Bailey has more genuine 'Big Game' experience than anyone else in the Wire squad, and possibly more than any other prop in SL. If his contribution on the pitch is up to standard then that experience, if he is able help other squad members when the huge games come around, is invaluable and can't be ignored.

He was capped 8 times under tony smith, and looks to be regaining some form under him
At only 31 he looks like he could end up being a smart signing, which is a bit embarrassing for those calling for TS to be sacked following the announcement


BTW if you win the GF this year he will go joint second for all time SL titles, only JP a head of him

Anyone calling time on TS wasn't calling it for signing Bailey IIRC other opinions of should he stay or go were afoot so no embarrassment on here unlike on your own board which was in sack the coach meltdown prior to him winning the treble and in fact previous to that when your trophy cabinet was hardly bare?

The Bailey question was simply can he do it will he disrupt things/be more trouble than he's worth

I was against the Bailey signing because I thought he would be far more trouble than he was worth - this is from someone who has never met or spoken to the guy but seen some of his dumb-ass thuggish tactics on the pitch - usually involving smaller players (Like Riley in the CC final).
His last couple of years have hardly been at the required level.
Clearly TS knows him far better and along with putting him on a 'claused' contract, got his achilles sorted, and now we're seeing the benefits.
Ok - only 2 matches so far but he's put in a decent stint in both.
One alleged off the field brain fart which I'm sure TS had a word about, so keep up these performances and we'll reap the benefit. (Big ask to go from 1 sub appearance to a starting prop appearance putting in decent minutes (my guess - not fact)

I suspect a decision has not been made yet. It may depend on whether Dodds recovers and shows some form and whether Ben Harrison recovers.

Fantastic signing!!

It's a tough call who will leave next year I thing Evans and another will be gone.


Baily has played well and looking committed and giving effort

Cox I like him runs real hard and gives 100% when on pitch.

Dodds not seen enough to make real judgment, what I did see is people stop dead in their tracks when running into him!!

In.an ideal world we could keep them all!!

For me the big thing is whether Ben Harrison can get fit again and whether James Laithwaite can get back to full fitness after a horrendous injury. If not, then the only person I expect to leave is Dodds.

I'd agree with that, unlucky for both of them but we're covered in their positions. I'd rather have Cox and Bailey, if Dodds can get through to the end of the season after this return then him too.