It's an issue of cash. We took a risk on numbers and injuries. At the moment we're feeling it.

I keep hearing the dreaded two words: Darrell Griffin.

On the saints board in the run-up to this game they were bemoaning a surplus of props and suggesting they needed to rotate them to keep them match fit. Any spares we fancy?

Having watched Fev vs Sheffield on Thursday night, I didn't see anything to suggest that Gledhill or James would be the solution.

Singleton did absolutely nothing of merit whilst with us, so again, not really relevant.

Anakin is looking really solid - I'd like to see him in the prop rotation for the rest of this season; that will make clear if he's a genuine prospect at SL level, or not.

I agree with the general point though - we're at least one decent prop short and the recent injuries/discipline issues have served to highlight that. Given where we are though, I'm not sure we'd be in the market even if someone was available.

Matt James i believe left as he went regular first team action so it's hard to be critical of the club for that. I think Trout has been given the opportunity to prove himself but looks a couple of years away from being an out and out prop

I would hope that the release of John, Slater & Singleton plus the season long loan of Walshaw would mean there would be something in the pot for a signing if one was available, especially now with the sponsorship hole filled in. Unless we are more skint than we think.

The sponsorship hole has been filled but we don't know how much money we were shorted by France before they went belly up.

Out of the names mentioned Singleton was only here for a very short time and wouldn't have cost us hardly anything, Slater will have been on very little and we're still paying most of Walshaw's wages, so the only significant surplus we might have would come from John going back home. But as I said above without knowing the ins & outs of how much Eric France owed us before going bust, it's hard to say where it's left us.

We obviously have a very tight budget anyway and are hardly going to start splashing cash we haven't got, if people want to call that skint, fair enough but I'd call it living within our means. Even if we had a bit of money spare, there seems a dearth of quality Props around the League anyway and I reckon Agar wouldn't want to bring someone in unless he could definitely improve us.

In an ideal world we could do with another good prop and creative half imo, but our budget as others have said might not stretch that far.

Dont know how fit he is but what about Stu Dickens? He would at least give us some presence on the bench.

I would not mind seeing that, doubt he'll want to pull on a shirt though.

Bens gone backwards but he is recovering from injury so maybe he'll turn it around, James has dropped a level imo and is a better player than i watched that night.

Anakins been messed around by this club for too long and more than deserves a run in the first team.

I don't know anything about how he's been treated up to now, but he looks to me like a lad who's been given an opportunity and has grasped it with both hands; I'd like to see more of him.

I will be livid if we allow him to slip away to another club after this time. He was outstanding at 17/18 and it's taken him a year or so to make the switch to the mans game, but we have a gem here IMO.

New contract please!

I could see him as a future 13, reminds me of a young Paul Gallen, not the biggest but as powerful as a bull. Hurts people with his tackling, really gets stuck in.

I completely agree, the thing is though his agent might not and it wont be long until everyones metal is tested the rate he is going.
If its down to a bidding war we need to pray he bleeds red white and blue.

The club can wave goodbyeto my Club 1873 membership if this jid is allowed to slip through our fingers.
He has been superb in every game he's played this season and he should be rewarded for that.

I see him as the natural replacement for Washbrook, and I think he'll make a far better backrower than battering ram. In effect he's already showing Washbrook how to have poise and how to pass a ball.

Agree, he has looked ready for this level since he pulled on a first team shirt, he doesn't need loaning out or dual registering - he has got SL class written all over him.
The harsh reality though is that other clubs will already have taken note and will monitor him and when ready pounce!!
Don't be surprised if he isn't wearing a wigan, leeds or warrington shirt in the near future.
For me he is the best prospect since Ellis and could be a top class SL/International player in the future, i'd love it to be as a Wakey player.

Personally I can only see Anakin heading for Hudds next year - it is the way.

However he will immediately become a plodder like Murphy so it should be alright.

Digs aside we need to keep him or why bother.

I'd like to think that his development will continue and he'll earn a good deal with us off the back of it; in the real world however, if another club comes in with a decent offer, his agent will probably be the deciding factor.

I don't think we're a club that can afford to break the bank on a promising young lad; if it were me though, I'd be looking to move Mellars on to free up cash so that Anakin can be signed up now, for at least 2 years.

Bugger!! Forgot about them!!

Watched Dewsbury Vs Leigh yesterday,young prop for Leigh looked promising,Ryan Duffy.

Well this is exactly it isn't it. There's absolutely no point in an 1873 initiative if the players that are earmarked as potential stars are allowed to go.

Its a bit of a catch 22.
Technically 1873 is about bringing the talent through the ranks as i understand it.
Once they're in and around the first team its a club thing.
This is why we need to spend at the club £100 STs wont secure the future of our up and coming talented first teamers sadly.

That's how I understand it too - 1873 is about identifying and nurturing young talent; once the talent has been established, agents and other clubs come into the equation and we're no longer at the head of the negotiating table.

We certainly need to do better than we've done, but we'll never be able to keep them all.