Glad you wrote this....I too thought I was the only one to question the worth of Hansen

Clark AND Gale would indeed be a nice thought. Not likely though I guess

He'd also cost too much. Their's only one reason you leave a trophy winning/chasing Wigan for Salford.

Our wage bill could be put to wiser use.

I too doubt we would get Clark and Gale but with the money we have now on the cap we would certainly be able to afford it.
Gale in my opinion would do a great job in the Sinny style nothing too flash.
Nowhere as influential as a captain but has a great kicking game and takes on the line well and brings the forwards and backs onto the attack.
We could a'ways swap him for Burrow maybe??
Clark alongside Cuthbertson would be a revelation.
I know Clark is good in attack but what's his defence like?
Does it compare well with say Houghton?

I'm both disappointed and pleased at the same time.

Disappointed because I think there's a fast, powerful, offloading second rower in there somewhere.
But pleased because it just hasn't worked and, it more than likely means there's other signings that haven't been announced yet.

Short of getting g Roby ,Clarke is the best thing. Possibly better given he is much younger and likely cheaper.

I'd rather spend Aiton and Achurch cap space on someone like Clarke and miss out on a hb or SR this year.

Next year with jjb likely retiring or leaving and space left over from Bailey / kirke/ sinny/peacock/ Kylie /jjb and I'd assume a slightly cheaper contract for Delaney .

That should leave enough cap space for a half back and a good SR or two.depending where our need lies .

I just honestly think signing a top quality hooker is that important for next season

I hope if it's happening then it is because we've got another forward coming in.

Whilst I think it's right that we move Achurch on, we shouldn't do it without a replacement. Our problem this year has been lack of numbers, so we need to avoid repeating that next year.

We have Baldwinson, and Minchella coming back though, so I think we have the quantity there. I wouldn't mind going with the options we have in the forwards as long as we sign a decent hooker, looking at the current squad any other signing would be a luxury IMO.

Lack of quality numbers, not numbers. Even with the benefit of hindsight having only one reliable actual hooker can be looked at as a genuine mistake.

In terms of forwards theoretically available we've got enough. Walters seemingly going backwards has shown up, but given his form in the few games he got last year it wasn't wrong of BM to think he could be useful as a squad player and posssibly develop into something more. Next year we'll have Galloway, Cuthbertson, Garbutt, Mulally, Singleton, Baldwinson, Ablett, Delaney, S.Ward, Keinhorst plus probably JJB for part of the year. The balancing act is that players below that group will most likely be on loan for part of the year, as otherwise they won't get a game.

Hooker aside, its also important to bear in mind that whilst injuries do happen, we've been pretty unlucky to lose Sutcliffe, Aiton and JJB with season-ending injuries. I can't remember the last time we lost three players in one season in that way. In a constrained squad the problem then is that we - or any club - can only be as strong as their replacements in the event of injury.

Alas the mystery of whether Achurch will ever turn out to be a decent player will never be solved.

I'd welcome the move if we had a replacement coming in. Otherwise it does reduce our options and strength.

On his day he was a destructive runner with good hands.

Comparisons with Kirke and Bailey are unfair. I believe that he was signed as a luxury player (rather than a no-frills squad player), then mis-used for a large part, and injured for another large chunk.

When utilised correctly and injury free was capable of putting in good performances. It has just not worked out that well for him.

Achurch has done very well to get a contract in the NRL if true
He has never had an injury free run in the side to show a consistent level of form for us,so going by what we have seen then it is a massive chunk off our cap for next season and i'm sure that we can get better value into our squad as a result of his departure

If it's true that he is going it looks like this was an make or break season.Bad luck with injuries

Wish the lad well. He's had some bad luck but we will barely miss him if I am being frank.

The cap in SL or NRL is all about value for money.

Achurch even on 50k has not played enough or contributed enough when fit.

If Achurch has a contract in Aus I will be shocked if he isn't playing NSW cup week in week out.

No doubt he is a good bloke and I wish him all the best.

He was ok as a wide running SR. He had all the physical attributes to be a top player sadly lacking in a couple of areas injury prone and heart the size of of pea. Good move if he does go. Think Minchella can really kick on this year and baldwinson for me would benefit from achurch move