I don’t know. But the legal minefield klaxon has just gone off.

Hull FC spent thousands in legal fees trying to resolve the mess that surrounds Rangi Chase' visa. They gave up in the end, I can't see it happening.

When i aske the question to ed about chase he said that he was on too much for us even to negotiate with him.

I'm puzzled as we are supposed to be signing lots of players including is it 3/4 top players? I take it that means no true stars of the game.

Didn't we enquire about Tomkins surely he would want more than Chase. ?

IMO, for what it's worth Chase usually looks good against us and lower level teams, Widnes in their previous game (for a half anyway) but put him in against the Leeds, Wigans and for England versus the Aussies or Kiwis and he doesn't perform he just looks lost.
A big fish in the tiny sea of Castleford but out of his depth in and around the big boys.

This is questionable , We need to get away from this Sinfield - Tomkins - player will fix things .To the average newbie we are trying to attract, A high ranking NRL / RL name would mean nothing to them. for a marquee signing they're better off attracting a Gavin Henson /Cipriani / Sam Warburton from RU. for a marketing coup.

A Chase / Dugan 'name' It would mean something to the stay-aways, but 2-3 real hard-nuts who eat yardage and are hard to get past are more useful to Salford than any Rangi Chase, We plug our leaky defense , play more of the game in the opponents half , we already have the makings of the talent that can get us over the line. and win more .. simples

We can make our own stars - Academy- grown talent would have a far greater impact in schools than a Aussie on a 18 month contract.
Interest should be self generated by better performances and getting the balance right on ticketing & marketing .

This is correct, we tried for around 6 months but we gave up in the end. By the looks of it Chase won't be able to get another visa which is why Castleford are trying to get rid of him now as his current visa runs out in November meaning he won't be able to play past this season. I'm sure I also read on our board that a loan isn't possible as he would need to apply for a new visa as well or something along those lines.

A loan deal would be a change of employer and therefore needing a new visa.

Chase would just go missing in action for Salford.

Cuthbertson certainly has the size, I thought I read somewhere that Costigan has had a serious knee injury so I'd hope that we don't sign a crock.

Costigan has a duff knee. So much so that he has lost confidence in his play, apparently. Cuthbertson looks a better bet for us, or McKinnon.

Costigan has been disappointing at Newcastle, and we won't miss him, but just a few years ago he was winning SOO games with Qld and was one of the best in Saints premiership winning side. He was also great at Cronulla.
We need the money to sign Eastwood, so if you could pick him up today, that would be great - ta.

Your chance of getting McKinnon is zero. Even if the Knights can't lock him up, he is one of the hottest prospects in the NRL. He was captain of the Aus under 20s last year, played for country this year, and will play SOO next year.
Cuthbo would be a better pick up for you than Costigan. Cuthbo has a few good years in him while Costigan is just about done, but I doubt you would get him before next year, because he is definitely in our top 17.

If you want a bargain, buy Pete Mataútia, Suitonga Likiliki or Kev Naiqama. All would be stars in the ESL and have 10 years in them. Pete has played for Samoa, Kev is a regular for Fiji, and Tonga Likiliki was just about the star of the Tongan side that thrashed Samoa last week. They are all21/22 year olds rotting away in the Knights reserve grade.

McKinnon's name has been banded about over here but he looks too good to be coming over to the UK any time soon. I think ESL sides will be looking to bring decent young fringe players from NRL, like you suggest. They get bags of experience and can put themselves in the shop window for a return to NRL. Everyone's a winner.

Costigan is talented and that talent doesn't go away, but I agree with Cuthbertson being a better fit for us atm.

I'd take Adam Cuthbertson ( Lock , Prop or 2nd Row ) with:-
Siuatonga Likiliki 22 - Wing Centre or 2nd Row 6' 98Kg
Kev Naiqama 24 Wing -0r Centre 90Kg

Done ! send all of them over and forward the bill fao S Simms