League Weekly today suggest that Fielden is on his way out, with Maguire praising his professional attitude. Hull and Bradford are said to be favourites to sign him after September 1.

If this is true, with Feka out as well and Lima in, will Hansen move up front permanently?

Rumour is that we've only offered him 12 months and Hull have offered him 2 years. He's surely worthy of a 2 year deal with us

I'm a little worried about this. Coley and Lima will be our only seasoned front line props. I think we need another experienced prop. I see O'Carroll and Prescott battling for the 4th prop berth with Davies not being ready for fulltime SL just yet.

Unless we really are looking at Hock coming in as a prop, I'd be making some enquiries about available props. No props, no pots.

I thought Nathan Brown's post match comments last week were basically saying ''accept our offer, Stuart''.

I'd give him two years, definitely (at the right price, of course). He'd only be 32 at the end of it, and he's supremely fit.

Depends on how much he wants. If he goes and it means we have more cap room and have a prop rotation of:

Lima
Coley
Mossop
Hock
Hoffman
Prescott
O'Carroll
Davies

Not to mention our back row i'd be happy. Plus, the cap room it frees up might allow us to sign a dedicated hooker such as Ennis.

twelve months ago I wouldn't have been too concerned by this and in the past I've even been sceptical about players playing well in the finak year of their contract but on this occasion I really think we need to be signing Fielden up again albeit at a reduced wage.

If Fielden leaves and isn't replaced by another experienced prop (i.e. another new signing besides Lima) we have not solved the front row problem.

Ever since Scott Logan left Fielden has never had the luxury of having another hard grafting prop to share the workload. He has always played the most minutes of any of our props and lets not forget Coley only found form last season and Feka has been out of favour. At times due to injury we have had to go into games with only two recognised senior props.

It would be great to see a pack including Fielden, Lima and Coley with the fourth prop position being between Prescott, O'Carroll and Davies.

Going with Lima and Coley plus those three isn't going to frighten the rest of the teams in the competition.

It would not surprise me if we did because I remember when IL first arrived he said we would not be signing any new props because we had 7 on the books. It will be very frustrating when we finally sign another top prop we then let Fielden go. Back to square one.

Dave

No props no pots

Get him signed up

Agreed, after the performances this year, we need to kick on and improve. Going backwards in the Prop department will hurt us immensely.

I know hes not, but i think someone mentioned he is 18stone 6 foot odd? Surely he could do a good job if required. And if it means we can get a "proper" hooker i dont think we'd be worse off overall.

But ideally i'd like Fielden to stay on reduced terms. Hes established, good defensively and a good team leader. My only problem with him is he doesnt make as many yards as he used to (and i know, by saying this someone is going to quote optastats!).

Hull's very late offer has clearly upset the apple-cart. Prior to them coming in, Fielden was about to sign for us, and, as the Melbourne trio were already on board, the perfect balance was about to be struck.

Unfortunately it's the usual thing - if we are to top Hull's offer, it would push us dangerously towards the limit of the cap. I'm not sure how much room to manoeuvre we've now got.

Im suprised with Long, O'Meley, Fitzgibbon, Berrigan and co they have any room left anyway?

But (purely speculating) if he's not willing to drop his wages, which pretty much everyone has agreed needs to happen, then is it really Madge's or IL's fault if he goes? With whay he's reportedly on we could get 2 decent props in for the same money (LMS and Lynch???)

Exactly. Fielden of 2006 was worth his big bucks, he was a marquee player. Today hes just a good team player who doesnt have the X Factor like James Graham, Peacock, etc.

Its all about value, and 2006 Fielden != 2010 Fielden. Simples.