Well there was the rumours of Platt and Sykes being off before the Donaldson one happened

Danny Washbrook is not a bad player who has suffered from being played at SO. Nevertheless, in our current predicament would he improve us? And, could we reasonably expect him to come here and thrive in a different atmosphere with a team playing well and going forward?

The answer to both those questions is probably 'No' for me so whilst I'm not knocking Washbrook I don't really understand the point of signing him only to have it trotted out later that we're unable to sign better players because of cap restrictions/financial considerations.

I'd welcome Washbrook to be a ball playing 13, when was the last time we had a regular loose forward who could act as a pivot and take some pressure of the halfs? I'd also like to retain Donaldson as I still think he has good potential.

I would hope Washbrook could realise some of his potential given a run at 13, in our situation (can't really promise anyone the realistic prospects of playoff rugby or honours and year on year underacheivement) I think it would be a good squad signing.

Is he that different from Addy? We already have a loose forward with potential who we haven't bothered actually playing at loose. If this rumour has any legs I'd be disappointed.

I'm coming from a position of not being bothered if any of our current squad get pushed out tbf, they have all been part of the failure and I'd struggle to argue against upgrading any of them, addy included. Yes he has potential, and I'd let him fight it out with Washbrook (if its true, or Langley or a.n.other if its not) for the 13 shirt. We need two players for each position and if Addy is one of the 2 for Loose forward we still need another option IMHO (In my world Langley is removed from the 13 options BTW, which is probably different to Potters plans)

I wouldn't ostensibly disagree with that apart from the fact that Washbrook has been part of a similar failure at Hull. My argument is that whilst relatively inexpensive and able to do a job, the Washbrooks, Sibbits, Hargreaves (add in at least 10 more current Bulls players) are bottom 6 players and the more of them you have in a squad the less likely you are to be able to sign more expensive top 6 players. I know it's a balance between quantity and quality but not even the most ardent defender of the Bulls recruitment could argue we are blessed with much of the latter.

I'm a bit surprised at the negativity towards Washbrook. I seem to remember he was pretty awesome a couple of years back whenever I saw Hull on TV and live. Maybe he's lost his way a little, but he seems like one of those decent players who perhaps simply needs a change of scenery.

I'd certainly say he is a level above a journeyman plodder like Sibbit, for example.

If this is true, and he's coming, I'd welcome him as a ball playing loose forward. And if Danny Addy is as good as people are saying, then he'll have to step up and challenge him for the starting spot.

i would think washbrook would be a very good signing if its true

streets ahead of any of our so called loose "i will take another drive in and die with the ball " forwards

Nowt t get exited ova realy. jst anotha 1 of the crop of mediocre youths brought thru at that time

Wud rAther persist wit addy. better than donno by a fair bit though.

Wouldnt say no to the signing but i don't see why Addy wont be better next season having a run out from LF rather than hooker.

No truth in it according to Washbrook himself.

good. while I wouldnt dispute that washbrook would be an improvement short term , he wouldnt be a major stepup up from addy,donaldson,bateman. If we want to progress we need to be patient about bringing the younger players through as long term their much better value cap wise than bringing in a ready made solution. If your going to bring someone in who blocks a young player coming through then it needs to be a player who's a genuine step up in class. Think all three off our young players mentioned as possible LF's have potential to at least be as good as washbrook if not significantly better long term. Biggest problem we have ,IMO, is that when Langley is unavailable through injury then we dont seem to have the confidence to give any of Addy,Donaldson or Bateman a shot, instead playing Elima,Hargreaves or Kopczak out of position.

They have been worried that if they did give them a shot, we might end up being paggered all season and might even finish out of the 8. Understandably, they decided against risking it.

Phew, glad we avoid that. Would have been a disaster.