Wilkes is a good player IMO. Would be sad to see him leave Wakefield.

Tim - who are these higher quality players that would be prepared to come and play at Quins?

As Brian Mc has said many times, it is very difficult to get players to come down here. The Northerners are out of their comfort zone and the cost of living is so much higher around London

The small crowds must be a big factor too.

Fair play to anyone who is prepared to give it a go down here (even big Mick!).

The Wilkes thread on the Wakey board (started by g'fax I think) has plenty of Wakey fans saying that he'll be missed. And apparently his ball-handling has improved, well it needed to.

So, if we view him as a replacement for Grayshon (or Nanyn or even Mbu), this could be a good signing.

Apparently this is becoming less of an issueThe head coach is aware that playing league in London is an attractive offer for many players now, with the lifestyle as much an attraction as the football.'"

We have offered him more than Wakey (allegedly) so he must be seen as in the first 17 squad

... or injury cover. When do we ever have our first choice 17 available?

.... or maybe one of our off contract props (Haggerty, Heckenburg or LMS (?)) are off ???

My guess is Hecks and Haggy are off.

There were strong rumours in Aus last year that Haggy was off to Wigan (and I recall hearing that he has a girlfriend in Manchester so can't see him hanging around much longer) and Hecks is too much of a gamble with his shoulder problems.

Wilkes sounds like a good buy for us (and he has barely missed a game in the last two seasons).

McDermott is an idiot for leaving Joe Mbu to rot away in the reserves.

Joe always gives 100% when playing for Quins, its a shame to see him not being played.

I've just noticed that Mbu isn't rotting away in the reserves today, hes playing at Skolars.
Apparently he is anyway..
Played for the reserves last week.

Personally, I don't think fitness is stopping Joe from getting into the first XIII, when playing for the reserves last week, he put in his work. He did what was asked of him, etc.
And then he was warming up for the first XIII, and he didn't seem that worn out, like most other players i've noticed playing for the reserves and then warming up with the first team.
For example, Sam Thompson, played for the reserves about a month back, and then he was warming up with the first team, but he looked completely knackered, he spent most of the time at the other end of the field leaning against the advertisments, looking completely dead on his feet. I know Thompson's come from the NL's so his fitness won't be that great anyway, but surely if Mbu's injured then he would look tired.

You really have no idea about RL do you, he's been superb this season.

Id be disappointed to see Haggerty or Mbu go. Esders and Wilkes possibly marginal improvements though if both in next year.....

My calls for a quality half back are getting no where so my next choice is a high quality Centre. We need more fire power and creativity so I hope BM has someone lined up from down under.