1. I am not sure that buying in players was curtailed by Burgess. I suspect that the Board 1) doesn't have the cash to spend as much as they did in the past , and 2) They recognise that bringing through our own Academy talent is a far better route to success anyway.

2. I agree with Rico, we do seem to have engendered a fair bit of team ethic / playing for the badge with the current squad and that needs to be carefully nurtured when we bring in new players. Signing journeymen and players that are being shipped out for various misdemeanours should surely be a last resort ?

3. I don't think we have a surprising number of injuries within the squad over and above what we have seen over the last few years. And yet we are struggling to cope, with a lot of forced positional changes. That's good news for the kids coming through, but makes it difficult to compete at the top table. I personally think Burgess needs to strengthen the squad over the next few months and bring in more experience. At the moment I think the squad is un-balanced with too many 'hopeful' players like Wood, Bruin, Thomas, Okoru etc ( plus the Academy starlets). Some of these will doubtless turn out to be really good signings, but not necessarily in the next 1-2 years.

All healthy competition and both still very young

Club being very careful with him. I wouldn't expect to see him playing regularly till after Easter.

Very encouraging this. He is a good player, even if I don't necessarily like northern clubs pinching talent that's been developed by London or other non-heartland teams.

I don't think it is a kick in the teeth for Hayes. No club ever has two halfbacks who go a whole season uninjured or without need of a rest; you need depth in that position and there are always things that crop up.

Plus, isn't Williams' contract up in 2026? Future proofing the club, all good for me.

How come rubber duckie didn’t break the news of this signing? Speaking of which, he’s been quiet this week. Is he ok?