If Orford doesn't come back. The club would need to get two halfbacks. I just can't see that happening.

Kearney and Sykes try, but aren't up to it. Is southernwood ready?

A lot can happen in a few weeks.

TBF the club did say they there was nothing new to add but they also said they would ask Orford to make a statement. Now to me the non silence from this is deafening and i hope i am wrong but as they are trying to attract new pledges wouldnt you have expected them to say something or get Orford to say something?

To be honest if Orford has been asked to make his statement surely it would have been to the English press, particulary the T & A rather than in the Oz press

The NRL could have their half backs sorted out by now but who says it doesnt include Orford?

If Orford doesn't come back, that frees up a largish chunk of SC cash, so it could be the Club are looking for a direct replacement (A Marquee Signing?) but these deals take time and why say something till there is something to say.
Saying Orford is not coming back without a replacement will not help the Pledges cause, and sometimes as we know making deals can be a protracted affair. So all the speculation one way or the other is going to continue!

The way I see it, rumours of him joining a club in Aus have pretty much stopped since around the time Peter Hood told us they would be getting in touch with his agent. The aussie press were never going write an article about how Orford was staying at Bradford - who would buy a paper to read that?!
But what they have done is stop spouting sh*t about him getting a deal with someone over there.

I would take some confidence from the silence rather than letting it get you all in a panic.

It is the end of a long season for Parramatta. Officials were hopeful of giving their long-suffering fans some good news after speaking with Matt Orford and his management during the week. Alas, Bradford want the premiership-winning halfback to honour the remainder of his Super League deal.

From Smh

Alas. Ha ha. Australians are funny.

What the hell are Parramatta doing talking to a contracted Bulls player! They either have our permission or the SMH is wrong, after all talking to a contracted player would contravene anti-tampering rules wouldn't it?

The guy clearly doesn't want to come back, and we should cut him loose!

The club may be in a position similar to the Deacon situation at the beginning of this year.
Deacon was offered the chance to be a player/coach at Wigan. He asked Bradford for a release.
Bradford said only if we get someone of quality to replace you.
We then got the call from Orford's agent and the rest is history.

If Orford wants to go, I'm sure the club will put in provisions that we either get a transfer fee or a suitable player from else where is coming as a replacement.

I feel if it's either, it's the 2nd option and we're hammering out a deal

However, if Orford is coming back and will honour his contract then I really think that we need something in the press to confirm this.

how obvious is it that orford wont be returning?
the only disturbing thing is that your club hasnt had the decency to tell you yet

I know the father of a current bulls player and i asked him the Orford question will he/ won't he be returning? and the reply was "he's totally cleared his locker out and taken all his stuff back to Australia and he isn't returning", apparently its pretty commom knowledge around the bulls inner circle.

IF that's true, and personally I don't hold the "I know x,y,z's family member/neighbour/milkman etc" rumours, then I'd say the club are seeking a replacement and are wanting to offset Orford's departure with the new player's signing.

As for the "club not having the decency to tell us" I would point out the club are attempting to attract fans back with the 10k pledge. I'm sure it's been mentioned on here somewhere.

So, with that in mind, WHY would the club announce the loss of a star player without someone of equal or better quality lined up to replace them?