Barba was the most talented player available players of his age and quality are not available we have missed out big time we will replace gidley and Sims for two more past there best Aussie's​ is it only me that thinks we are dull ?

Players are more likely to earn a more money at Wire without a marquee spot than at Saints within one.

With the new salary cap rule on returning players from RU I reckon we could.

A quality half back is going to be very hard to find. No home grown ones and quality aussies already tied up on long term contracts

Theres no doubt we are an ambitious club, the doubt is with some of the bog standard players Smith keeps signing. Clark and Westerman are brilliant signings, Lineham is proving his worth again now and home grown players like Currie (only a month a way from playing) and Harvey Livett, morgan smith etc are exciting prospects. But we need some quality signings at the club while these players develop which we just aren't signing. I'm just hoping we sign a couple of real quality signings for the new season and not pick up some more players that are risky and we're taking a chance on. I would rather sign consistant players that aren't world beaters then a couple of chance players in the hope they are awesome.

Patton could grown into one of the best English talents in the game if he was just given the time to develop and allowed to grow into the role and the shirt. every halfback needs the time to be able to put their own stamp on the squads game.

I don't think the club's ambition should be in question. On paper the squad is as good as any other in the league, we've yet to put out our first choice 13 this season but for me this squad is underachieving. For me that means the coaching staff aren't getting the best out of the team and questions should be asked of them. Perhaps it's time for Smith to freshen up his coaching team again.

We had a class half-back. Sadly he buggered off to fight people on the streets of Queensland. Nobody in SL is anywhere close to bringing us what Briers brought when he was playing, maybe Williams but that's not happening.

What do contracts have to do with it these days though eh?

I can't help but think we'll have had serious discussions with Barba, and that of we had wanted we could have offered more money than Saints. For whatever reason we either didn't, or did and he still chose Saints anyway.

I would have liked Barba here, and whilst it's good for SL I'm disappointed one of our biggest rivals have signed him. However, being objective about it, we need a half much more than a FB, so if there's any chance we can use our marquee on one, it would IMO likely be money better spent.

We keep telling ourselves this don't we. The truth is our backs are pretty average and we lack pace across the side and we don't know what our best team is.

We play full backs on the wing, half backs at full back, half backs at Hooker, defensive second rowers at centre and today I read in the guardian we will be playing a non-ball playing forward at loose.

We've been unlucky with injuries, we started the season without 3 of our 4 best players in hill, ratchford and curry and Clark has had quite a lot of time out as well. That aside we've still been far too poop though that's for sure.

Our backline is paper thin but ratchford, atkins, Toby King and Lineham are all good in my opinion. I don't think too much of the rest though. Johnson could be good in time and I'm sure there are other youngsters. If penny was fit I would play him over Russel.

If the clubs ambition is not in question, should the players ambition be in question?

In what is a bang average league this year I can't help wondering why we are not not several points ahead of Wigan & Saints. They are not good this year,so far, but we are even more mediocre when it is evident that we have players who should be able to do better. Improving on the basics would give us a shot in the arm for a start.

I'm half expecting a reaction from Leeds and Wire on the back it....however we are a better side than Leeds.
If we win this tonight, even Phil Clarke will have to relent his Wire bashing.

Maybe in your rubber bubble , meanwhile back in the real world