To be fair - lots of people on these boards were saying that O'Brien, & latterly Patton, was the answer to the problem, and given suitable youth development set up, they should have been.

It's so frustrating currently because as bad as we are playing, a class half would make all the difference. There is talk of the cronk deal being done, apparently he was set to come last year but that got delayed hence the o'brien to Bradford U-turn.

I hope it's true, we need someone of his calibre. If the club came out and said we have signed him, I could say fair enough this season hasn't been good enough but they have rectified the main problem for the following year and I could probably accept that.

The thought of us not signing a top half back for next season is horrifying.

he was good yesterday but he's been on and off really, same with wood, both decent half backs in their own right but not quite good enough to lead us around like broughy does.

i'm sure i read earlier on in the season that o'brien was the next big thing and that he would come good, then he was out of the picture, and patton was going to be the next big thing and the future?

No. No one has ever said OBrien or Patton were the next big thing.

Many were hoping OBrien could offer a gap fill but be can't even do that at this level. That's clear now.

In Patton, still too early to tell, but compare him with George Williams at Wigan and already you know hes not as good.

I've supported Rovers all my life and those players won nothing as yet. We are happy to be happy to being part of the super league. Given your recent success sometimes a little patience doesn't go amiss.

Being without a quality half in 2014 was understandable, Briers had to retire through injury due to his neck problems. Like you I'm hoping they have someone special lined up for 2016 and decided to hold off recruiting a half for 2015 to ensure we got the better player in the long run. If we are still without a half in 2016 it wont bear thinking about.

i'm not entirely sold on this halfback being the answer meme if i'm honest.

I remember an old "Programme Note" of Brian Johnson's, from the night of the LCC SF against the Wids in 89 (what a game), in which he says
"I don't use injuries as an excuse. They are a fact of life", and these were the days when teams regularly played Sunday/Wednesday throughout the season, as we had a 16 team league, LCC, Regal Trophy, CC and Premiership (all with replays if needed), as well as a fuller International programme.

Me thinks TS is getting his excuses in early. Quick turn rounds do hinder, but can also work to your advantage. That's the way the mop flops. This week's hinders. I'm sure we've benefitted MANY times when playing on a Friday, and our next game is the following Sunday (or even Monday, a year or two ago).

I'm afraid this week, we have to "suck it".

Fair point Rover but on the other hand a bit of success dulls the appetite to be patient. I was going to use "hungry like a wolf" in my summation but thought that a better line to describe our current situation might be "if I hadn't seen such riches I could live with being poor"

Yes we've had our dark times but we've had it good recently and we want some more thanks.....I'll get my coat

FMC - I think you're partially right. But if i had to make one signing it would be a real quality half.

I was reading the article about Lineham's signing in your Warr Guardian at work today.
Saying that J Monas is staying too giving you SIX wingers ????
And you wonder why you are deficient in other areas - can't remember exactly who the 6 were - Lineham, Monas, Ormsby , Penny , not sure if Russell was one but I wouldn't say he was a winger.

At Saints this year we have Makinson and Swift , but if one gets hurt you can carry an average winger (ie. Dawson).
You're also carrying a couple of dead wood halfbacks - Myler and Wheeler.
It's no surprise your interchange looks quite weak carrying all that - get a couple of injuries and you're really screwed (unless it's a winger).

So we share some common ground then even if you won't admit to it.
I'm not one of the "we need a hb" posters, for me we already have them, although I'd take one if he came along, my call has always been for a quality prop. For the last 2 years I've harped on about that, although may have been wrong......

....perhaps we need two?