Oh and btw, Matty Russell is a fullback by trade, I remember watching him play in the Wigan youth team, I think it's only through lack of opportunity that he ended up on the wing and it stuck like many players.

While I get what you’re saying the right thing to say was that he was a full back by trade in his early days. He’s very much a winger and stuck like you say. Perhaps he could fill in the odd game at fb if needed.

He last played full back in 2017 a couple of games but did play a string of games prior years at FB.

The full back role has massively changed and evolved now into my opinion the singular most important role in the sport.

It’s such a more attacking position now that is critical to plays and requires such a diverse skill set. I’m glad we have Jowitt who over the next 5-7 years is going to start hitting his best years 28-33 or so imo for full backs.

I still believe Jowitt in a couple of years could be running out for England. He won’t be far off. Other than Welsby there’s not much competition.

Player announcement imminent?

Mckmeeken 4 year deal

Anything in the Hardaker to Wakefield rumours?

sincerely hope not

It always comes around every time he's out of contract.
Good player on his day but way too much baggage.
Powell has been burned by him so I doubt he's coming here.

Oh go on, you know you want to sign him. We'll throw in Ben Nakubuwai as well, in fact, I can drive them over myself!

A player with his skill set YES
Him NO!

Looking at who we have signed up we look to have 15-17 signed. There will likely be anywhere between 10-13 players to be announced over coming weeks/months.

Very interested to see who but there are a few positions we do need quality in.

I expect Mckmeeken to play second row where he’s played 200 games and returned back to SR this season. Luckily a position we need to find quality in.

Looking at who we have signed up we look to have 15-17 signed. There will likely be anywhere between 10-13 players to be announced over coming weeks/months.

Very interested to see who but there are a few positions we do need quality in.

I expect Mckmeeken to play second row where he’s played 200 games and returned back to SR this season. Luckily a position we need to find quality in.

Unpopular opinion but Hardaker would be a good signing for his rugby ability. He’s a good centre. He’s back end of his career and the leash would have to be tight though. I’d be fine if Powell thinks he’s worth it, I’d also be fine if not. It would be a very short term signing though and I’d be as happy to keep Thornley another season who’s a model pro.

Funny how we all see things differently .
I would leave McMeeken at prop and I wouldnt touch Hardaker with the proverbial barge pole. Just the type of player we dont want at the club.

We all see things differently- I would leave McMeeken at prop and I wouldn't touch Hardaker with the proverbial barge pole.
He's just the type of player we dont want in the squad.

I agree. All the games I've seen McMeekan play this season where he's been the best forward on the field have been at prop.

Hardaker has skills there is no doubt, but we are building a team and Hardaker is a team spirit killer. Powell knows him well though so I'm sure he'll make a good decision.

I’ve watched a few Catalans games this season where Mckmeekem has played very well at second row such as vs hull kr, Warrington and hull fc. He also looked amongst their best players against Wigan at SR despite the loss.

He’s obviously good at SR or prop but far more experienced at SR with 200 games there out of his 250 and we massively need some second rowers for next season which is why I put him there. That may change but as it stands we have 0 second rowers signed for next season other than Mckmeeken.

I have confidence in the coaching set up to make the right decision but I’m excited as I think he’s a quality player.

With Hardaker like I say he’s a good player on the pitch and would offer the cover at full back too if needed but that’s one for Powell to answer as a lot has been made about having a professional environment.

Areas we need to improve for SL, 2, 3, 4, possibly 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13.

I don't imagine Ashurst and Pitts will be around, we need better than Lino, Gale will retire, McGillivary will retire. Hood is OK at this level but we need better for SL. Doyle/Smith may get there but their not at the level needed yet. Prop is the only position where we're well, I reckoned they would compete in SL too.

Looks like we're well on the way with recruitment for next season. This is how I have us looking for next season, with a few of the rumours thrown in.

Full Back - Jowitt
Wing - Walsmley (Johnstone, Matty Russell)
Centre - Pratt (Cam Scott)
Halves - Lino, Lawford (Oliver Russell)
Props/Loose - Atoni, Uele, Vagana, McMeeken, Rodwell, Cozza, Bain
Hooker - Smith (Doyle)
Second Row - Boothroyd (Storton, Griffin)

Then there's Isaac Shaw, Noah Booth and Joe Law in or around the squad but I'm not sure where we're at in terms of contacts.

We need some full back cover and a quality centre in my opinion, and Hardaker would provide both but whether we'd want him or not is a different matter. I'd like another half but looks unlikely with Lino still having two years left. Pack doesn't look too far off, maybe another prop/second row and a decent hooker to go with Doyle and Smith.

Boothroyd I don’t think will be here as over quota. I’m not sure Griffin will be either.

For the full back and half cover I’d look no further than Hampshire. Offers cover wing too so would really drive competition for places as he’s improved as a half from watching his recent Wigan games.

I think Hood looks fitter and better this year and if there’s a lack of good 9s available I think another year would be okay while we look or Doyle/Smith progress further.

That list needs a lot of quality and cover adding. I’m really looking forward to seeing who we sign. I’d be happy with Storton as I rate him. Would be happy to see Mckmeeken and Storton in our second row next season.

Think the props will be Rodwell, Atoni, Uele and Vagana with Bain/Cozza rotating at 13. Still think we need a prop or two to replace Bowden and maybe Shaw if they’re going.

My problem areas in that team us half back and hooker. I like all the players but none of them are dominant players who will run the team.
It needs a player like Jackson Hastings when he came over who can dominate a game.

I think we need a better 9 than Hood. I don't think Cozza is SL quality either, certainly not for the first 17.

Jack Brown was rumoured I think, well he's cut Trinity out and gone straight to HKR with Aydin going the other way permanently.

He's a KR lad originally, played his junior days at east hull, his mum is a massive KR fan. He came through the system when KR & FC had a joint academy and then FC were allowed to pick the best out of it first before it splitting. His mum will be very pleased he's back a robin

I tend to agree with a lot of the comments on here we can all see where the team isn’t as strong as we’d like but it takes time to build a successful team. It’s not just a question of buying random players however good and expecting to win the league. Up until the current season look at the money spent and league placings of hull. It’s nice to dream but suspect the names signed and names mentioned already take as a long way towards our budget. Hood and Doyle wouldn’t be my first choice hookers in sl but another year with hood to allow smith to develop wouldn’t be end of world. Realistically there isn’t much uk quality out there and available. It’s clear that as it stands Russel and Lino will be our starting halves. Storton at loose and our pack is pretty much sorted.

Cant say I care for hard acre or his track record but he would provide good cover at full back and centre, equally wouldn’t be disappointed. With hard acre an injury in the halves would allow a reshuffle with max or with Hampshire a straight swap into the halves.

Sounds like we’ve signed a centre from hull, the one player that’s really hard to call is walmsley - great eye for a try, couple of great try savers but reallly needs to beef up/improve his running out of defence.

Its all very exciting

Storton is a second row who can cover prop. He’s not a loose and we have Bain and Cozza for Loose with Rodwell I suppose if needed.

I would be very happy with Storton.

We are in transition and it’s important we build over this next few years. As mentioned players like Hood could help with that transition and bridge the gap between some quality becoming available and our younger lads developing.

No point signing players for the sake of it or out of desperation if the club don’t see them as longer term. We may get a couple to bridge the gap. I’m perhaps there’s some deals to be done with contracted players. We may have a few unexpected players on the radar.

I look down the list though of available SL players and there’s not a whole lot of quality.

There’s some decent players though:

These are a few I hope we look at:

Matthieu leaguerre (centre)
Cam Scott (Centre)
Tom Johnstone (Wing)
Sam Hewitt (second row)
Marty Storton (second row)
Oliver Russell (Halfback)
Joe Cator (Loose forward)
Ryan Hampshire(halfback/fullback/wing)

Just don’t get the Hampshire connection …. Esp if we’re hoping to go forward in SL , he’s already been here and everywhere else for that matter !!!!