big lad as well, wanna see him bust through and break away!

On faster summer pitches when the injuries start stacking up wouldn't you want players that are more mobile, able to do more minutes/better endurance, get to the tackle quicker, be able to back a break?
This is why I don't think Pritchard was that effective, we already had the advantage of the best pack in SL and most of all not being injured so whilst pritchard did offer some impact in games it was for an all too short a period of time and he really didn't have much more 'impact' than the likes of Thompson who he was only just ahead of in tackle busts yet made massively fewer tackles than Thompson did.
A bench of Green, Bowden, Fash and Hadley IF we retain him and he isn't in the starting XIII which I hope we do is one that i would be happy with.
it's just that fans seem to think they have to be a big bustling runner in the mould of a Jamie Thackery or South Sea islander to be an impact player, I think impact is being viewed in much too narrow a way.

Naughton I can't see being kept, Lancaster has gone, I'm not sure we will keep Talanoa either.
So LR will have to decide if we find a replacment winger or decide if he keeps Talanoa or Michaels services for another year, both are much cheaper than Fonua, both are known quantities each with their own strengths and weaknesses. I prefer Michaels myself as he is pretty reliable, can cover centre or wing on either side and is defensively much better than Talanoa.
That means we have Rawesthorne on the left and Michaels on the right as an example.
Not forking out for a top winger would enable us to have either JA or Hadley back but I'm not sure if either will be coming back for 2018.
Then we have Ellis's money, some of that is already down for kelly's extension/upgrade which will be significant.
I don't think that would leave us a big amount in the pot for a top player even with the increase in salary cap IF we were actually going to play Hadley next year. never mind Hadley and JA.
ATM the big problem we have is Griffin, he's going to be on a decent wedge and he's not firing on all cyclinders and well short of expectations, we're stuck with him until end of 2019 so he really needs to crack on and prove his worth or he is wasted cap and a fair chunk of it too.

I also think LR sees Washbrook and Hadley very alike in what they offer, whilst Washbrook has done well when taking more responsibility I think Hadley is a slight upgrade on him. However taking Hadley back and keeping Washbrook too effectively pushes Jez litten to fourth choice dummy half and Radford's preference is to use a running second rower such as washbrook/Hadley type as a stand in and both have experience in that role, Hadley particularly at wakey is used that way.
It's a big conundrum for sure as to how LR sees things and how he wants us to go next year, sign a big 'impact' player that costs a lot or go with a ball playing 13 and more than adept forward who can cover the back row forwards positions and dummy half.
So
1. We release/leave on long term loan Hadley and JA and sign another forward (don't see the point personally because we aren't going to have big bucks left for a big name anyway)
2. On top of above re JA and Hadley we release michaels or Talanoa (or even both) and sign a bigger named/better standard 'impact' forward and a winger in the style of Fonua but a no name (not sure that's feasible money wise anyway)

3. We retain both Hadley and JA for next season, release Talanoa or Michaels, sign an unknown winger and the 'impact' forward is a non starter and we rely on our own lads to make the impact, just not in a smash bang wallop kind of way.
Can't see it being more than 2 signings either way, I'd prefer to play JA and Hadley next year, keep Michaels, release Talanoa.

Think Talanoa already signed for next season.

Hope so. Very important player for us.

Saturday proved that.

Got us on the front foot.

Fonua will be the same when he returns.

If you seriously believe Michaels offers more than Talanoa I'd have to question how many games you've actually seen in recent years. It's not even close. Michaels is a 110% er. Thats it. Not knocking him at all. But there is not aspect of his play I'd rate above Talanoa. You say defensively. Not on the basis of lots of games this year
The difference in impact out of backfield with Talanoa in his 1st game back was enormous. Need to get the right player in to replace Fonua. Because while they've been out its highlighted just how important they were to our successes last year

Not that I am defending bumpy

but to be fair Michaels and Talanoa are different players altogether so comparing is very difficult. To say there is not an aspect of his play you'd rate above Talanoa is a little harsh though thats your opinion. For me Michaels is more reliable under high balls than Talanoa and offers us something that Talanoa doesn't and vice versa Talanoa offers better go forward on returns due to his physical presence but in fairness Michaels aint been too shabby in that dept either when asked.

Given your repsonse I'd have to question not how much you watch but your basic understanding of what qualities and deficiencies each player has and how rugby league actually works.

Michaels is a superior player to Talanoa in every department aside from maybe basic grunt going forward. Michaels defence/tackling ability is twice that of Talanoa's, covers others defensive errors and can actually catch a high ball. He is far more flexible in where we can use him too as well as he rarely goes off the boil.
You have you're opinion but what we see on the field says that you are wrong.

Micheals defence has been poor this year, Micheal's does have stronger areas, mainly fitness and high balls, but overall Talanoa is a better winger. I think 99% of fans would rather have Talanoa as their winger in the Hull side and more importantly Radford (who sees them more than you and me) as their first choice winger.

My drinks been spiked this year a few times then. High ball and defence has been very hit and miss
Talanoa sucks in more men. Never turned over. Fastest play of the ball in the team with Fonua. A prolific pen winner. How many times you seen in a tight spot in the corner michaels get bundled out compared to Talanoa?
When michaels wasn't playing earlier in the year I didn't think jeez we're missing michaels
Talanoa comes back Saturday and it stood out like a sore thumb how missed he's been. Michaels is the best back up winger any teams got in SL I imagine and hes had his moments this year mostly good and a few bad. But hell no is he better

Personally I am 50/50 on which one to keep, Michaels or Talanoa, but I reckon Talanoa is going to be more and more injury prone so would go for Michaels myself. I really like both of them in truth, I believe though Rawsthorne is the future. Looks like he has something about him for sure

He does look the part.

In light of it becoming harder to recruit from overseas now (having to
Play 50% of games), is it feasible we could keep both for another year, with a view of Rawsthorne being a regular starter in 2019?

i'd start rawsthorne next year myself and spend the money and quota spot elsewhere but I get your point. In hindsight having 3 quota spots on wingers is maybe not the wisest move, but we have a trophy to show for it so no criticism here

Three quota spots on wingers does seem a bit much when you think about it!

I don't think Rawsthorne is ready to be a regular, looks a bit raw, his time will come.

Would anyone really want michaels as a first choice winger? I'm sure most wouldn't whereas they would be happy with the bin man there. My only worry is his injury record as he has missed a lot of games this season and quite a few last but he gives us so much more than michaels they're not really comparable. michaels is a great back up but not worth using a quota spot on a back up IMO

If you think Michaels offers more than Talanoa your knowledge of the game is limited to say the least. You only have to watch the Wigan game and compare it with previous weeks to see what Talanoa brings. We are a completely different team when he and Fonua are on the field.

Fonua to Wests confirmed. Rankin rumoured to be coming to Hudds.

I liked Rankin when he was with us, left everything out on the pitch and was a great support player. Ideally I'd have him back, but he would not get a look in at FB (Shaul) or half back with the current squad we have,

i loved rankin, gutted when he left.

losing fonua and michaels, id have rankin back for the wing (played there for wests) also can play other positions

I'd rather have a winger than a utility player.

Not good enough for a quota spot IMO

Sounds like both Talanoa and Thompson are staying.

Talanoa maybe announced tomorrow.

Hope so!

Concussion ruins player's lives