I think Williams, Leyland & Hayes plus another would be too many in that position?

Hayes showed that he was more than capable of being our first choice 7 in 2025 and I was slightly concerned when I heard we were looking for an 'established 7'.

We'll still have Stef Ratchford next season too, don't forget. Hopefully Hayes is fit and well enough to start the season alongside Williams, with Stef and Leyland (assuming that actually happens) as back-up.

My brother also used to dabble on the Bridgewater, and bought the permits or whatever they were called. I myself never saw the attraction of it, as I was bored within a few minutes, but accept that it's the most popular participation sport in the country and a lot of people enjoy it. I'd rather go out and run 5k (10k on the odd day that my body isn't telling me how old I am).

As for fishing on the opposite bank, I think it might have something to do with you having more of an opportunity of a catch, should the fish not be able to see you. I'm sure there will be a Jack Hargreaves amongst us who will supply the proper answer.

I love it when anglers talk about a "battle of wits" with the fish.

Ah yes, the famous angling Hook brothers - Bait and Worm, I believe they're called?

Not really the same as Burrell though in terms of idiocy.

Genge a significantly better player than Burrell, he’s also younger, and not considerably past his best. Probably harder conditioning wise for a prop, who would be significantly heavier than the RL equivalent. Would make no sense for a RU prop to come across though cause it would remove the scrum, which is half of a props job in RU anyway. That’s why they get the big bucks

There are plenty of players from Union who could migrate across, and that works both ways. Just need to identify the right players, rather than random choices and going for big names. Don’t know why Union don’t do it more often, guess the risk isn’t worth it and the gap isn’t as big as it used to be. Sale have a few former RL youngsters on the books for example, so they are trying to grab them younger. Think it is fairly common for young lads to play both codes at age group level as well.

Lots of those highlights are fairly old, so probably before the high tackle framework was introduced. League is now more strict and irrational re high tackles, cause they took too long to deal with it and are clearly in a massive panic about it.

Don’t get the issue re defence. You could show highlights of League players and the defence wouldn’t look great in isolation. Suspect you could have a 5 min video of Sita Akauola bouncing people! Obviously defence is still stronger in League, and that will always be the case. There is also a bigger size gap from player to player.

Nah they ar my cousins. My younger brothers are Line and Sinker

I'm just tickled by the fact that Claudia Winkleman is into fishing. You learn something new every day on this forum.

Hayes will be 100% ready for the start of the season, he's already training and running again. So i think him and Leyland fighting for the same spot will be great competition and they'll both need to be at their best to get the spot.

ANTHONY MILFORD.

Worth a punt? Not quite the organising half we desire, but is decent in defence and can be devastating near the line. Only problem is he'll no doubt want more than a one year contract, and that's a huge risk, especially when we are trying to bring Hayes through as our long-term solution.

Not sure Milford is the sort of player Burgess craves either. Too inconsistent and has never really demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the cause IMO.

I’m not sure you’ve got the hang of this Easy! Throwing a random name in with no basis is perfectly acceptable, but then going on to rubbish your own rumour IN THE SAME POST is simply not cricket (nor fishing come to that!).

Well, wasn't intended to sound like a rumour, more a gathering of opinions!

He's after a stint over here. 30 years old, so not quite past his best yet, but was never consistent enough to be called a 'great' in his time at the Broncos. Wondering whether we'd take an ageing Milford as first choice over a developing Hayes, since we have a free quota spot and a bit of cap space available?

So just fishing then

Well, I caught at least one

I don’t want to carp but if you were angling for a bite I don’t think you Hooked 1 at all!

Better watch out for Al Caprawn turning up on his motorpike & sidecarp.

Ha ha that's a Gudgeon.

Matty Russell signed on at Wakey as expected. He’s not a bad back up option, but I’d much rather we used the likes of Wrench, Lindop and Thewlis Jnr etc than have an experienced head in reserve.

Decent move for him I think.

Yeah saw that, love rugby league said Warrington “ace” joins another club.

Had me hold my breath.

Good luck to him he’s way behind the pecking order.

In the nicest way possible, he's not close to the standard of our current academy products. Good luck to him and wish him well, he's done well to overcome his troubles.

Agree around your thoughts on using younger squad members, rather than an experienced head getting a first team shirt, but there 's still merit
in having a couple of older heads in the reserves to bark out orders, and making sure everyone does their job. Ratchford fits the bill in that department.

It’s being said Chris Hill as signed for Salford

Fair play, 1 year deal i assume for a forward who still does a decent job, and can pass alot on to the other forwards erc

Hope that was on the boundary, which would combine cricket and fishing, just to please CH.

We've signed St George & PNG 2nd Row Dan Russell.