You're not a fan then?

My best mates brother was in the same age group with him through the junior ranks at Wibsey and he was the same then. If he put his mind to it he could be great but he's not got Leon's nasty streak.

I played a little bulltag with him (long live the mighty Meagre Whelks) for a season, and he has all the natural ability in the world, but his attitude is naff.

He's a great lad off the pitch but he's not got the mentalilty to be a top player.

What gave it away?

I always thought that Leon got the whole family's share of 'nastiness' and Karl got left with being so laid back he's horizontal. I'm sure he's a wonderful human being, but a rugby player? Perhaps not.

What he needs to realise is you can be hard & fair. I never saw Kevin Ward throw one punch in his career.

Chances are I was in that same team.
Who's your bezzie mates bro?

PM on it's way

Karl's not hard though is he?

Nothing against loan signings. We could use another one of our youngsters though. Steve Crossley has been floating around the first team squad for a while now. Were either going to use him or we are not. If we arn't then we might aswell just let him go.

It was a stupid idea not to offer Matt Cook a new deal.

Why? he hasnt exactly progressed at hull kr since leaving. Last year he was overtaken by donno and this year whitehead would have overtaken him. He would maybe have kept worrincy out off squad but thats by no means definite. Think he'd gone as far as he was going to with us and while it may be nice to have him now, when we have few knocks, in general dont think he's been missed.

you sure you're not mixing him up with matt james?

No, Matt Cook. He is a reliable, 100%, experienced, homegrown, versatile and no doubt not very expensive player. Would have been a cheap addition to this 'underfunded lightweight squad' which is being severly tested for numbers at the moment and most probably will be again in thie season.

On that note, Matt James would have also been a welcome number to the squad.

Don't dispute that he'd come in handy now with the injuries. But dont think that ' he'll come in handy if we get a few injuries' is sufficient reason to give a player a new deal.

There are various reasons to give players new deals, being a squad player is one of them and being a squad man is to rotate and cover. Matt Cook didnt want to leave the Bulls and there was a lot he could offer and he knew his place in the team. It was a mistake to not offer him a new deal and it's hitting us now, hence us being in the market for experienced loan signing.

did he? seem to remember him moaning a couple of times to press about not being selected. think problem was he didnt see himself as a squad player and wanted to be a starter. With langley,mezies,hall,donno,whitehead all ahead off him in pecking order and a strong crop of 2nd rows coming through behind him he was never going to be more than asquad player at bulls.

That said it may well be cook we're looking at loaning given maccas connections with the hull clubs.