Who would you play at stand off then? Or more to the point who was available and would have signed?

After watching last night we are not the only club who need 2 halfbacks Leeds have the pack to match anyone and the pace in the centre and wings but they have nothing special in the halves or fullback for that matter

There's little doubt that Warringtons big forwards out-muscled our guys on Sunday. Carvell is a great prop and he had the likes of Wood and Hill alonside him, thankfully Morley was missing. Amor was good, gave his all and he did make yards, as did Raleigh. Johnson was better then I have seen him this season but his progress forward was quickly halted.
As for the half backs, probably they are behind a beaten pack week after week and it must be hard to be creative on that basis but how I wish we could find another Toppo or Poynton, somebody who could break the opposition line! I don't know if this kind of thing is coached out of them or we just don't find that calibre of player. Astute passing is great if you have a player in the right place at the right time and travelling with purpose. To pass to a player as our halves do rarely creates anything and is frankly predictive and boring!
Some talk of the old days prior to the great SL being boring but there was more artistry and creativity then than there is now!

It worked with Henry Paul - sadly I can't see it in this case.

We didn't initially dole out a three year contract for Paul, you just don't for 'projects' in case they don't work. Thats why I don't believe that John was bought as a project but as a genuine key first team player. Its just a case of he ain't shown any signs of being good enough. I hope he settles quickly and improves to a point he can be spoke about in the same breath as Henry Paul but right now I have serious doubts about that.

If anything with a one year deal, and given his past issues, Tim Smith is the project as if it doesn't work then its goodbye at the end of the season with no pay off required.

McGoldrick to you guys next year is the one doing the rounds in Tigertown. He could replace John maybe ? I know Ryan is stopping in the area - he has just bought a business near Sherburn. I cannot see us re-newing his contract.

I think it would be worth trying Mathers at stand off.
He is proving to be an astute acquisition and to me always looks likely to to create something.
He is also a good leader and certainly captain material.

Can't think of anything worse to be honest.

He is nothing but a thug and his ability to give away penalties would only be even more obvious in a Wakey shirt.
As much as I think Isaac John has yet to shine, he is still a much better option for us than McGoldrick.

I heard this get a mention on sunday, and it may well be worth a look!

Thanks for the offer, but i think if he has bought a business, he should spend his time making it a success!!

I have defended Issac previously and will continue to do so as it must be hard at his age to come half way around the world and start a new life. You cant blame him for taking up the opportunity. You can see there is definately talent there, maybe not to the Henry Paul standard but there is definately a player in him which I think is slowly beginning to show.

What I would also like to add to counter that is I think there is the same talent within this country, without having to fly them in.
Kyle Briggs at Fev springs to mind. Both are at similar levels I would suggest, difference being that one appears to be getting more of an opportunity in the top flight.

Surely nobody in Super League will touch Mcgoldrick once his Cas contract is up??? Solomona for a final year was one I heard on Sunday??

We had a good potential half back in Moore. He would be doing far better than these 2.

As RA told us on Thursday, some players have been told to work on their games or aspects of it, some have had to go out on loan/DR to do that, at his age he could do this in the reserves.
I have some sympathy for him too and like you i think there is some talent in the lad, but i think he could do more in a game than he is doing.

If RA told me it was 90 degrees outside i would still take my brolly!!!

I'm not suggesting i believed him, but they were his words in relation to certain players and their abilities.
Maybe he needs to be consistent??

...and you know that how. Tell me, who is this giant of a half back playing for right now?

It's not that I didn't rate him, but if he were as great as you suggest why is he not at another SL club - it's not like there is a surplus of HB's in the game????

I accept he may not be at a SL club, and i aren't suggesting for a NGB4C-minute that he is a super dooper half back mega star, but he has a kicking game which we are lacking and he had no less skill than is being shown presently.
A bad decision to let him go?

If i told you it was 90 degrees outside, would you at least go and look??? because it is bloody warm, even Mrs Tronc couldn't complain today!!!

There must have been somebody out there who could have been a cheaper option and one more likely to settle. Moore for starters is the obvious suggestion. I find it frustrating that we have given john 3 years to try and prove his worth - something that we seem to do regularly for imports, yet the domestic lads who we have we dont afford anywhere near as much time to get up to speed. We seem to give them a handful of games and then ship them out, when obviously we give the imports much, much more time to get there.

I'm not saying Moore is the answer, and its easy to be wise after the event but surely the fact that he doesnt have to move half way round the world into an alien culture and climate as a young man means he already has a head start on the likes of John & Smith?

And by the same token as the last point, John wouldn't have been available if he was any good.

Would rather have Washbrook at 6 than Mcgoldrick. Would be tempted to put him there on Saturday.

No need.................im sat in it.The joys of working from home!!!!

Would rather have me at 6 than mcgoldrick

I would be deeply disappointed if we sign McGoldrick - hopefully it's just a bit of wishful thinking on behalf of some Cas fans.

What happened to Kyle Briggs SL career? I recall he was at Bradford but don't remember seeing enough of him to judge how he went at that level - or not.

Looks good at Fev, which I realise is no guarantee of doing the same at SL, but it's a decent start.

If the some total of our ambition is Ryan Mcgoldrick then next season will be taking place without me in attendance thats for sure. We have enough ageing or overated overseas players thanks and he is both of those things.

Hope the McGoldrick thing is just a rumour. Don't want him i our club.