maybe we have some younger options available? mcavoy and another lad who i cant remember the name of but we seemed to have high hopes when thye joined the academy. Maybe langley will be pushed forward into prop?
Elima has certainly had some good years at prop in past? maybe with our dearth of second rowers we are going to move him up?

Perhaps Potter intends to use Langley as a prop (when needed) and maybe sees Addy as our future loose forward?

Crossely has never been given a chance, it was all about burgess blah blah bloody blah, at 20 crossely should have been given time to progress, would have done to go on loan again and be recalled should injuries occur. Releasing him would come back yo bite us on the butt cheeks if we are raped with injuries again.

On the same level Burgess impressed and worked on the areas of his game at that level before moving up to senior level. Crossley has not developed enough at that level to break through and the performances of burgess warranted him staying in the team - crossley has been unfortunate himself - injuries when chances may have appeared but every time we have lost a prop over past couple of years he has been out injured himself meaning no chance has arisen.

If he cant stay fit in academy how would he cope against hardened pro's?

hes 22 according to the bulls site, at Toms age he had been a star of the England academy, not just ours. What has happened? I hope he has been given the chances, 7 games 2010, 2 in 2011, but it seems that unlike Koppy he has not progressed from that storming start to his career. This is still a rumour isnt it, so not confirmed as yet? He is still on the Bulls site, they usually whip 'em off there as soon as its official.

Read on the Dewsbury forum on ToatalRL that it was announced at their fans forum

I really think you are a bit too harsh on Kopczak, there have been plenty more targets in last years squad

thanks, looks as if he wants to play where he is wanted, good luck to him.

He was one of the only players to improve as the year went on I agree. But he came from being a spare part who got 10mins per game to being occasional good but generally just ok. I think some have gone overboard about him because the rest of the squad was so abject. I agree there are more deserving targets so maybe I should leave off, but I am worried if he's going to be potentially our main prop next year. With Scruton's injuries and illness the new lad's unknown quantity and Burgess's rawness, and there's Hargrevaes too, nearly forgot him there's nothing there that looks like real quality or depth.

Ok and the point about raving about him is valid but his progress has been good. One potential plus point could be if we get Scruton back to his old form but like Manukafoa that's pretty much up in the air. Looks like prop could be last yrs scrum half in terms of random factor

We always seem to lack quality or depth somewhere! All the more reason to bring on your own and hold onto them. Such a shame we lost George Burgess as with him on board now things would look much healthier.

Agreed. Which brings us back to an earlier point that Tom ought to be tied up longer term by the club asap, at the very least it would show commitment from both parties and if the worst comes to the worst (and Tom eventually wants away) we would have a bit more leverage to get some kind of fee or replacement.

Given what Tom's manager/agent has made clear he thinks about the current administration, I suggest it is highly unlikely young Tom will be signing any extensions any time soon?

From what I remember, when South's were investigated into GI's transfer, they were clearly spending 'to the limit', with regards to the cap.

GI agreed to take reduced pay this year, to which his pay would be increased over the next 2 years, aided by the salary of outgoing players (OOC) and salary cap increase.

When South's signed George, they made a point of detailing his salary was coming out of the reserve team cap as some questioned how they could afford his salary.

If we can tie Tom down to a decent contract, this may actually stop him from going down under as they may not be able to fit him under the first team cap. I can't imagine a SL player with Tom's reputation would be happy playing reserve grade in AUS after his breakthrough year.

Most of the above is just wishful thinking but it would be my plan if I were in a decision making capacity at the Bulls.

And before anyone asks, I'm not sure how they then managed to sign Luke halfway through the season!!

If you were Tom wouldn't you also wait a little while before re-signing regardless of what club or agent say? If I were him I'd want to see if the side was going to do a bit better in 2012. Nobody likes playing in a losing side. If we look like a side on the up then we've a better chance of keeping him, the key is for the side to play better rugby and him to get plenty of minutes, learn lots and enjoy it. Then the money won't seem as important.

However if we have another year like 2011 he'll be off. You can bet your boots.