and isnt it the situation pretty much across the league that most teams only have 1 dedicated standoff and then have have to resort to other players playing out off their natural positions?. We have reasonable backup for standoff with kearney,ah van, addy and southernwood (who wakey fans told us when we signed him is equally at home in the standoff role). Note I said backup. Of course Briggs ideally would be available and starting. Im not convinced we should rush him in against leeds and wigan but If he goes well in remaining friendlies then my opinion on that could change.

I'd personally be more worried about our squad depth for the scrumhalf position. As it stands we have herbert, southernwood then at a push maybe l'estrange. According to fev fans briggs is an out and out standoff and cant cover scrumhalf

There is generally less and less difference.

agree in principle but in practice you tend to find one half is better at organising and the other is better at support play. Typically the scrum half is the organise and the standoff is the support player although the exact opposite can be the case. Ideally you'd have two halves who excelled in both areas but that doesnt happen very often and there can be an issue having two organisers in the same team anyway.

Whilst I am absolutely delighted that we have a genuine SO recruited now, I can't help but think why wasn't he signed earlier ???

Area that we were in greatest need ?
Can't imagine he is the highest earner we have signed (so not affected by the Awful situ)

We then wouldn't be having these discussions about if he's ready / knows the moves etc

The little matter of finally conceding defeat on trying to sign Pryce, maybe?

And about time, would you not agree? It was getting almost as tiresome reading about the second coming of Pryce as it was reading about the toerag Orford's ongoing soap opera.

I'm just happy we've signed a SO who comes highly recommended, is young and British, and we did the deal in the right way with Featherstone. As well as the fact he has some great potential.

Not so sure, as I still think we could have them both (Price & Briggs). Still reckon Price's best position is FB, but we're not exactly short there are we !

Briggs might not be the highest earner, but the live salary cap would prevent us signing a player if we don't have space to pay for him. There's also the fact Briggs was contracted for another year with Fev. It's only because Fev likely resigned themselves to losing him for nothing at the end of the year so possibly spoke to his agent and asked to try and get an SL club to come in and taking him for a fee.

salary cap wise your probably right. but not sure we could afford to pay transfer fees for both.

Knowing that Leon was like before he left about wanting to play Stand Off, I don't think he'd join any club that meant he was playing any other position.

Depending on how his head is, Pryce's future should be at 13.

It's an interesting thought, and there's no doubt he's got the skill. The only caveat I would have is Leon's habit of drifting in and out of games; you can get away with that a little at stand off but at number 13, particularly in defence, I would suggest not.

Been saying this for years.

We probably won't get Pryce this year.

I've heard that we definitely might.