: Fri Jul 10, 2009 3:17 pm  

We need a quality half, a Hooker (L'Estrange), a Centre and tbh I wouldn't mind another forward: If we are losing Solomona, Morrison and Cook then I think we need another Second Rower. Hvaing said that, I wouldn't mind bringing in a Prop and using Hall as SR as tbh we still haven't filled the hole that Big Joe left and I think we really need to. Brent Kite anyone?

: Fri Jul 10, 2009 3:58 pm  

Ewwenorfolk wrote:

We need a quality half, a Hooker (L'Estrange), a Centre and tbh I wouldn't mind another forward: If we are losing Solomona, Morrison and Cook then I think we need another Second Rower. Hvaing said that, I wouldn't mind bringing in a Prop and using Hall as SR as tbh we still haven't filled the hole that Big Joe left and I think we really need to. Brent Kite anyone?

assuming we retain menzies, then think 2nd row spots can be filled by worrincy + giving game time to olbison,whitehead,donaldson and burgess when not needed in props.effectively we've been managing without solomona and morro for much of year anyway. l'estrange sounds a reasonable enough replacement for newton.
think we really need to concentrate on backs this year and bring in some real quality. A Half is an absolute priority, as even if we do retain jeffries, deacon isn't close to being worth a starting berth anymore. If we could sign a top quality half and a strike Centre ( who can defend as well) with sykes as cover for Centre,fb,so then I'd be pretty happy. If we could retain jeffries as well and use deacon as further cover then I'd be even happier.

: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:02 pm  

Hope we keep Morrison as a coach.

: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:05 pm  

debaser wrote:

I get the feeling there is only one rat on here today.

Oh go on then...I know I shouldn't really, and he HAS apologised for his latest dumb posting, but since he did it to me the other day:

: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:08 pm  

6Iestyn6 wrote:

Hope we keep Morrison as a coach.

i'll second that,could do with keeping him on in a coaching capacity some way or another,cann't be any worse than basil

: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:08 pm  

6Iestyn6 wrote:

Hope we keep Morrison as a coach.

think his visa only covers him to play, not coach, whis is reason we couldnt retain vagana in a similar role.

: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:10 pm  

Adeybull wrote:

Oh go on then...I know I shouldn't really, and he HAS apologised for his latest dumb posting, but since he did it to me the other day:

I am all hurt now. Really I am.

: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:20 pm  

mat wrote:

but we're already spending nothing like full cap this year...

From comments at the Fans Forum, it would indeed seem we have a bit of margin.

But (and not for the first time) I'll give one big caution: don't assume that the salary cap represents the total of what the players at a club receive, or is directly comparable between clubs. It depends also very much on things like the proportion of a player's package (especially overseas ones) which a club thinks it can justify in paying in non-PAYEable form, and the ability of a player (cos it can't be the club...) to secure payment for his image rights from an "unconnected" third party. And that assumes every club has been making complete and accurate salary cap declarations, of course. Some of these matters are subject to current investigation by HMRC and the RFL, and while certain clubs are seemingly currently "bricking it" (I think was the expression used) I have it on strong authority that we are not exposed here.

Need to bear this in mind when comparing squads between clubs, and the seeming scope for additional spending.

But yes, for sure we need some positive news on the signings front to come out of the club after the events and rumour of this week.

: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:32 pm  

Adeybull wrote:

From comments at the Fans Forum, it would indeed seem we have a bit of margin.

But (and not for the first time) I'll give one big caution: don't assume that the salary cap represents the total of what the players at a club receive, or is directly comparable between clubs. It depends also very much on things like the proportion of a player's package (especially overseas ones) which a club thinks it can justify in paying in non-PAYEable form, and the ability of a player (cos it can't be the club...) to secure payment for his image rights from an "unconnected" third party. And that assumes every club has been making complete and accurate salary cap declarations, of course. Some of these matters are subject to current investigation by HMRC and the RFL, and while certain clubs are seemingly currently "bricking it" (I think was the expression used) I have it on strong authority that we are not exposed here.

Need to bear this in mind when comparing squads between clubs, and the seeming scope for additional spending.

But yes, for sure we need some positive news on the signings front to come out of the club after the events and rumour of this week.

some good points there adey. and tbf we've had solomona and tupou sidelined all season who between them will have been taking up a decent chunk of the cap whilst not contributing anything. so while it may seem as if we were well below cap this year in terms of the players on the field, when you include tupou and solo I reckon we probably only had enough free cap space for one decent player.
Next years a different matter. Whilst we've spent a bit on improved deals for halley and lynch and maybe a very slightly improved deal for sykes plus bringing in hall, when you look at some of names that its looking like we're losing then we must have enough space to bring in at least 2 or 3 quality players. whether we can afford to spend upto the cap next year given this years attendances without going into a loss making situation is another matter entirely.

: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:37 pm  

mat wrote:

some good points there adey. and tbf we've had solomona and tupou sidelined all season who between them will have been taking up a decent chunk of the cap whilst not contributing anything. so while it may seem as if we were well below cap this year in terms of the players on the field, when you include tupou and solo I reckon we probably only had enough free cap space for one decent player.

Next years a different matter. Whilst we've spent a bit on improved deals for halley and lynch and maybe a very slightly improved deal for sykes plus bringing in hall, when you look at some of names that its looking like we're losing then we must have enough space to bring in at least 2 or 3 quality players. whether we can afford to spend upto the cap next year given this years attendances without going into a loss making situation is another matter entirely.

Add Morro and Godwin to that for much of the season - the former won't be on peanuts. And yes, my guess is you are not far wrong.

And I find it hard to find fault the argument in your second paragraph, too.