Where is it that he's going to Wire?

[quote="FC Callum":2e88h8fh]I was surprised it was Wire tbf, well stocked with centres unless King is moving to back row. Shame if we have missed out.[/quote:2e88h8fh] I reckon a few clubs will be waiting to see if any salary cap dispensations are granted. Without that Hull was likely in the driving seat for Cross, but if clubs can get relief from the cap I imagine most clubs would want him, can play centre and wing would be handy pick up. We’ve heard it a thousand times with Salford but saw Paul King earlier mentioning that they’re hoping to get a takeover deal agreed today. Can see this dragging on and on for a while, what if they say they’ve got a deal agreed in principle with promised investment are the RFL likely to give them a bit of breathing space to get it done? I’d be wary because they said the same with the council stadium deal last year but if there was a free for all ‘fire sale’ with salary cap/quota dispensations they simply won’t be able to field a side. It would be a tough decision for a competent organisation, but can see the useless RFL letting it drag on hoping for the best.

[quote="Blackandwhitebigdog":tdzwvk4c]Where is it that he's going to Wire?[/quote:tdzwvk4c] I thought you said it was a done deal?

[quote="DSJ1983":1iacrss5]I reckon a few clubs will be waiting to see if any salary cap dispensations are granted. Without that Hull was likely in the driving seat for Cross, but if clubs can get relief from the cap I imagine most clubs would want him, can play centre and wing would be handy pick up. We’ve heard it a thousand times with Salford but saw Paul King earlier mentioning that they’re hoping to get a takeover deal agreed today. Can see this dragging on and on for a while, what if they say they’ve got a deal agreed in principle with promised investment are the RFL likely to give them a bit of breathing space to get it done? I’d be wary because they said the same with the council stadium deal last year but if there was a free for all ‘fire sale’ with salary cap/quota dispensations they simply won’t be able to field a side. It would be a tough decision for a competent organisation, but can see the useless RFL letting it drag on hoping for the best.[/quote:1iacrss5] a 'deal in principle' wont cut it as thats what they used to get this far as stated by most journos there needs to be money in the bank King stated there may be a deal today but if not they have till tuesday 21st or they will sell players asap

[quote="ComeOnYouUll":1a39u2le]I thought you said it was a done deal?[/quote:1a39u2le] It is what I am told.

I wouldn't be that bothered if we don't get Cross. He's a decent enough player and would improve us short term, but he's not really good enough for where we want to get to and we don't really want another average player on a 3 year contract. I'd rather give Litten a run at centre and keep our powder dry, someone decent always becomes available mid season.

[quote="Mr. Zucchini Head":5q0txeuz]I wouldn't be that bothered if we don't get Cross. He's a decent enough player and would improve us short term, but he's not really good enough for where we want to get to and we don't really want another average player on a 3 year contract. I'd rather give Litten a run at centre and keep our powder dry, someone decent always becomes available mid season.[/quote:5q0txeuz] I’d agree if we had a quota place available, but there’s little to no chance a homegrown centre will become available mid season IMO. Think Cross will surprise a few people if he comes here or does go elsewhere, the more you look at his stats and factor in that he’s a late bloomer he could still improve further. Hopefully we’ll still get the deal done, if the deal has stalled it’s likely because other clubs are waiting to see on the next salary cap vote, it was said that out of the two possible changes, quota changes are most likely rather then both and that would work in our favour.

[quote="UllFC":1vrsbzs3]Jackson Hastings unlikely to stay at Newcastle after this season, could we not make a move now? He is of course as British as they come...[/quote:1vrsbzs3] Think the reason why they changed the quota system was to stop this loophole. It’s hard to keep up so not 100% sure but as far as I’m aware playing for England or not he’d still be a quota player. He’s not fed trained and wouldn’t qualify on residency either.

Cross deal off. He didn't turn up for the meeting

Disappointing if we don't pick anyone up from Salfords January sale .

[quote="B0NES":135mnjh5]Disappointing if we don't pick anyone up from Salfords January sale .[/quote:135mnjh5] Reality is we’re probably the least desirable club in the competition for someone based in Salford to join. Even if they joined one the West Yorkshire clubs wouldn’t necessarily have to relocate. The only thing we had going was potentially a decent amount of cap space but if there’s a dispensation on that we’ll unfortunately be bottom of the pile.

[quote="B0NES":1munaj88]Disappointing if we don't pick anyone up from Salfords January sale .[/quote:1munaj88] It may be that nobody does. Seeing a few Salford fans on twitter seemingly quite confident that good news is due within the next few days. No idea if it's based on and truth or just hope, and they're all rather cryptic about it all. They may not yet even sell a single player if the takeover/investment has come to fruition.

[quote="Irregs#16":1erdk0o8]Cross deal off. He didn't turn up for the meeting[/quote:1erdk0o8] As I said above, I won't lose any sleep. Centre is a problem though. I'm willing to give everyone a clean slate and just see what happens, but if I'm honest I'm not expecting Chamberlain to offer very much, and expect Hardaker to be solid but unspectacular. I think the one player in our squad who could potentially give us some real x factor at centre is Litten, and even he is coming off a big injury and isn't experienced in the position. I have heard it mentioned in a few places that Rapana is being considered at centre. Moy has blown everyone away in pre season by all accounts and I think they want to get him involved as much as possible.

[quote="Mr. Zucchini Head":du5ahrfp]As I said above, I won't lose any sleep. Centre is a problem though. I'm willing to give everyone a clean slate and just see what happens, but if I'm honest I'm not expecting Chamberlain to offer very much, and expect Hardaker to be solid but unspectacular. I think the one player in our squad who could potentially give us some real x factor at centre is Litten, and even he is coming off a big injury and isn't experienced in the position. I have heard it mentioned in a few places that Rapana is being considered at centre. Moy has blown everyone away in pre season by all accounts and I think they want to get him involved as much as possible.[/quote:du5ahrfp] My hope would be we see Rapana in the centres by end of the season with Moy at full back. Just don’t see anything in Litten at all to think he’d be a success there in attack or defence. Not sure how Westerman has done pre season but seemed highly rated.

Is there anyone of note worth a look in the championship as a low risk pickup at either centre or half back? Can't say I've seen too much of the championship over the last couple of years, or could we have a look at someone like Ryan Hampshire (unlikely and unsure if he's better than some of the young lads) as a sort of experienced squad cover.

[quote="Yippee try yay":3ohmyb75]Is there anyone of note worth a look in the championship as a low risk pickup at either centre or half back? Can't say I've seen too much of the championship over the last couple of years, or could we have a look at someone like Ryan Hampshire (unlikely and unsure if he's better than some of the young lads) as a sort of experienced squad cover.[/quote:3ohmyb75] What's that Morgan Smith fella up to at Sheffield

[quote="FC Callum":3spxorrg]My hope would be we see Rapana in the centres by end of the season with Moy at full back. Just don’t see anything in Litten at all to think he’d be a success there in attack or defence. Not sure how Westerman has done pre season but seemed highly rated.[/quote:3spxorrg] I agree with that centre is a huge problem for us If we had a pack that could get on top of teams it becomes less of a problem but the lack of strike and pace in such an important position is alarming. Po pooed when i said Chamberlain would be a starting centre but is look odds on now he will.

[quote="bonaire":3rzyngv9]I agree with that centre is a huge problem for us If we had a pack that could get on top of teams it becomes less of a problem but the lack of strike and pace in such an important position is alarming. Po pooed when i said Chamberlain would be a starting centre but is look odds on now he will.[/quote:3rzyngv9] Of all the signings we have made this year Chamberlain is the most underwhelming. I just don't see what he offers. He served a purpose as a stop gap loan signing, but now we are stuck with a very average player on a pretty long contract. I know you aren't a Hardaker fan either, but at least you can point to his experience and competitive nature. What does Chamberlain bring to the table?

[quote="FC Callum":2tz8tc6m]My hope would be we see Rapana in the centres by end of the season with Moy at full back. Just don’t see anything in Litten at all to think he’d be a success there in attack or defence. Not sure how Westerman has done pre season but seemed highly rated.[/quote:2tz8tc6m] You say that about litten. I was quite critical of him if I'm honest. However watch the Rovers match last year. Second game at KC. He came on played 40 minutes and made 160m.

[quote="Mr. Zucchini Head":3ctd40ti]Of all the signings we have made this year Chamberlain is the most underwhelming. I just don't see what he offers. He served a purpose as a stop gap loan signing, but now we are stuck with a very average player on a pretty long contract. I know you aren't a Hardaker fan either, but at least you can point to his experience and competitive nature. What does Chamberlain bring to the table?[/quote:3ctd40ti] I thought that when we announced the signing but in hindsight had we not signed him we’d be going into the season with either a completely untried and likely not ready Westerman as first choice centre or moving Briscoe that would leave us short on wing cover/competition. I’m all for aiming high and being ambitious but maybe they anticipated how hard a sell it would be and had to just get players in who were willing to join. If we are looking for positives in a well coached team he’ll be solid and can cover a few positions, he’s played centre/wing/backrow in SL, but let’s not kid ourselves it’s not ideal.

https://www.totalrl.com/salford-red-dev ... this-week/ Salford update..... King is hopeful of a deal this week that would stop the sale of players. If that doesn't happen it sounds like we've got a 2 week period along with Wakey, Leigh and Cas to sign players before it's opened up to the rest of the league. This would include quota and cap dispensation for them.

https://www.totalrl.com/salford-red-dev ... this-week/ Salford update..... King is hopeful of a deal this week that would stop the sale of players. If that doesn't happen it sounds like we've got a 2 week period along with Wakey, Leigh and Cas to sign players before it's opened up to the rest of the league. This would include quota and cap dispensation for them.

[quote="mwindass":vh05jv54]https://www.totalrl.com/salford-red-devils-hoping-to-complete-takeover-deal-this-week/ Salford update..... King is hopeful of a deal this week that would stop the sale of players. If that doesn't happen it sounds like we've got a 2 week period along with Wakey, Leigh and Cas to sign players before it's opened up to the rest of the league. This would include quota and cap dispensation for them.[/quote:vh05jv54] Realistically though in this 2 weeks even if we agree a deal with Salford the players are either just going to not commit or like Cross just flat out refuse to meet us knowing that in 2 weeks Warrington etc are going to come in and they’ll have loads of offers maybe even a bidding war between clubs. As much as I think we need players in those positions we now know Cross and looks like Sneyd just don’t want the move, Shorrocks might still be an option but you’d think he’d likely also want to stay in the area. I’d just leave it if I was RM now, walk away and make offers for Macdonald, Marsters, Nikorima etc if and when the dispensations open up and at least bump the prices up for anyone else. It’s hard to tell with Salford but reading the noise in the past few days them not responding to other clubs for players I think they think they might have something sorted short term, how long it will last is anyone’s guess.

It's a right mess, can't blame Salford, as they are trying to keep their pla yers as long as possible, hoping for investment. And the players don't really want to leave. Like DSJ says, can't see how this two week window thing would work. .

[quote="Dave K."]It's a right mess, can't blame Salford, as they are trying to keep their pla yers as long as possible, hoping for investment. And the players don't really want to leave. Like DSJ says, can't see how this two week window thing would work. As you say Dave, it's all just a mess. Personally i think we as a club should just move on and keep our powder dry for throughout the season as something usually crops up.

[quote="Dave K.":34j4kmfc]It's a right mess, can't blame Salford, as they are trying to keep their pla yers as long as possible, hoping for investment. And the players don't really want to leave. Like DSJ says, can't see how this two week window thing would work. .[/quote:34j4kmfc] Fair play if Salford are confident they don’t need to sell absolutely anyone and can get a takeover done in 2 weeks this will work out great for them. On the flip side they’ll not be able move anyone on in this 2 weeks, but once the dispensations are granted it’s open season and they lose everyone. I hope they get a buyer and end all this nonsense, it’s going to be farce if they don’t.