He is the ultimate role model for any player and if possible as valuable off the pitch as on it.

There was a recent massive training session night at Brantingham for every scholarship player to attend and speaking to some of the players who attended they couldn't get over the amount of time he had for them and how good he was at teaching them little things.

100 percent agree...fitz is another menzies,and if he isnt capable to do another year for us im a rovers fan!

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are you?

Errm...no!..Id rather poke my eyes out and listen to humberside my friend! ha ha.

I'd agree with you there HF, I don't mind Wes Naiqama but he wouldn't get a visa and I'm not sure if he's as good as a fb as he is centre.

I'd keep Fitz for another year, I can't see how we will get a better player and pro then him for next season. Seems fitter than ever, hasn't missed a game through injury this year.

We need 3 players if Fitz stays, FB (or Phelps), Scrum half and a prop.

Quote ="tommyfromhull"Keith Mason extends deal to end of 2015 news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 488440.stm'" Keith on stats isn't any better than Ewan Dowes, in fact, Dowes is a much better defender. superleague.co.uk/statistics_pla ... eason=2011 I'd keep Dowes if he continues his form over the next month.

Quote ="tommyfromhull"Keith Mason extends deal to end of 2015 news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 488440.stm'" Keith on stats isn't any better than Ewan Dowes, in fact, Dowes is a much better defender. superleague.co.uk/statistics_pla ... eason=2011 I'd keep Dowes if he continues his form over the next month.

Could we go into next season with

O'meley
Moa
Radford
Dowes
Adlous?

That would be the only way we could get a overseas half in if Fitz stays.

Bowden looks an excellent prospect also.

Fitz could move up to prop if needed and we have plenty of cover in the backrow.

I would much rather we spend our resources on a quality halfback, then another prop.

Another option could be a prop like Paul Johnson who is a loan at Wakefield or Chris Hill at leigh.

Quote ="Dave K."Keith on stats isn't any better than Ewan Dowes, in fact, Dowes is a much better defender. superleague.co.uk/statistics_pla ... eason=2011 I'd keep Dowes if he continues his form over the next month.'" Said from the start that if Dowes continues the way he is going that he deserves another year. Hopefully that could keep him on his toes next year, too. It's win-win from the club really, same with Phelps.

Quote ="Dave K."Keith on stats isn't any better than Ewan Dowes, in fact, Dowes is a much better defender. superleague.co.uk/statistics_pla ... eason=2011 I'd keep Dowes if he continues his form over the next month.'" Said from the start that if Dowes continues the way he is going that he deserves another year. Hopefully that could keep him on his toes next year, too. It's win-win from the club really, same with Phelps.

FWIW Paul Johnson isn't on loan, he's a Wakefield player.

Plus have Tickle who is a floater between front and backrow.

russell??

Is that right in seeing Dowes hasn't made an error this year ? Averaging to give away a penalty once every five games.

Pretty impressive.

Back to the Dowes of 2005 and 2006 for me. Him and Radford off the bench is looking very good to complement Ogre and Moa

Feel sorry for Dowes, as people will say he's only playing for a new deal.
He's a firm ground prop, late foot movement allowing him to push through the line. Just needs to find an off-load.

I thought he looked seriously improved when he did that one-on-one training in London a few years back. Came back early (thanks HFC

) so didn't get the full benefit but looked good in the first few weeks before the failure to complete caught up with him. If he'd been allowed to complete the training who knows what might have happened.

Sorted it all out himself too IIRC?

The bloke has risen from the dead! He had his contract reduced last year, a contract that was only offered once it was found we couldn't sign another prop. He wasn't playing very well, getting dropped etc. He's now playing some of the best rugby of his career.

Credit to him and to the coaching staff who must have played some part.

Half the problem that season was Agar thought it best to try and play the props for 80 minutes. We wont the first 5 and dowes played 80 minutes most of those games if not all of them.

Not so much an offload but he did often pass just before thre collision to another prop or Horney and that was quite affective especially with his late step.

The way things are looking I can see us resigning most of our players as there seems to be very little to go for so Fitz, Dowes, Long, Lauaki etc could well get new one year deals.

Pointless letting them go for the sake of it if there is nothing in the market. We will only need what we release. I´d really be looking for a FB and HB and if there are no options then sign up Phelps and Long again.

I would let Lauaki go anyway as given his role in the squad he can be replaced internally if we sign up Fitz, Moa, Dowes and Radford again.

By whom?

Kent, Cunningham, Green?

Tbh I would sign up most of what we already have if we don´t have options and give the youngsters some more gametime, we´ll never know if we don´t use them. Lauaki could be an option to lose depending on what Agar thinks of the kids?

The one for me is Phelps, he does ok but not as good as i´d hoped so would definately try for a better fullback, more pace preferrably.

Yeah I would do, the fact we have Lauaki not even in our 17 now taking up a overseas spot and I imagine he would be somewhat of a high earner is madness. Just let the guy go and given 1 of those 3 a shot and see how they go when injuries/resting a player means they get the call to play 1st grade.

In your opinion are any of those three ready for SL, I don't watch any u20's games.

What attributes do ach of them have and which position are they most suited to?