on this Jeff Robson characetr aswell.

tad's [url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbulls/4659522.Tadulala_set_for_exit_after_rejecting_deal/exit[/url confirmed. Not saying where hes going thou

[i'But they are expected to unveil a new face next week to go with Manly duo Heath L’Estrange and Glenn Hall.' [/i

I'm presuming this is either Kearney or Walker?

Well I think I am right in saying he is the last player with a doubt about their future lingering over them. So hopefully next weeks announcement will be the first of many.

I think Semi will be a loss though and he has been consistently good for us since he joined. Our backs were already pretty average.. so some strong recruitment is now needed in this area. I'd suggest at least two new faces are needed in the backs.

I read a rumour on the Saints board that Maurie Fa'asavalu may have fallen out of favour with Potter. Probably a load of bull but worth an enquiry? He'd certainly provide some impact off the bench that we have lacked this year.

Shame, he doesn't know where he's going to play but he knows its not Odsal...



So we now have one winger on the books for next season, I would expect at least one of our INS to be a winger then, with maybe an outside back who could play a few positions?

I would have liked us to look at someone like;

[url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/leeds-rhinos-news/Leeds-Rhinos-Beware-the-foreign.5689524.jpJodie Broughton[/url

"[iMeanwhile, out-of-contract Rhinos winger Jodie Broughton, who had a spell on loan at Hull this year, is in talks with Leeds and has also attracted attention from Super League rivals Salford City Reds."[/i

Looked decent with potential when I've seen him play, wouldn't cost a huge portion of our massive cap availability and could be an option for the wing. Looks like he's Salford bound though.

Yeh I thought Broughton looked good. He has played well whenver I've seen him play.

We have now lost 8 players and brought in only 2. We must need to bring in at least another 4, and then promote a couple from the acadamey. IMO we should be looking at a winger, centre, half, and another prop/2nd row.

I'd be happy to see someone like Broughton given a shot. He looked a good finisher in the games I have seen. I expect Leeds would require a fee due to his age though.

But wouldn't that fee just be so much per week for the duration of his stay with them? Would they be entitled to ask for any more than that?

Yeh I think it is something like that. He'd certainly get more opportunities at the Bulls.

Well lets hope for some good news next week. We now have no back up for any of the backs or halfabcks at all and we only have one back up prop with any SL experience so the squad couldn't be thinner really!

Exactly! I Dont think we can even meet the RFL minimum requirement for naming a 25 man sqaud yet, so we will be adding to the sqaud, its just when and who.



Probably a relatively small amount, between 1 - 10K ish? (guessing) Something Im sure we could redirect a small amount of Mr Crowes donation towards. And signing a young player with potential from a proven production line, already played some SL games and not looked out of place, surely it wouldnt be a bad move? We might end up paying more to bring in an aussie or older SL journeyman to cover a wing spot.

I dont think it'll happen though, and if the walker rumour is true he could be our option for the wing. I'm assuming Rudd has been told thanks but no thanks, and that none of our outside backs in the reserves/academy are ready to step up? (other people might know more about those two than me!)

More likely it'll be Thorman

By my reckoning we have two overseas spots left for next season yet to be announced. for 2010 we are allowed no more than 6 overseas trained players including quota players, and here is my shot at how that will pan out;

1 - Nero (non-fed trained)
2 - Menzies (quota)
3 - Hall (quota)
4 - L'Estrange (quota)
5 - Kearney (quota)
6 - Walker (quota)

So no Moi Moi or Robson or any other Aussie.

That rule only applies if he's been offered a new contract which is at least equal to his old one. If it isn't he then becomes a free agent who can move anywhere for nothing.

Walker isn't coming and his spot will be taken up by Folau who will be the highest paid player in Super league history. Along with a couple of other highly paid names explains the manouvering under the salary cap and the comments from Peter Hood Yesterday.


I'm not sure if this policy will work as it leaves the squad a bit thin on the ground but Macca wants to go for bust next year because he's out if we don't do anything again.


The Folau thing has now gone across all the other message boards and a newspaper and has nothing to do with me so it gives it more legs.


Then again I could have made this all up who knows?