It would be rather ironic if we finally signed a quality half back using Watkins cap money, given he's had a decade of sub-standard service.

Well it's sure a surprise, but when you think about it logically, he's one of the highest paid players (presumably) and he's not been able to perform this year coming back from injury. The club will probably have a reasonable long term prognosis on his future capability and may well have decided he's not going to get back to a level his salary would command. It's a big call from Kevin, but shows he's not frightened of making them.

My guess is we will see quite a few more before the end of this season.

On Kallum, thanks for some sparkling entertainment over the years, and good luck for the future.

I hope he does well wherever he goes. I hope he gets fit and tries the NRL as I think he could do very well.

The last couple of years have shown that there are some serious long-term contract management and salary cap management problems at the club, and you don't fix that problem by adding even more bad value to the cap. Watkins, as he is today, isn't worth marquee money.

I'm annoyed to see him go, there are plenty of players I'd rather see let go and it shouldn't have ended like this, but solving those issues relies on players being as willing to negotiate out of their contract as Kal has been.

Players like Kallum are far from the biggest problem in this regard, but people like Tui Lolohea, Nat Peteru and Tom Briscoe know that they aren't going to gain anything by negotiating their respective deals away - they're on too much of a good thing.

Agree. Even more so older players in their last gig.

why should they? my boss offers me silly money I wont say no

Salary cap implications on getting out of longer term contracts are really hurting us, otherwise you would probably have seen more movement by now.

I was just taking a look on Frosties sticky on the first team, and the number of players we need rid of is easily into double digits. Some of them have contracts for a few years yet so it's very hard to move them on if they are not willing.

strong rumour Ferres not getting a new contract, good riddance aswell.

Quite, I think theres been some real mismanagement of contracts and players over the last few years - which can be a tricky situation to get out of, fair play to Kallum, there was obviously a frank discussion about his contract and wages he coukd have made life really difficult for the management.

Personally I hope he goes to the NRL

there's where then problem is, to get Watkins to surrender the rest of his contract is a very decent and honorable thing to do for your club and it doesn't surprise me one bit as he's been brought up threw the ranks, as for the rest they know they are on a downward spiral and will want to sap as much as they can get from the club, there was a time I'd have him in our side but not on his present form

Fortunately I think just a few very good signings will at least get us out of residing at the bottom half of the table