[quote="jonh":2qr1ruu3]Wouldn’t take Bullock or Sangare both very average players who don’t offer anything we don’t already have. Watkins should be our top target in my opinion. Would have loved Sneyd but we have 3 halves now. Lafai or MacDonald improve our centre options massively.[/quote:2qr1ruu3] You don`t think Bullock would be better cover at this point than Shaw or Cozza at prop? If you look outside outside what are deemed to be our 4 props in Rodwell, Atoni, Mckmeekan and Uele, you start to get into using our "Middles" who are OK as a cover option, but I would assume there will be plenty of times throughout the season when we don`t have 1 or 2 of those players. Sneyd, great player, but I think goes against what we are trying to build, he might make us better for a year, but at 34, you are then starting the spine over again next year. Would take Watkins in a heartbeat, would give us some real punch in the second row.

With the Bain situation, I have a feeling that the club have someone signed that is currently overseas and the timing with Salford is just a bit of a coincidence. I do though think we maybe in for Watkins.

[quote="Trojan Horse":1worapip]There are only a handful of Salford players who could improve us imo but this would be a grand opportunity to secure a target who could figure in the clubs short - med term plans. If they do become salary cap or quota exempt then that could open up the door for Ellis to strengthen short term for this and maybe next season. As I say though, I’d only entertain the short list of players who would challenge our starting 17. Stone, Watkins, Bullock, Sangare, macdonald are the only ones I’d entertain. In fact looking down their squad list it’s hard to believe how well they’ve done recent seasons. Sum more than individual parts.[/quote:1worapip] Always had a strong spine that had pace and skill

[quote="alegend":1li4u57w]Always had a strong spine that had pace and skill[/quote:1li4u57w] But looking at the spine I can’t see a single player I think improves us other than an ageing Sneyd. Nearly all are in twilight years.

[quote="homme vaste":1kcy5gya]With the Bain situation, I have a feeling that the club have someone signed that is currently overseas and the timing with Salford is just a bit of a coincidence. I do though think we maybe in for Watkins.[/quote:1kcy5gya] Totally agree I think Bain leaving will have been negotiated over a few weeks. I suspect we have a targeted player already sorted .

[quote="homme vaste":2p7qcuvj]With the Bain situation, I have a feeling that the club have someone signed that is currently overseas and the timing with Salford is just a bit of a coincidence. I do though think we maybe in for Watkins.[/quote:2p7qcuvj] Kallum Watkins is 34 in eight weeks time, a great professional player but passed his peak years,i thought we were looking to the future.

[quote="KevW60349":178b6kew]Kallum Watkins is 34 in eight weeks time, a great professional player but passed his peak years,i thought we were looking to the future.[/quote:178b6kew] Have to agree

[quote="KevW60349":2nd26l4l]Kallum Watkins is 34 in eight weeks time, a great professional player but passed his peak years,i thought we were looking to the future.[/quote:2nd26l4l] Just what I said when we signed Ali Lauititi...

Yeah, I wish Bain luck with where he ends up back in Aus, but there's no chance one of you're quota players should not be an automatic pick in your matchday 17 IMO, so it makes sense. Plus as others have said he struggled massively with his injury, who knows where he's been with that pre-season? Hopefully, we've got someone lined up to add to the prop rotation that's gonna cause a bit of excitement.

[quote="AgbriggAmbler":1r6vwcu3]Just what I said when we signed Ali Lauititi...[/quote:1r6vwcu3] Haha I'd have him back now

I’ve not got any info to go off, but I can’t help feeling the two things - Bain leaving and clubs voting down quota exemptions - are too big a coincidence. Might we be swooping for one of the overseas players other clubs had lined up - MacDonald or Lafai? Neither would be a very Ste Mills signing, but internationals that would walk into our backline and be a weapon for us. I like the overseas prop theories, but who’s around? Granted I’d never heard of Niketemo and it could be another lad like him who’s just been told they won’t be playing NRL this year.

[quote="Shifty Cat":2u0qd5ic]Yeah, I wish Bain luck with where he ends up back in Aus, but there's no chance one of you're quota players should not be an automatic pick in your matchday 17 IMO, so it makes sense. Plus as others have said he struggled massively with his injury, who knows where he's been with that pre-season? Hopefully, we've got someone lined up to add to the prop rotation that's gonna cause a bit of excitement.[/quote:2u0qd5ic] If you’re asking about his injury. He played Boxing Day and looked fine and mobile enough.

I was sure Bain came on against Leeds and did a few big hits in defence on Boxing Day? Ultimately need a genuine SL standard big prop who is in the top 17 of the squad not a quota who is a fringe player

Bain’s a good player but not likely to be a top flight star, which is where we’re aiming these days. Other lads who joined in his cohort - Uele, Rodwell, Vagana - all have potential to be top SL players. I’m not sure Bain did.

Any chance that we might be in for this guy? Only played a handful of NRL games for the Bulldogs last year and didn’t figure in the finals for them, finished the season in the NSW Cup Braden Hamlin-Uele

Caleb's brother... https://titansm.com.au/project/caleb-timia-uele/

Caleb's brother... https://titansm.com.au/project/caleb-timia-uele/

[quote="The Avenger":1dtie0pn]Any chance that we might be in for this guy? Only played a handful of NRL games for the Bulldogs last year and didn’t figure in the finals for them, finished the season in the NSW Cup Braden Hamlin-Uele[/quote:1dtie0pn] He plays for Sharks not Bulldogs, always a chance I guess as he's been out of favour for the past 12-18 months but he's on a big wage and I doubt we'd be able to compete with them. Plus I'm not sure a player going out of form etc is the one for us - who knows though...

[quote="Trojan Horse":bewy6bm1]If you’re asking about his injury. He played Boxing Day and looked fine and mobile enough.[/quote:bewy6bm1] I completely forgot that he played Boxing Day tbh, just thrashing a few ideas in my head as to why we waited till now to part ways. Must be simple as he's been told he won't be getting regular game time and we want our quota players to be in the 17,

This guy [img:f6t620gq]https://titansm.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Caleb-Uele-Pic-2.jpg[/img:f6t620gq] He's a big lad, bigger than Caleb. He's just turned 30 the other day. Without the connection to Caleb I'd say he was too good for SL and would get snapped up if offered around. This season, however, he's been impacted by injuries and he's received limited minutes in seven NRL games. He still played 12 games, 19 the season before. Just reading about him. He was one of the most damaging players in the game over the last couple of seasons, however he has struggled to reach those heights throughout 2024. Off-season knee surgery ensured he was on the backfoot from the season's outset and it's been a hard grind to catch up ever since. He also just had his first kid in November, so it might be a big ask of his wife to move here. Who knows, though? Maybe he fancies playing with their kid and seeing the land of his descendants. With us never landing the Fifita brothers, maybe the Hamlin-Uele's is our next goal. Good write up on the NRL site below about Braden- [url:f6t620gq]https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/07/26/puts-things-into-perspective-how-upcoming-birth-helped-hamlin-uele-through-dark-days/[/url:f6t620gq]

Tgought he went ok, but blighted by injuries. Would have liked to seen him get a chance playing at 13. Thanks for your efforts Luke, and all the best. A lot of talk about cashing in on Salford players, but who knows, could it be a smokescreen and we look to the NRL to fill his spot

So that's Boothroyd and Bain both deemed not good enough for SL. Right decision though imho.

[quote="Wollo-Wollo-Wollo-Wayoo":1iffu36w]So that's Boothroyd and Bain both deemed not good enough for SL. Right decision though imho.[/quote:1iffu36w] I think at 20 in his first open age season Boothroyd went well. He’s a player I believe after a season or two in the championship could definitely step up into SL. I think had it not been for the injury he may have had a chance to be this season.

[quote="Trojan Horse":32qzdlmf]I think at 20 in his first open age season Boothroyd went well. He’s a player I believe after a season or two in the championship could definitely step up into SL. I think had it not been for the injury he may have had a chance to be this season.[/quote:32qzdlmf] Boothroyd scored a brace of nice tries against Goole last night, and looked sharp.

[quote="Wollo-Wollo-Wollo-Wayoo":2k2a3ik0]So that's Boothroyd and Bain both deemed not good enough for SL. Right decision though imho.[/quote:2k2a3ik0] As I understood it there was no quota spot for Boothroyd? How do you know Bain is leaving because he's 'deemed not good enough?' I don't know how either could judged good enough for SL or not, on the playing time they had!

Ellis said it just wasn't the right time for Boothroyd with what we had in the team but they liked him and would like to bring him back one day.