"realistic signings"...........

Who was it that said Moi Moi had already signed on the dotted line??

Maybe we don't need Eddie contributing to potential transfers!

slight whoosh on your part methinks.

bosc would add all the qualities we need so must be worth a gamble. i still feel that we will struggle without the weapons for the hbs to use though

Bosc is crocked so I'm not sure he'd be a good signing.

I'ds be interested to see if we can use our contacts to pick up someone like Dureau who must have been dirt cheap. It needn't be a player we've all heard of.

If we go into next year with Herbert and Jeffries as first choice halfbacks we'll finish outside the 8 again.

I've voted for 'continuity'. I wouldn't be upset to hear any of Raynor, Ainy, Ah Van, Royston or even Walker had resigned IF we sign a half back of some note and one real NRL quality forward a la Laffranchi, Heighington. Earlier in the season I argued for a top prop but young Burgess has done well enough and it is a real gritty defender around the ruck area and possible line breaker we're crying out for and the situ with Langley is now a real concern. There's nothing wrong with any of the young players but they're too young and inexperienced to form the nucleus of a side.

2 quality players (hopefully 3).

A quality halfback, a quality forward and a half decent centre to go with Lulia would be enough to turn this side around. I'd even forgo the centre just to get some direction in the middle and some more leadership and fight in the pack.

Having a big clearout wont get us anywhere is 2012, i reckon all it would take is a few quality signings to bolster the squad a bit more !!

I'd prefer a quality centre as well, but I tend to agree with all that. (It does happen...

)

A better run on the injuries front could make a massive difference. But, perhaps more important than anything, is a resolution to whatever seems to be wrecking many of the players' confidence and willingness to make the tackles in far too many games? Injuries notwithstanding, this squad should be far better than this season's abject performances suggest.

Edit: In the time I was writing that, I see two other, shorter posts snuck in saying pretty well the same. We seem to have violent agreement then, on this page at least!

You're right to raise the point that it's not all about 'signings'. They should indeed be better but collectively all across the park we've defended poorly and fold quickly under pressure. That's at least in part a coaching (mental and physical) and conditiong issue I'm afraid. Whilst I'm not a Herbert fan I also don't think Potter has made best use of the limited halfback options he had and to hear him saying Herbert has improved and is in talks about extending his contract sends a chill down the spine. This is a pivotal time for MP as we all appreciate he took on a massive job, he's not exactly shone so far

If you actually believed that then you are a bigger chump than I originally thought.

The Langley situation is one for concern. Great when on the pitch but that is unfortunately too infrequent. Maybe if the club renegotiated his contract for a reduced playing wage but built in coaching responsibilities that might work. Strikes me as an intelligent guy who could maybe work in defensive capacity.

Would that be allowed in the salary cap structure to relieve pressure/ make room? Would also give a good servant a further career if path ( if wanted)

Not as easy as it sounds.

All of a player/coach's package counts under the cap. The Operational Rules specifically address this (to me, potentially unfair) situation.

I have often wondered how the Pies have accommodated Paul Deacon. I wondered if they might have agreed a deal with him where he coaches for free, or as near as, for any year that he also plays. Then, when he hangs up his boots for good, in his first full-time coaching year he gets a big golden hello...? Maybe even his playing contract assumed he would play only a very few games and would spend most time coaching, so he comes extremely cheap? Maybe some precedents somewhere for other clubs to follow should they encounter cap issues because of this situation (be nice if we DID have cap issues right now, mind...)

Can't see the Pies doing anything regarding the salary cap that involves paying something in future years that relates to the current year though...surely? You used to get fined £50k and points deducted for things like that...