According to league express we have offered him a new contract that would make him our top earner

Do you think that is a good idea making a winger one of your top earners, look at Cas, have two solid wingers, but are made to look better because of the good players in the middle.

There are exceptions to the rule, with people like Fonua and Hall, but is BJB in that category, Johnstone could be another exception.

I also wonder is their has been any interest form us or is it just his agent doing his job to get the best deal for his client.

BJB is one of the (if not the) best finishers in the league, he can also create and finish his own tries from deep within his own half which the likes of Hall and Fonua can't do as they're simply not quick enough (Fonua was chased down the other week when he'd made an interception).

You haven't seen enough of Fonua if you think he can't create his own trys, Fonua although not as quick as BJB, is still quick and has gone the full length a few times, if you watch the try you talk about back, he seems to stumble on about 20 metres out. Fonua is superb in the air and as strong as a prop, his metres and tackle busts will be one of not the best in the league.

I wouldn't swap Fonua for many other wingers in Sl, unfortunately for us his form hasn't gone unnoticed and will probably cut short his stay and be playing in the NRl next year.

If you think spending a big chunck of the salary cap on a winger is a good decision then fair enough, I'd rather spend it on a more pivotal position.

I agree Dave, especially as we don't spend full cap as it is

IF BJB was to become Wakefield's top earner, it would open the door for all of our three quarters and maybe some others, to go knocking at Mr Carter's door wanting more money.
I like BJB and his finishing has been top drawer this season.
Having said that, Johnstone, Caton Brown and even Lyne (before his injury) have all been scoring some great tries and for clubs like Trinity, it has to be about more than just pound notes and we dont want any players holding the club to ransom (and I'm not saying that Bishop is doing this).
Playing every week in a successful side should be good enough for all but the very, very best players and after moving out of Headingley, due to lack of game time and away from Salford, you would hope that playing at TRinity would be a decent gig for most players.
Everyone at Trinity would want the lad to stay so, lets just hope this is a journo in need of something to write.

Also, it's just possible that the club knew that he may want out and perhaps that is why we signed MCB ??

I think this is true but at that time BJB was nothing special. He's recently hit a rich vein of form, hence the vultures are circling. This new contract may well be a long term deal that equates to a big cummulative sum rather than a record per season?

He really should have been tied up last season, didn't I see an interview last season on Trinity TV where the interviewer asked him whether he'd been made an offer by the club and he said he hadn't, his demeanor answering that question was notably lower, I remember thinking that at the time, mebbe his form was a little less settled at that time, I dunno...can't remember, anyway the cats out the bag now.

Looks like Justin Carney is on his way out at Salford.According to reports he is been offered to other SL clubs. Wonder if Hull FC will still be interested, as he was targeted to sign for Hull before he went to Salford.

Sorry but no he shouldn't, your using hindsight now - last years he was generally pretty poor all season, you can't back date this seasons form.

Well that's just your assessment, pretty poor isn't going to get you a game tbf.
I thought he showed enough promise to at least get an offer, but there ya go, we're gonna pay for it now.

This is the million dollar question, do you offer a long term deal or take a risk on year by year?
Who's to say that if BJB accepts our 'mega' offer for say 3 years, that his form drops off and people will be saying with 'hindsight', that we should have spent the money elsewhere?
For what it's worth, I think we should be tying MCB up to a long term deal.

BJB is arguably one of the best wingers in the league and I think he was very unlucky not to get a call up for England. He's been in a rich vein of form for us this season so I'd say he's worth a new contract. It's very demoralising as a fan when every time we get a player that does welll they end up going to a bigger club. I appreciate it's only natural but at some point if we want to build a team capable of moving up the league then we have to find a way to retain our better players!

We ARE building a team.

We ARE moving up the table.

We ARE trying to tie our best players up to longer contracts.

However, all this has to be done within a budget. We can only offer so much money. Especially considering the crowds we're getting. If BJB choses to leave for more money, so be it.

Correct. I think we need to get past the old notion that we are a selling club. Surely the securing of youngsters like TJ and Batch shows we are not. But there are limits as to what we can afford. At 27 BJB is probably at his peak, I think people need to take that into account, there is a good chance he's going to slow down and pick up injuries in future - is he worth the risk.

For me it's a total NO if that means breaking the bank - sorry but for those making the fuss there is no way he is our marquee player not in a million years. Of those coming out of contract that I know of Fifita, Miller and a few others are much more priorities - I'd let BJB go in a heartbeat to keep Fifita, Ashurst, Finn, Wood, Arona and a few others because they are more important to the team. BJB is playing brilliantly no doubt but a lot of that is down to the work of others - thats always the case foe wingers.

i just don't think we are past being a selling club quite yet, it wasn't too long ago that Tautai signed made an instant impact that trotted off to Wigan. I'm a big fan of the group of players we have no, one or two further additions, and I think we could be up there challenging for honours. If BJB says no thanks Trinity I'm off to hull then fair enough, but for me the club need to be not only offering a competitive contract but selling a vision.
My problem is if BJB goes, then a big offer comes in for TJ, a few other players start looking elsewhere, then we're back at square one. It's a crucial off season on and off the field for the club and it will be interesting to see how it pans out!

It's only paper talk that he is getting the biggest offer.
I should think that as offers are there for Miller and Fifita they may well be big too.

We don't know the cost or the budget but assuming Carter will keep everyone in budget, we should keep BJB.
We haven't had a winger and try scorer like him in ages. Why would you want to lose him.

I'd go further, it sounds more like agent talk.

We didn't sell tautai? He was out of contract and went to Wigan for 20 grand more then we offered, plus the chance to play in a couple of big games....,

If Tautai got 20,000 more out of Wigan good luck to him. Valuations seem crazy and the off season must be a bit of a lottery. If so called bigger clubs want a player it's fair assumption that most will look at ££££.
It doesn't always follow that any player will be unable to continue good form with a new club and in quite a few cases don't even hold down a regular first team place.
I think it was a stand off called Casey who played for us in the old 1st division . We gained promotion but Salford had signed him , he only played a couple of games and ended up returning to Australia.
I have no idea what the wage bills at wakey but 20,000more seems crazy and while ever the attendances remain what they are keeping a squad together wil remain an up hill challenge.

I dunno about Tautai, when he was at Wakey I thought he was a player that could really make a difference, I was not happy when he left for Wigan, even though he hadn't pulled up too many trees and he was sidelined for what seemed like an eternity with some daft thumb injury, I thought Wigan had still spotted his talent and whipped him away.
Turns out at Wigan he's a good solid workhorse, he'd do his bit and more in any team, but he isn't the X factor I thought he might be.
I'm over Tautai...

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... -1-8556431

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... -1-8556431

Have it from a usually reliable source that he's agreed a contract extension with us, hope it is true!

MC said yesterday he was filming for Trinity TV. Fingers crossed. Keegan Hirst next for me.

Me too, so fingers crossed.