Quote ="Eastern Wildcat"Somebody sent this through to me the other night. https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ev ... nd-of-2023 There aren't many left I'm sure one of the NRL sites generate a similar report, though I would imagine that its probably the same situation there now. I can see us strengthening more now, as the season progresses'" I'd be happy with Ben Nakubuwai and Luis Johnson.

Quote ="Eastern Wildcat"Somebody sent this through to me the other night. https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ev ... nd-of-2023 There aren't many left I'm sure one of the NRL sites generate a similar report, though I would imagine that its probably the same situation there now. I can see us strengthening more now, as the season progresses'" I'd be happy with Ben Nakubuwai and Luis Johnson.

I know not to take your snide remark literally but, out of interest, who was the last decent or otherwise player we actually sold on? Amor?

Well, depends how you look at it.

I agree we are not a fire sale selling club like we have been briefly which is brilliant and the result of a lot of hard work from a lot of people, but we are not a keep anyone we want club either.
I'm sure we'd have liked to keep some of the players leaving recently but they were offered better options, whether money or opportunity.

It was a bit of a procession of cashing in on virtually every decent player way back though, even when they wanted to stay. The clearance sale of the Wembley 79 squad was probably when the policy peaked, closely followed by Wrighty, Goddard, Maskill, Flynn and the like.

Oh absolutely. It was painful to watch some of those players play elsewhere.

Things going from bad to worse over at the giants with the sport and leisure centre giving 7 days notice of pulling out . Things really are in a pickle with councils at present all over the shop having to tighten their purse strings and drastically cut funding wherever they can . It goes on to say that the club leases the premises on a significant rental charge to the stadium . The football club are looking into the viability of opening the gym side themselves . With less rent coming into the coffers at the stadium, and the council already trying to offload their liabilities, it’s an ongoing problem that RL clubs who don’t own their own grounds are increasingly at the mercy of landlords who are feeling the pinch themselves . Let’s hope for RL sake that the likes of Salford and Hudds can come through these dilemmas relatively unscathed . Poor Ken with be raiding the kids piggy bank if this carries on

Hope Daryl Powell is lining up someone to challenge/cover Max.Sorry,much as I like him,Liam Kaye is not the answer.

Agree, Kay is a solid winger. He can cover 9 if needed. He didn’t work at 13 and he’s not a fullback.

In Shelton’s injury today he said that they will be more players coming in so let’s wait and see.

It’s important certain players step up this year like Croft, Shaw, Bain, Boothroyd. These lads will have big contributions to make over the season.

Certainly hope some more quality comes through the door before we start our campaign ,as some tough games are ahead and all will be looking to take our scalp as a momento

I agree with all above. Think we’re still short of that bit of quality that will be the difference between us being a good team and the one we all want to see.

Not a rumour more of an observation, but Brandon Pickersgill been released by Halifax.

Can play fullback and stand off would provide good squad depth.

Maybe, but isn't that kind of what we've already done with Lawford? We also have the Wigan DR. You may be right, and I don't want to dismiss a player, but I would be hoping for better.

Think Pickersgill would be a solid signing at this level, he’s not SL proven but more than Championship proven. Would provide excellent competition and depth at 1 which we don’t have.

Gone to Keighley anyway

Think we got to look higher than championship players that have been let go by other clubs , That is all we have done for the last four year ,get players that have been let go in the S L or Championship ,and that is why we are were we are There let go for a reason .

There’s not much left in SL - perhaps only Luis Johnson, Daniel Hill or Silva available. They’re all I’d say not proven SL players.

If we want SL quality and above then we are likely looking overseas for it.

Johnson training for free with Cas and in talks with a SL club and Champ club - I'd guess Cas and us.

I'd say a 2 year deal with us is better than a 3 year deal with Cas.

Cas will be out of SL in 2025.

By the time the season ends in 2024, botj Ashurst and Pitts will be almost 35, with Griffin not far behind. Who's to say these are going to continue beyond 2024, and do we have any up and coming back rowers ready to step up.

To me, if the deal was right for us, I'd take him, and at 24, just about reaching his prime

Yes, exactly, agreed.

Signed for Cas apparently.... https://www.totalrl.com/castleford-tige ... s-johnson/

Signed for Cas apparently.... https://www.totalrl.com/castleford-tige ... s-johnson/

IMO I'd be wanting someone a bit better quality if we get back to SL in 2025 than Johnson, especially to replace the likes of Ashurst and Pitts. That's if we've got genuine ambition to make waves in SL if we get there. I know he's 24 but that's still old enough to have nailed down a starting spot at a SL club if your good enough by now, not getting loaned out and then sold to Cas and I'm not saying this because he's gone there, there was always a good chance that's where he'd end up since he was there for a spell last season. No doubt he'd have done a job for us this next season but long term I don't see it.

Yes I agree.
Signing someone for this year and signing someone for 2025 is very different.

Powell mentioned this too. He implied they are agreeing with some players for 1, some for more than and some to start 2025.

Yes, I worry about Johnson failing to hold down a spot anywhere he's been.

Won't Powell know all about from the Warrington days?

Hard to tell, they werent at Warrington at the same time

No, a season and a bit between them, but he won't be unknown to Powell, is what I mean.

I remain concerned that no club has taken a liking to him / vice versa.