Nope burgess definately injured - knee
Hope crossely cements his place as 4th interchange as he was overlooked for burgess in the last few games (can't quite understand why) crossely has always come before burgess in the pecking order IMO due to greater talent over tom's.
Donno wasn't rested he was dropped, he didn't do much wrong against Leeds to warrant being dropped but then again he didn't set the world alight either. If he was being rested he wouldn't have been 19th / 20th man and travelled to France as had there been a catoteophe of injuries he would have had to play. It will be interesting to see what team potter goes with against Warrington.

Haha! I couldn't possibly understand what that word would be!

According to Potter, he was ok with Bateman and there is more to come. This is what it says in the T&A

I couldn't assess how Bateman went due to the bloody sky coverage! Man was I an angry man during that first half of null coverage!

The reason we are no longer in the top 4 is because we have repeatedly replaced quality players with mediocre talent, with the odd exception. Admittedly, when you are winning titles and world champs, that's hard to do. However, if we want to get back to winning titles, we have to start to recruit quality, and the majority of the players in the above list do not fall into that category. We may not be able to compete legally with Warrington, but if we spend up to the full salary cap then i think we need to sign some real quality and experience in the backs to compliment the younger players.

Whilst i acknowledge that you need a strong squad to compete, as our injury list proves, i would be more inclined to try and spend our money on 2 or 3 signings of real quality (if we are able to attract them to a club in the bottom half of the table) and either keep some of the above players (mostly backs) as squad players, or not re-sign them and replace them with others. By next year some of our younger players will be ready to step up into a more senior role, either as squad players or members of the 17. If we are able to attract some real quality, then i see that as the start of being able to not only win games through the ability to unlock defences (which is one of our biggest problems this year) but also the start of being taken more seriously as a club again and being able to attract further star talent in subsequent years. Players do play for the money, but also enjoy being part of a winning environment. The question is, can we attract the star names now, given our current state.

My verdict on the above players for what it's worth:

Diskin - Good signing, has the ability to dominate, good pairing with Heath.
Ainscough - Unfortunately, our style of play, or lack of a ball distributing stand off, doesn't see our wingers get the ball enough, but when given the chance he looks good going forward, and knows where the line is. However, at times he looks out of his depth positionally on defence, and his size is an issue in that respect. I'd only keep him if better isn't available for similar money, but acknowledge that if he improves his defence he's an asset.
Raynor - Tries hard, and suffers too from lack of ball in space, but at his age i wouldn't retain him. Personally i would like to see Finnigan recalled before too long and given a chance to see whether or not he is good enough, or if we need to sign another winger.
Ah Van - Whilst i feel he has improved in recent weeks, (looks to have lost weight) i feel he isn't good enough. His lack of pace is alarming for a back, and defensively he is also suspect. Good near the line, but we need someone with more in their game than that. The Warriors wouldn't have let a 21 year old with talent go if he was going to be great and if you sign reserve grade players, you get reserve grade performers. He is not worth a quota spot for what he offers (we can find another kicker) and is not good enough to play centre, FB or stand off.
Herbert - Not good enough, wouldn't re-sign. ok, so he's improving slightly, and has some try assists, but again, the Raiders had no problem letting him go for a reason. He was worth the risk, we had few options, but if we want to climb the table we need better. His kicking game is poor, he is not vocal enough to organise, and he's not worth a quota spot.
Royston - I like Shad, has some great qualities, but ultimately, he probably isn't quite good enough due to his lack of pace. Let's be honest, if everyone is fit, he doesn't start, and doesn't get in the 17, as you don't really get a spot on the bench as a back. I'd be happy to keep him as a squad member if he is happy with that. His best position is FB, as he's a runner, and we have a better FB in Kearney (assuming he stays). A shame more of our other players don't have his support play skills!
Briggs - Like most people, we haven't seen enough, but the current situation is confusing. Perhaps there's more going on at training or behind the scenes than we know, (anyone got any inside info?). I'd like to see him get a run asap so we can make a judgement, but 6 is a position i'd be most inclined to spend big on and use a quota spot on signing some real quality!
Walker - average so far. Definitely not a centre, 2nd row squad member at best on current form, but potential to be good in that position. if a decision had to be made now, i'd let him go, as we have enough other back rowers (although could get into trouble with injuries)
Sibbit - not good enough, play him in the reserves, loan him out, or play him like we do now, if we are decimated by injuries, then let him go next year.
Elima - good signing, starting to hit some form, but would like to see more in attack.
Hargreaves - good signing.

Our priorities have to be to sign real quality at 6, 7, centre, possibly winger and re-sign Heath and BK (as a full back). If we can't do that i wouldn't blame either of those 2 for signing with a team further up the table and can only see current decline continuing.

Here's hoping for some good news before too long!

problem is there doesnt seem to be a glut of halfbacks available on market. Herbert isnt the greatest but he's solid enough and think he'll look better once he's got a proper standoff alongside him rather than kearney/sykes filling in. If we could replace him with leon then it would be an improvement (presuming southernwood/briggs switched to scrum half and leon at SO). replacing him with someone like ratchford though wouldnt be an improvement IMO, although it would free up the quota spot.

Even if herbert was retained as a backup half (and maybe tried at loose) it would give us more options when the inevitable injuries strike as I dont imagine he's on a massive wage.

Herbert would struggle in the pennine league.

I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't bite, but I can't resist.

Your persistent bashing of players is getting incredibly tiresome now. We know you think Herbert isn't good enough, we f*cking get it! You don't need to post it just for the sake of it. And your post about Donno the other day quite frankly was embarassing.

People are fully inclined to not like players, but the way you go about telling people it is pretty poor mate.

Yeah coz we really missed Donaldson yesterday, the superkid that he is. Get a grip kidder.

The guys just come back from a massive injury lay-off. I think we'll give him some time.

I'll bite too.

If Herbert is as shocking as you make out, then how the stat man at opta must be doing something seriously wrong.

He has a better assists per game stat than Rangi Chase, one of the best halfbacks in hte league. Okay, he's made more errors and given away more penalties, but he's playing in an inconsistent unsettled side. Herberts also making a lot more tackles, with alot less misses. Pretty much matches Chase for tries per game too.

Somebody with an average of 1.5 try assists per game would struggle in the pennine league? I'm beginning to think Herbert must have run over one of your family members.

Inconsitent unsettled side, blah blah blah. It's running thin now.
Just face it Ewwen, he's poor and part of the reason we are poor is because our HB is poor.

Look at our results - we are inconsistent.

Look at our squads each game - we are unsettled.

And look at Herberts stats - he's doing pretty well for his first season. If he is so poor, how is he getting these try assists week in week out?

Re-Sign Kearney and L'Estrange. Give new contracts to Ah Van, Elima, Ainscough and Herbert. Sign Leon Pryce and Chris Bridge (if Warrington let him go as Rhys Evans and Matty Blythe are getting good.)

And Bulls4Champs has obviously never played a game of rugby in his life.

Yes, because we are pants.

Yes, because we suffer injuries, as does everybody else.

Who cares about his assist stats, what do the stats tell you about every time he makes a crap pass or takes the wrong option, what about crap kicks, kicks straight down the FB's throat, kicks over the dead ball line? Eh? Do they count them?

He's a poor scrum half.

Why don't you come to my house Bulls boy 2011 and look at my trophy cabinet and we'll see who hasn't played a game of Rugby in his life. I can assure you it will put yours to shame sunshine.