Don't agree with this Pickersrgill bashing. What a season he had last year. Even if McNally was fit/undistracted/whatever, BP is banging on the door. The only things that suffers with losing McNally is competition/cover.

I'd hope that we'd be able to bring somebody in at short notice but if worse comes to worse and we can't, I don't think it devastates us like a Crossley/Webster would.

Not bashing him. Thought he had a really good season and was one of the surprises to come out of the pre-season games. I just think he needs another year under someone good to help develop more. I'd have more confidence in a McNally/Moss as the starter with Pickersgill coming in. Either way I still believe we need another FB as we can't go into the season with just Pickersgill and Stephenson. One injury and we are done in that department.

I agree regarding Pickersgill getting first opportunity for FB. I wouldn’t rush out to spend the funds freed up unless they would genuinely improve the squad. I’d expect Kear to leave a little bit left in the pot anyway as players always become available unexpectedly part way through the season.

The rumours of McNally leaving have been around for sometime however, which makes you wonder if we are looking at another signing to announce around the same time as a departure.

Hardly, we can simply move Hitchcox or Ryan into the Full Back slot, and bring in Evans, Grant, Foggin-Johnson etc on the wing.

Hitchcox at fullback, Evans and Ryan on the wings, Gibson & Webster in the centres. Plenty of experience and quality.

I couldn't comment on Pickersgill as I've only seen him play once or twice, but even without him that's still a strong backline and with backup of Oakes, Grant & DFJ.

I tend to agree that McNally would be a loss if he could get back to form, but if this illness is as bad as is being suggested, the club should do the right thing and release him to be closer to his family (assuming that's what he wants). And not be demanding transfer fees either as someone suggested. Sometimes doing the right thing by someone is more important than other factors.

The length of time the rumours have been around are what makes me doubt them. Although I don't have any "in the know" friends, I question the logic of handing out the number 1 shirt to player that was highly likely to be leaving soon. You'd just hang on with announcing the numbers until it was sorted out one way or the other.

I think he's more than capable of excelling a n this league. With or without a mentor. Defo competition would help however.

I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised when you see who is coming in to replace McNally

If you can just get Evan's a game or two anywhere on the trot then you will be doing considerably well.

???
Come on bro, nobody likes a tease

Any clues?

does it start with m and end in oss?

Maybe I am confusing him for someone else, but while Pickers got run over for the try, he also made a try saver in the first half when York created a 2 man overlap on our left wing on a switch play. Pickers came across, chose the right option and bundled the lad into touch when it should have been a try. This hasn't been mentioned.

Of course it hasn't, it doesn't fit Pyrah's agenda

i wonder if we are taking another player from cas. isnt james clare out of contract soon?

I've been trying to think of someone we could bring in who's available and experienced enough to be Pickersgill's mentor and I can't really think of anyone so I'm curious as to who we're looking at.

Mate I have no agenda and I’m not basing it on this pre season game... all I’m saying is I really don’t think he’s ready for week on week at the level we are at I could be wrong but I might not too? Why are you so insulted by my views are you related to him?

Tell you what
I wouldn’t say no to the Newcastle full back
Is ritson

Signed a new contract at Cas in July. Tied for another two years yet.

I could be wrong but I think Ritson has signed up with a Championship team this season. Maybe Barrow?

Like I said early
McNally is under contract so if he goes we should get a fee for him, so it will give us something today’s maybe buying someone

That York lad ran straight over a couple of lads bigger than Pickersgill. And he is a big lad.

I wasn't at the game but was told that when Pickersgill was "run over" he was stood on his own line and didn't get much assistance from team mates. Sounds as if anyone would've struggled to stop the opposition player there - do people have realistic expectations?

That's about right. He ran straight through a tackle. I thought it was young Foster and AN Other that made the attempt. A lad much bigger than BP, albeit probably 3 years behind in age/development.