Toronto isn’t an odd choice one bit in my eyes, plus any club that was up to the salary cap, won’t be up to the salary cap anymore with the pay cuts.

Plus, it’s highly likely that no games will take place in Toronto this season due to the simple fact that we will have a number of mid week games.

Under normal circumstances it would be the least obvious choice from a wanting to be close to home view but I fully accept these are not normal circumstances and being based in Manchester will be a plus. We will have to see what happens with this season and then next when he should be based half in the UK half in Canada.

Cap space and willingness to take a risk on a player who has struggled to come back from a nasty injury will have been factors in the options open to him for sure.

I wish him well but remain unconvinced by the move. I'm sure he won't be losing sleep over that.

Reckon playing for Brian McD will have played a big part in Watkins choosing Toronto. In 2015, Kallum played some great stuff and was apparently having mental health issues for most of the season.
Both parties know and I think respect each other.
Wigan always sounded unlikely to me as understand he is not a big fan of ZH.
Guess Stanley or leutele or even SBW will be on way out shortly to reduce cap and outgoings.

SBW part owns Toronto doesn't he now? I doubt he'll be going anywhere.
They had problems getting a visa for Stanley didn't they? He'll probably be the one to make way.

If they replace Chase Stanley with Kallum Watkins they will be able to sign another overseas player (if they can find room on the salary cap)

I reckon SBW could easily leave by mutual agreement. Thus far it appears that his value to TWP rests more with his image than his playing standard. And it strikes me that his publicity value to paying fans and sponsors is very limited if TWP are unable to play in Canada.

Players OOC next year are allowed to talk to other clubs at the end of the month (surprised it hasn’t been moved) I believe we have Dwyer, Myker and Cuthbertson OOC

Would you offer them a deal?

Personally I think Dwyer and Mylee have done enough to maybe get one, Cuthbertson has gone well since Agar has come on board maybe worth a year extra or is that one season too much for him?

Thoughts?

I think we will offer Dwyer another year due to his form for the last year or so and he has been a main 9 for past 2 seasons and next season it'll be a good battle between him and Leeming to be our first choice 9. Myler is a tricky one i feel over the 2018 and 2019 seasons he hasn't really warranted a new deal but his attitude and determination this season and playing all over the pitch for us he could be the sort of player we need around the team in training and stuff to keep spirts high and also give competition for the halves and hookers. Cuthbertson has been a good servant to the club but I think another season would just be a waste of a overseas spot and too much on a 35/36 year props body.

I think Dwyer 1 year extension

Myler maybe another year deal( maybe try and move Rob Lui on and have Gale and Myler in halves)

Cuthbo retirement.

Deffo keep Dwyer and Myler for me. Though I suspect Myler could depend on salary cap. Both have been great and much much improved.

Depends on who’s available, what deals the players want and who we think could step up if given a chance. Johnson deciding his heart wasn’t in it is a big one for Dwyer.

I’d say the only one that you’d question would be Cuthbo going around again, but like I say it depends who’s available. There will be a lot of turmoil at many clubs so the market will look very different to normal and stability for players might see them accepting less than they otherwise might?

For reference, our list is.. Wellington Albert, Tom Briscoe, Adam Cuthbertson, Tyler Dupree, Brad Dwyer, Rhys Evans, Tom Holroyd, Muizz Mustapha, Richie Myler, Stevie Ward.

big one for me is ward. do we get value for money given his injury record?