The club can afford it, or to be more precise SM can. And we are currently hunting a half in Oz I understand. What bemuses me though is this; SM likes long term planning, yet even though Briers left early, we have not recruited a ringmaster since he left in 2013. And whilst we wait for ' the chosen one', other problems have arisen - we are short of at least one good quality prop (preferably two) atm. We have had some good youngsters coming through, some of whom will make it, others who will fail, but they need to be supplemented by high quality signings and I think that is where we have not maintained the standards of a top 4 club.

To be fair - lots of people on these boards were saying that O'Brien, & latterly Patton, was the answer to the problem, and given suitable youth development set up, they should have been.

i thought ellis had fit in quite well alongside brough this year. Better than what you've had since Brown left.

It's so frustrating currently because as bad as we are playing, a class half would make all the difference. There is talk of the cronk deal being done, apparently he was set to come last year but that got delayed hence the o'brien to Bradford U-turn.

I hope it's true, we need someone of his calibre. If the club came out and said we have signed him, I could say fair enough this season hasn't been good enough but they have rectified the main problem for the following year and I could probably accept that.

The thought of us not signing a top half back for next season is horrifying.

he was good yesterday but he's been on and off really, same with wood, both decent half backs in their own right but not quite good enough to lead us around like broughy does.

i'm sure i read earlier on in the season that o'brien was the next big thing and that he would come good, then he was out of the picture, and patton was going to be the next big thing and the future?

No. No one has ever said OBrien or Patton were the next big thing.

Many were hoping OBrien could offer a gap fill but be can't even do that at this level. That's clear now.

In Patton, still too early to tell, but compare him with George Williams at Wigan and already you know hes not as good.

I've supported Rovers all my life and those players won nothing as yet. We are happy to be happy to being part of the super league. Given your recent success sometimes a little patience doesn't go amiss.

Being without a quality half in 2014 was understandable, Briers had to retire through injury due to his neck problems. Like you I'm hoping they have someone special lined up for 2016 and decided to hold off recruiting a half for 2015 to ensure we got the better player in the long run. If we are still without a half in 2016 it wont bear thinking about.

i'm not entirely sold on this halfback being the answer meme if i'm honest.

I remember an old "Programme Note" of Brian Johnson's, from the night of the LCC SF against the Wids in 89 (what a game), in which he says
"I don't use injuries as an excuse. They are a fact of life", and these were the days when teams regularly played Sunday/Wednesday throughout the season, as we had a 16 team league, LCC, Regal Trophy, CC and Premiership (all with replays if needed), as well as a fuller International programme.

Me thinks TS is getting his excuses in early. Quick turn rounds do hinder, but can also work to your advantage. That's the way the mop flops. This week's hinders. I'm sure we've benefitted MANY times when playing on a Friday, and our next game is the following Sunday (or even Monday, a year or two ago).

I'm afraid this week, we have to "suck it".

Fair point Rover but on the other hand a bit of success dulls the appetite to be patient. I was going to use "hungry like a wolf" in my summation but thought that a better line to describe our current situation might be "if I hadn't seen such riches I could live with being poor"

Yes we've had our dark times but we've had it good recently and we want some more thanks.....I'll get my coat

FMC - I think you're partially right. But if i had to make one signing it would be a real quality half.

I was reading the article about Lineham's signing in your Warr Guardian at work today.
Saying that J Monas is staying too giving you SIX wingers ????
And you wonder why you are deficient in other areas - can't remember exactly who the 6 were - Lineham, Monas, Ormsby , Penny , not sure if Russell was one but I wouldn't say he was a winger.

At Saints this year we have Makinson and Swift , but if one gets hurt you can carry an average winger (ie. Dawson).
You're also carrying a couple of dead wood halfbacks - Myler and Wheeler.
It's no surprise your interchange looks quite weak carrying all that - get a couple of injuries and you're really screwed (unless it's a winger).

So we share some common ground then even if you won't admit to it.
I'm not one of the "we need a hb" posters, for me we already have them, although I'd take one if he came along, my call has always been for a quality prop. For the last 2 years I've harped on about that, although may have been wrong......

....perhaps we need two?

Personal view for 2016
-------------------------
1. Gidley - hopefully solves issue at fb
2. Monas - safe and sound
3. NEED RIGHT CENTRE
4. Atkins - can still do a job for us
5. Lineham - bags of potential but worry if play outside Atkins
6. Ratchford - has to be an elusive, free roam 6
7. NEED SCRUM HALF
8. Hill - irreplaceable
9. Clark - hope and pray comes good in '16
10. Sims - no issues
11. Currie - no issues
12. NEED SRFWD - BW to interchange reduce minutes
13. Grix - hope to god he comes back the player we know

14. Dwyer - looking for a good '16
15. NEED PROP INTERCHANGE
16. NEED PROP INTERCHANGE
17. Westwood

Reserves
18. B Evans
19. J Philbin
20. G King
21. T King
22. D Patton
23. M Russell
24. G Ormsby
25. R Evans

Out
-------
Bridge
Harrison
England
Asotasi
Penny
Myler
Laithwaite

If you get Cooper Cronk you have your halfback.Probably 33 year old by the time he arrives..I don't think he's your answer.

Atkins can still do a job for us?? Yeah the bogs needs scrubbing after match day,,

It's not just a few player made scape goats,, there is something wrong with the whole squad,, no bottle and no heart,, not willing to roll sleeves up and grind out a win,,

Last year we weren't far off, with additions of Clark Simms Dwyer back, we still should be there or there abouts,,

Smith and agar have not been good,, since agar arrived, willy left, the fight pride and battle has left 99% of the players,, the next 4 weeks, agar and smith are on thin ice,,,

You'd get rid of Harrison? Thought he was our best player on Sunday.....

Personally I would yes. He's too slow in my opinion to play anywhere but prop, and I don't think he's good enough for that. He does have his qualities I grant you, but it's just my opinion

It is very noticeable when Harrison is not on the pitch. We miss his physical presence and work rate. One of our best defenders for sure.

I know Smith says Gidley will be FB, and know he 'Was' a good FB

Have watched the last 7 Newcastle games and Gidley has been 6 or 7

You can tell what the extent of our injury crisis is by the amount of times Eddie Hemmings mentions it on Friday. If he barely mentions it, then it's not a crisis and we just have to carry on regardless. If it's mentioned every 5-10 minutes, then we know it's a proper crisis and up in the bracket with Wigan or his beloved Saints whenever they have injuries.

I think the squad was missing managed leading into this season. In particular the pack. As far back as last July we knew GRIX would be missing for the first 20 rounds of this year. And then to not even attempt to replace Paul Wood made things worse. Throw in players with injury records like Ben Evans and the Asotasi factor and ypu know players like Hill, Sims,Currie will have to do big minutes and won't be rested. The annoying thing is that there were players available to cover the gaps.

Monaghan and lineham won't both be wings. None of them are going to start playing on the left when they are both right wingers.