Quote: Wires71 "Stagnated on quality.
Bullock - Prop. Wigan deemed not up to their standard (as they did for Hughes) - he is doing OK but miles off Hill's stats.
Holmes - 29 second row - some nice assists.
Maguolias - second row / LF who has played 17 NRL games over 2 seasons for an NRL team that missed the playoffs. Are we hoping we have unearthed a diamond?
Harrison - Gamble signing from lower league, unproven at top level following 4 game trial with Leeds, unfortunate career threatening injury.
We desperately needed an international quality prop forward and together with Bullock we may have been OK.
I suspect too much of our cap is spent on halves and backs.'"
Agree with this, we really need to get the pack sorted out. I'm baffled as to why we let Hill leave, last year was his best season for ages when the armband was taken off him. That said I bet he was a high earner on the playing roster so needed to free up cap space. I still think we must have space left in the cap given the outgoings and incomings from last season. I think Powell needs to decide which players he wants next season and build around them, Riley Dean is worth a chance surely.
Why did we sign Rob Butler to not play him? If he isn't suitable when we have 2 front row injuries then why bother at all?
Was longstaff injured yesterday? If not why didn't he play? Longstaff, wrench and thewlis need as much game time as possible and I'd say the same for Dean. Trouble for Dean though is that if we run with him as our preferred half next season we don't have any cover in the halves except maybe ratchford, do we sign a good half which would stifle deans opportunity or a young half who could provide cover? Or run for a season or 2 with ratchford as cover in the halves?