Rumoured that Kyle Wood and Arundel are both in their way to Halifax.

Hampshire must be an obvious retention because of his versatility and the fact he never lets the team down.

I thought that was actually announced. Can't remember now. But I understand its done.

Green - definitely not. Shown no consistency across 90% of his time with us. I would be very surprised if we offered Hampshire a deal as whether we wanted him or not Gaskell will give that flexibility across FB/SO and the three quarter line if we need it.

Also IMO I assume that Tupou is going as why would we have been trying to sign Langi if we were keeping Bill. Can see Josh Wood staying as I don't think Liam Kay (as well as he has done) is a viable long term week in/week out option at hooker alongside Hood. Hope Young Batch and Arundel stay

Give over, Kay has totally proved himself at hooker, I like Josh but Kay offers so much more, not least the ability to play wing and even FB at a pinch. The same applies to Hampshire. Their versatility is priceless.

As I said I'd keep Green only because there is so little out there but I have to be honest I do worry that he's the kind of player who only plays for a contract.

Think we have 25 so far signed up for next season including the 3 new signings and with it been common knowledge we are going with a smaller squad next year maybe a max of 5 signings left. Would hope batch,Hampshire,Kershaw and maybe green offered from that list and 1 new prop coming in from NRL potentially.

Andrew Fifita to play in the team with their Dave......

I don't think you prove yourself in a position over a handful of games. As I say I think Kay has done well but a hooker needs to do much more than run from acting half, they need to be able to do a lot of tackling and act as a play maker as well as providing quality quick ball. I personally wouldnt want us to go in to a new season with only one recognised hooker, unless Willie feels that Harry Bowes is ready to do the job.

Don't agree. You prove you can do the job by doing it and Kay can. You are entitled to your opinion but pigeonholing players is a bugbear of mine. Kay does everything you say and there is a reason for that. He started his career as an SH which these days are almost the same as a 9. As far as I'm concerned he's a recognized hooker so long as he carries on as he has been, in the same way, Hampshire is a FB, Tupou a centre, Lyne a centre and so on, all positions they didn't start in.

Also, Kay has stated he wants to play 9 so do you want to tell him?

Just so we’re clear I like Kay and I’m not bagging him at all. Not my job to tell him it’s Willie’s should he wish to.

Be mad if we keep green rather see essah play

Agree. Think we need two props one hopefully being Andrew Fifita and hopefully a young up and coming

I believe the Fifta deal is not dead in the water yet, but I have no solid evidence on that.

Can you imagine how the competition from his twin who's always overshadowed him will spur Dave on? If It did that would be a dynamite front row

Dave Fifita
Andrew Fifita
Eddie Battye (who can play a bit)
Aydin (a real find IMO)
Arona (great cover)
Eseh (Who could be ready come next year)
Tanginoa (in case of emergency)

Not bad and some real aggression.

I'd be happy with that.

Agree with u AMI, Kaye has only proved he can fill in as a temporary hooker
He’s good at running fast from acting half back no doubt
But isnt particular good at any of the other finer points required to be a starting hooker, the main one being distribution
Also playing a handful of matches in the middle and doing a full season there are two different asks entirely, he’s not built to do that

Hes spent the last ten years as a winger So it’s not a surprise really that’s where he is best suited
Kaye at hooker……. Not for me

I think he’ll continue to be a winger once hood comes in

He is going for the hooker spot next year and i think he as been the best out of the 5 we have tried they all season

Personally, I'd be more than happy to see him playing at hooker next season as I think he's been a revelation there.
If he's said that's where he wants to play then he has the off season to concentrate on refining his skillset to allow him to be even more effective there. Liam Hood coming in puts pressure on him but that could be good for him too. Having to compete with a decent quality hooker for the spot can only push him to improve.

It's all about opinions.

So let's all agree he's a very handy player to have around. I believe in an emergency he can also play SH and even FB but I wouldn't want to push it.

I've said it before but I'll say it again, the day of the specialist player is disappearing and the universal soldier is here. Soon IMO it will be down to three main food groups. Runners, Wing and centre, Pivots, FB, Hooker, H/B's and perhaps LF and then the yardage makers, Props and Back rowers and all will be interchangeable within those groups.

This I believe is down to economics, lack of players and seemingly ever more injuries combined with a correct unwillingness to play injured players. I see squads dropping to as small as 26 plus Academy, allowing a smaller number of players to remain relatively well paid.

Might be wrong, just a thought.

Think Aydin has got a massive future ahead of him. His footwork is excellent, a few times against Hull the big Polynesian forwards were racing off the line to put shots on, Aydin just slipped through them and made 10/15 metres comfortably. Be really good to see him possibly cement a starting 17 next year in the front row. In regards to A. Fifita, be interesting to see if we could get him over.

Some people forget how specialised the hooker postion is yes kay may be ok at running now and again but its also about speed and timing of passing decision making and tackeling if you look at your best hookers roby,mcshane,clark ,c smith ,cook and so on ate all nautraul hookers yes kay has done well over last few weeks and not knocking him but still not as good as wood who seems likley to be playing in championship next season. And its said he was a hb so should be able to cover hooker but he as never really played professional rugby at hb just junior doesnt that say something.reckon hood will play big mins too.

I don't understand why people make judgements based on a starting 13. It's a squad game and we need multiple players for each position.

For me Kay is an interchange Hooker. Hood will be the starting Hooker.
He'll be an excellent bench player as he can cover multiple positions.

Woods is a great tackler but doesn't have confidence to run a game and his passing is only just ok.

It wouldn't surprise me if Kay has played more Hooker this year than Josh Woods.

Ive seen Eesh quite a bit and I believe he is nowhere ne'er first team rugby as a prop, he only really has size, and the academy teams he's done welll against have lack size, he's looked average against the larger packs.

On the size of the squad and from what I've heard, with 25 already signed I'd be very surprised To hear of more than 3 more signings

That’d be through no fault of Josh though, he’s been injured for the majority. I was speaking with him in TF gym way back when he was first injured and he told me they were aiming for the last two weeks of the year.

Kay’s distribution is lacking, probably more so than Woods. Josh is probably in our top 5 tacklers in terms of ability, Kay would be lower down the list. Kay runs more from dummy half than Wood does.

Personally I don’t know why Brad Walker isn’t in the conversation. IMO presuming we won’t have Kyle Wood next year it’s Hood, Walker, Wood/Kay followed by Hampshire and Crowther for further cover.

I think your right regarding Eseh tbh I only really threw him in as an up and comer but then we were saying the same about Aydin 18 month ago. I disagree that size is all he has, he’s well balanced and has a nice offload, but overall he is Imho a good year off at least. His size however allows him the luxury to develop.

MC has made it clear money is tight but we are not alone, I reckon those clubs with reserves will be dipping into them more than ever.

Yousif is more than ready and should have had far more game time in 2021 than he's been given, but then again he's not the only 21 year old to have not had their chance despite the assurances from the coach at the start of the season

Agree
I too wouldn’t want us starting the season with one recognised hooker.
While Kay has done a great job plugging gaps , you need hookers that can tackle hard, scoot from dummy half and most importantly give good ball distribution..
A good example of this was Josh woods 3 passes before trinity’s first try on Friday. The last pass especially had distance and accuracy .. FCs defence unraveled from it and senior got in in the corner.
I think Kay will get a contract anyway because he is now able to cover two positions.. but for me he’s not a natural hooker (yet)