Having signed players at the 11th hour for a few seasons, we don't solve the problem by getting the player(s) that we really need, and then we have a bunch of contracted players that we have to wait to replace going forward. Then there's the question of do they really want to be here. Doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence and were really relying on Vaughn and McGuire to live up to expectations.

That loan move has effectively ended Longstaff`s Wire career, as his contract expires at the end of the 2023 season.

i was hoping he'd have a clean slate for this year, but he's been given the harvey livett treatment under price.

it does seem that if your face doesn't fit under this coaching staff, yer gone.

I think those 2 will. I’ve a feeling that things will be different this season. When your winning, the pressures are lifted and with it so are the spirits. A winning team is a happy team.

Powell seems to rate Holroyd very highly, so Longstaff's appearances were going to be limited, sensible decision for him to go get some gametime elsewhere.

Currie / Nicholson first choice with Holroyd, Harrison and Whitehead in that order able to fill in.

Yes, the squad has a bit of an unbalanced look and back row certainly looks light in terms of experience, but Powell obviously has a lot of faith in Nicholson and Holroyd and keeping Longstaff wasn't going to change that experience issue anyway.

Yes, I agree to a certain extent, but it was rumoured that Hull FC wanted to sign him on a permanent basis.

He is a Yorkshire based player, so the move would have suited him, and he could have had a season long loan there.

We seem to be messing the kid around, by insisting that he returned to us, only to loan him out elsewhere,

My issue isn’t that he’s being moved on, it’s the lack of forward planning. He hasn’t played (by choice, the Catalan away incident forced him to be selected) since Hull away, that was the Easter weekend. The coach made the decision then that he had lost his trust and he wasn’t part of his plans. Granted we go and sign Nicholson, but then lose Holmes, King/Wardle and Wrench for a significant part of the season and don’t backfill the positions.

We have one spare back, Minikin, with any experience until Wrench returns. The back row/centre cover has a combined total number of games in single figures and as it stands have no halfback despite training starting today.

The phrase "face doesn't fit" suggests that it is a bit personal. But perhaps they have just watched him (for hours and hours as coaches do) and decided that in a salary cap sport you can't keep 'em all. In the relatively small amount of time that I have seen him I can't really see why there is such a fuss ... but that might be unfair as I haven't watched him that much. Some might have spotted much more than me.
I totally agree that the squad is unbalanced. I am expecting a quick offload of a prop early on in the season. This won't be difficult as usually clubs are crying out for props.

I'd like to see what Joe Bullock would be like wider out. When we have so many grunters, who are most definitely props, you have to think differently.

Clearly the plan for centre was for Wardle to come in, but Huddersfield wanted too much from us in terms of the player swap. We have the cap space but the biggest issue is the lack of a quota spot. I’m looking forward to seeing Kasiano in a Wire shirt, and the impact he will bring, but I can’t help but think the spot could have been better spent on an excellent left centre. I

So most are back in preseason, kassiano, Vaughan and Dufty due next week. So if it’s to be Drinkwater when is that being announced and then him getting into early training, ofc Williams will get extended time off.

I don’t know what it is, but the team on those photos by the Guardian just looks different this year. Maybe it’s so many new faces, but it looks like a team that’s trim and focussed.

I hope it’s not just the camera angle or my mind playing tricks.

Looking at training pictures who is the next to last photo of ?

James Harrison. He just looks a bit older with his head shaved.

Thank you, blimey he has had a bad paper round in the off season.