Unsurprisingly he has re-signed with Halifax - no need to worry.

tbh despite denials from the club I'm getting a bit nervous that thoran hasnt been snapped up by anyone ( sharp too for that matter). I

m wondering if we've pulled out of walker deal, following a deal being agreed for sam and having funds available for transfer fees, and are using walker's quota spot for moimoi as a direct replacement for sam and any additional funds to pay a transfer for a british back.

fair few rumours of Moimoi coming , but after reading rlthisrl i cant see it

Are we 100% sure Hall and L'Estrange are coming? There was a worrying story about Hall a couple of weeks ago relating to his tragic personal problem and how it had affected his mate L'Estrange. It also seemed to question whether the move to UK would still go ahead! Now that would seriously compromise next years squad!

He ain't coming to England. Being a father myself there's no way I'd up sticks to the other side of the world with those circumstances to deal with at home.

I'd be very surprised to see him here next season.

Already signed for Featherstone

You say that, but one of the last paragraphs is

"I told him he could either sit under a coconut tree or look after his children's futures. Summer's medicine and care was very expensive. She needed her dad to make something of his football, because it won't last forever. That really hit home for Fui - what football meant to his life and his kids. He's just the best dad."

Now, seems to me that a move to SL with it's higher salary cap and better exchange rate would be benifical to someone looking to ensure a secure future.

Has Eastmond re-signed with Saints yet?

There's a decent signing in the making! A dynamic young halfback who'd be a perfect as the focus for our marketing. He'd walk into the team and be ideal to take over from Deacs. Promising British halfbacks don't grow on trees.

That said Ratchford at Salford looks a promising player too and would also walk into the side.

As far as a replacement prop is concerned if we could land one of the two above along with Kearney and Walker then I'd be happy to see us get any promising young prop even if he were a NL player.

Otherwise I think LMS or Luke Burgess would be a fair enough replacement who we can realisticly aim at getting. The club would obviously also need to address the lack of quality and quantity in the halfbacks and backs too.

Fair point, but would you want someone who is purely here for the money, with their heart and thoughts permanently over on the other side of the world?

Can't see there being any chance at all of Saints letting Eastmond walk away, especially with Long going - I would imagine they'll be building future sides around him.

Nor can I but stranger things have happened. He's not re-signed yet AFAIK and there seems to be a sticking point over his worth.

Add to that the fact that Saints have been making significant losses financially (see their accounts for details) and it may be they'll be vulnerable to clubs making bids they can't compete with.

The Bulls will also have more space under the cap when you consider that the salaries of Burgess, Jeffries and Solomona combined have yet to be allocated along with the money already made available for Greg Bird last year.

I expect Hall and L'Strange to take the cap space vacated by Newton and Morrison.

I don't think the exchange rate is what it once was.....

Even so, saying that, moving across to the other side of the world would be a big step. At least he can pop back to NZ inbetween games comittments allowing to see his family.

1 year deal a few weeks ago.

Really?? Doh!

Maybe we should aim to get him in a year's time? Ratchford's deal's up then too.

We should be looking at players like these two.

As for props as I said LMS or L,Burgess would do for me so long as we strengthened the backs significantly.

Knowing our luck we'll be bringing in Feather, Boyle and King

Getting poached my Sale for Union Apparently is Eastmond.