Hughes is average, no argument here. But he’s also better than Holmes. He has been selected by GB, and was selected as captain of the same Knights squad that Holmes was a part of. He has experience of playing in big games, winning a GF, challenge cup and touring with GB.

Plus, he’s under contract. So we’re not replacing one “good pro” for another. We have got Hughes, and signing another similar player alongside.

Strange business if true, I just hope this isn’t a part of a wave of strange, average signings. I’ve said on other threads about Powell’s recruitment and the difficulty of working for a club with means as opposed to a plucky club that shops for bargains.

It's hard to criticise individual signings when it's likely that there will be significant turnover of the whole squad. Holmes, if he signs, might make perfect sense when the first 17 is named next season.

That was the same GB tour that Josh Jones was selected and Ben Currie wasn’t. Does that mean he’s a better player than Currie? Or Ash Handley is a better winger than Tom Johnstone/Regan Grace?

Who is under contract?

From what I have seen of Holmes (admittedly not a great deal) he seems to come with a better skill set in attack than Hughes. But another angle on his recruitment is that he will know exactly what Powell expects from him and the style of game. That should help the coach to hit the ground running when he moves over.

How's mitch clark getting on?

He’s not being picked and hasn’t looked very good when he has played. He wasn’t much cop for Cas though, unlike Holmes who is very good for them.

Whatever happens I’m not getting concerned over it. I’m gonna enjoy the ride this season with stars like Widdop Inglis and Clark, while we win the treble. It could be another 2 or 4 generations before we get to see a squad like this.
You can all debate about next season. I’ll don’t care too much.

It’s not big or clever to drink on a school night mate...

Duckie has predicted we will win a treble every year I think. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

The moment that Duckie admitted to putting money on Dec Patton to win the Man Of Steel award, was the moment that he gave up the right to be taken seriously on here....

i've had a look this morning, theres also someone on there that says they're surprised that we're being linked with him, he's not one our level signings, and has been injury prone/fitness issues up until the start of last season.

On form, yes Jones was better than Currie in that year. Significantly so, and his team got to the Grand Final. Whereas we finished 4th in a two horse race. So yes, based on the impact of each of them in that season, Jones was better than Currie.

Currie has since developed back towards the player we know he can be, and Jones has faltered at two different clubs.

This isn’t necessarily comparable to the Hughes Holmes discussion. Neither have has outstanding seasons, neither have had particularly dreadful seasons, neither have had/had to recuperate from a significant injury and neither have changed clubs on recent years. They have both plodded along in the same team churning out the same performances.

Re: Johnstone, I don’t know what his year looked like in 2019, but it’s safe to assume he missed a large part due to injury. Making his selection for GB unlikely. Grace in 2019 was, in my opinion, unlucky not to tour. He was in the back up squad of I remember correctly. However Handley had an exceptional year and was probably preferred due to his more robust physique.

And Jack Hughes is under contract. My point was we have one of these style players, who is already under scrutiny for his contribution to the team. Would another one add a significant attacking threat to our team?

Holmes will be a replacement for Jason Clark. Whether that means we're going to move Hughes to 13 I do not no however I know if it was me moaning about signing a 28 year old workhorse on a free who's been on fire this season to replace the mighty Jason Clark I'd be hung, drawn and quartered by some on here.

We paid Tyrone Roberts 300k a year a few years ago. There is literally no risk to this signing, lets all relax.

Of course, Ducky has gone a bit over the top but I do have some sympathy for his basic message. We have to enjoy this season as you never know what is round the corner.

https://twitter.com/AaronBower/status/1 ... 01249?s=19 https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... ngId%7E%7D

https://twitter.com/AaronBower/status/1 ... 01249?s=19 https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... ngId%7E%7D

Quote ="karetaker"https://twitter.com/AaronBower/status/1393165182722101249?s=19 https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... ngId%7E%7D'" Castleford need to convince Truman to sign a contract extension with them (IF they can), otherwise he will leave on a freeby at the end of next season. With the money they can get get for him currently then it makes their decision very difficult i.e Damned if they sell and damned if they don`t.

Quote ="karetaker"https://twitter.com/AaronBower/status/1393165182722101249?s=19 https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... ngId%7E%7D'" Castleford need to convince Truman to sign a contract extension with them (IF they can), otherwise he will leave on a freeby at the end of next season. With the money they can get get for him currently then it makes their decision very difficult i.e Damned if they sell and damned if they don`t.

Aside from turning down the offers they must surely be talking to him about extending. If that was going well there would of been some news by now me thinks. But like you said dammed if they do dammed if they don’t, as hard is it for them not lose him they must cash in I guess the good thing is another club is also interested so the fee can only go up.

2022 centres - Peter Matautia and Keenan Brand.

Wow, honestly I can't see how we won't win the lot in 2022! Meanwhile saints will have the best 2 centres in the league IMO if they sign King.

Honestly, I may as well just become a saints fan, in fact the very first saints fan with the correct number of toes, fingers and thumbs if they sign King! I still wouldn't bother with redvee though, like a whole flock of rubber duckies on there!

Although my attempts at guessing scores shows I know nowt, I’m still willing to bet that at least one of those will not be a first choice centre for us next season (fingers and everything else crossed).

I don't think you can rule out Ratchford playing Centre if we keep Ashton.

Barry Peters and Andy Currier would be more of a threat.

Steady! You could join Winslade and I on our Wish You Were Here inspired Sud de France road trip.

Mamo going to Cas

[urlhttps://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/castleford-tigers-jake-mamo-warrington-20633968.amp?utm_source=leeds_live_newsletter&utm_campaign=rugby_league_lve_newsletter&utm_medium=email&__twitter_impression=true[/url

We've seen quite a bit of movement since the last post on this thread. Players still not extended:

Greg Inglis - Suely going
Tom Lineham - Going (according to that MEN article)
Blake Austin - Surely going
Chris Hill - Huddersfield rumours - played well this season, I'd extend.
Jason Clark - Surely going
Jake Mamo - Cas rumours - One of our better players this season, hope he stays.
Sitaleki Akauola - Surely going
Danny Walker - Need to keep him, still only 21
Samy Kibula - Surely going
Matty Ashton - Injury cloud but a short-term deal makes sense
Nathan Roebuck - Good potential, surely extend.
Riley Dean - As above
Eribe Doro - As above

As it stands, we'll need a new half (hopefully Williams), a winger, and at least one prop if Hill goes. We'd need some squad players too but maybe we can give academy players a chance for a change.