For me Bain is the obvious one in danger, he has missed a lot of games.already, there's also the unknown of how his leg will react once he starts playing, even full contact training isn't the same as game play. I like Boothroyd he seems to have a great ability to read the game, especially in defence, he gets himself into the right place quickly, he has good lateral movement, carries the ball hard, has decent hands for a forward. Don't get the criticism of Vagana at all, he has been good for us, has a high work rate in both and defence, carries the ball well, ties in 3 or 4 defenders with every carry, difficult to put to ground and gives us a quick play of the ball. He is not the finished article y any means but has lots of potential

Apparently we have signed Jack Brown for next season, looks like another player with lots of potential, carries the ball really well, just needs to clean up his discipline.

As observed, Uele has gained an extension - signed on till end of 2025, DP, is well pleased & says more future years, I do however hope Vagana improves but he has to improve some way !

tbh, not sure which Vagana you're watching....

Vagana was always signed for the next season. I haven't a clue what you're watching but it's the opposite of my thoughts on the guy. He's only 23, has had no pre season, is huge and will grow even more and already causes teams huge problems when he's attacking and you're basically slagging him off.


I've said from almost his first game how impressed I've been, especially as he fell off a plane and started playing for us, no pre-season or anything, which is why DP will not want to push him too much from the start.
The more games he's played, especially at Prop the better he's gone IMO and done a decent job in the back row when we've been short. It was only a few games ago he was most people's Motm, I can't remember the game.
His ceiling is very high IMO. As I said he's only 23, so very young for a prop, and he already causes chaos down the middle, with the opposition defenders usually taking 3 or 4 to bring him down and he just about always gets a quick play of the ball off the back of his drives. Another year of physical development, as well as improvements in his own game and he will be an absolute menace even at SL level.
All you have to do is look at Atoni even though he's in his prime at 28, average last year, he's got fitter and more confident and he's like a new player for us.

Vagana is already signed up for 2025. Not sure what Vagana you’ve been watching but he’s been very good at prop and when asked to play at SR out of position turned in solid performances. I feel if a player doesn’t play for a few games some fans seem to forget how well they actually played.

Vagana has huge potential along with our other props. For Vagana specifically if he works to add to his frame he could be an absolute monster in a few short years. The conditioner at Trinity seems to have them firing and fit short term but will be good to see long term how the players bodies develop.

In discussion for those at risk. There are two imo - but it is far too early to tell at all and so much rugby to be played. The two are Lino and Bain (only because we haven’t seen him yet).

If the Brown rumour is true then that’s another prop/13 for next season.

Second row is the area for me we really need to sign quality in with Pitts, Ashurst and Griffin all end of their careers and off contract.

If I had a list of players out of contract I’d be looking at the below for 2025 (domestic) :

Backs

Matthieu (Centre) Catalans - in the few games I’ve seen he looks like a pretty good centre.

Can Scott (Centre) - seem to remember him playing well vs us and could be a good centre option.

Tom Johnstone (Wing) - be an excellent player to have back.

Hampshire (Fb/wing/halfback) - impressed with how he’s transitioned to halfback and looked solid in Wigan game I watched last week. Played well in reserves grand final 2023 too.

Forwards

Sam Hewitt (right second row) Hudds - though he looked solid on the loan in a team performing poor. Only just 25 and probably going to hit his best in next few years.

Oli Holmes (second row) Leigh - will be 32 next year but he could be a decent pickup for short term. Could add to a potent left edge.

Mike Mckmeekin (prop/second row) - would be a good pick up and a very good forward consistently when watching him for Catalans.

Jack Brown (Prop/loose) - as rumoured. Don’t know much about him but A fair amount of fc fans seem to rate him.

Does anyone know if there’s any young academy lads who are possibly looking like they could step up next season to the first team? I have t watched them this season.

A lot of the new signings have been targeted as project signings.

They are players in the main who have not been in a full time environment and much will friend in how they adapt to that and improve from being full time.

Uele has clearly shown enough, Vagana is still very young and will need to add to his frame this year for him to be ready for SL.

Bain and Boothroyd were always coming in as back up players with a view to seeing if they can step up as we transition away from the older established secondrow forwards.

Matty Russell a target apparently but journos might be putting 2 and two together with Powell signing him for Warrington. Guess Olly Holmes will be nailed on then?

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... r-29081530 Not for me, too many flaws in his game

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... r-29081530 Not for me, too many flaws in his game

I've always liked Russel, he's deceptively strong and has a lot of pace but he's one of those, a bit like Eden, one minutes he's fantastic, next he's dropping the ball 5 metres from his own line, the Wakefield of old couldn't afford to have a player like that in the team but for me it depends on how the rest of the team looks and the brand of rugby we play.

Can cover wing and fullback.

He’s another money ball type signing gets his team on the front foot.

I don’t think if he comes he’s coming as a starting player but useful squad player but to be honest I’d be hoping for better.

As Homme says he is prone to the odd error and sometimes has hands like cows udders also got a brain fart in him.

He would be a good addition for this season in The Championship. However if we get SL next year, I would hope our ambitions are higher

Boothroyd could turn into a promising SL second row player but his injury will limit his development and think next year Trinity will need his quota spot for an NRL standard genuine stand off.

There's Bain still though isn't there. He hasn't played a game yet, so when he does come back, he will have to look good, which will be hard after the amount of time off he's had. It'll be interesting to see what DP does with those 2 because IMO Bothroyd has had a chance to show that he's a decent player for us before his injury.

Bain signed for 2 years so is here by all accounts for next season. Hopefully he shows up well.

Probably just a random SARL post but the Lachlan Llias has asked for a release from his club with them signing Dodd.

If there’s a quality halfback available we should probably keep an eye out.

I do like the look of Boothroyd and he is certainly a very solid player. We are stacked at prop but he may get some more opportunities in second row when he’s fit.

Hopefully we get to see Bain soon and see what he’s about and what he can offer the team.

Why would we need his spot for a stand off. More than likely Russell is replacing luke gale so unless Lino leaves we ain't bringing in another quota player as a half.

We have 3 half back plus Gale if he goes round again. Jowitt can also play half and Russel (Matty) could go to full back.

All those things 'can' happen. But if we really want to be top half of Super League we need to be looking for a top half of super league half back. Not a fullback who 'can' play stand off or a 36 year old.

Agree our 6 and 9 are way past S L If we come up against teams in the Championship with a 6,7 or 9 with pace they struggle

Suspect Powell will go with Lino and Russell in SL, barring a leftfield signing like Abdull. Powell himself admits Gale won't play quite a few games this year just for preservation, and while that's smart it's not viable in Super League (and not great value). And I'd be amazed if we cut Lino's contract to make space.

Jowitt's a good half but a brilliant fullback - wouldn't play him at half unless we're decimated by injury, would sooner play Lawford, Brough or even Kay there. The idea of playing Matty Russell at fullback is madness. The days of wingers dropping to fullback is coming to an end. Totally different skillset. Your fullback should be your most skilful player with ball in hand, able to dig into the line and select the smart pass. I've never seen Matty Russell throw a good pass.

Russell started his career as a fullback and played plenty of games there.

He knows the position so that’s not a concern for me.

The issue with Russell is as you say his lack of passing game.

He’s an old school fullback. His strength is his carry and kick return, he is not a creative fullback in the more modern interpretation of the position.

He could cover there if needed same on the wing but he’s not a starter in either position for me if he signs.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... 5-29091409 Nothing we haven't already heard.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... 5-29091409 Nothing we haven't already heard.

I think Walmsley would do a better job as fullback cover. From what I have seen this season he has got a good rugby brain and can throw a nice pass and produce a good in field kick

Tbh, I can see us cutting Linos contract or offloading him some how to make room on the quota. We have the money to do it and he's already showed he's not up to scratch at SL level and if I'm honest I haven't been overly impressed with him in the championship either. It would be a big mistake to go into next season with Lino as our number 7 expecting to be in the top half of the table come the end of the season.