We've been on the back foot against saints in the past and Penrith this year and it's harry smith and his kicking game that kept us in the game. I don't think Williams could do that. But isn't the threat that Williams is.

I think the pack thing is a bit of an excuse. They had the chance to end sets better and almost never did.

He's looked ideally suited for Superleague from the bits I've seen and should be a huge threat for them. Lams record of picking fringe players up from the NRL is fantastic and this guy could be the next success story.

I agree with that but was that not Drinkwater's job? If Smith wasn't playing could French have done it? I would say Williams job is to attack the line with Drinkwater controlling the game and doing that behind a beaten pack is nigh on impossible

Amazed that Leigh have managed to sign Armstrong. He's been brilliant standing in at FB for Newcastle and I thought they had been unlucky and missed their chance as he was sure to agree a NRL contract. They must have thrown a fair chunk of money at him - I do wonder if the prospect of going back to playing 2nd choice to Ponga was a deciding factor though.

As said above, Lam has been great at spotting talent on the outside of NRL 1st teams. It didn't work out the best as coach here but we have sure benefited from him bringing Bevan and Jai into the team.

I agree. That's why I said, 'most' sides.

Reports are circulating that Wakefield Trinity are on the verge on signing John Bateman on a three year deal 2025-2028.
Huge signing for Daryl Powell if true.

Reports started on the Rugby League ITK account.

Not saying it won’t happen as a broken clock is correct twice a day but I wouldn’t necessarily take it as gospel either.

What do you think are the chances of getting Chan permanently at Hull?

I'd have thought pretty slim but who knows. Is he playing second row at Hull or in the middle? and how is he going?

I think he'll step up a spot once Isa leaves/retires at the end of 2024 and that will keep him here.

6 months into a 3 year deal. Can’t see it.

Played both positions, been pretty steady, nothing spectacular, but runs hard, which is better than we have.

I'd take him on a year's loan deal, allow us to bin off Pele.

But I suppose with Isa and Cooper going, he will move up the pecking order next season.

Long lay off for Field ? Seen 12 weeks rumoured

I bloody hope not

Sad if true we do have the cover putting French to fb eckersley at centre and get Kierghran to cover French. What sort of drop off we’ll see from that I’m sure we’ll find out in the next few weeks plus leaves us thin. 12 weeks seems a little excessive considering he played the full game

According to Josie (oft other site) he said 4-6 weeks when she asked him, so hopefully not as bad

Peet has confirmed 6-8 weeks.

6-8 weeks isn't too bad. We'd be looking at early to mid August and him having around 8 games to get back up to speed ahead of the play offs. It feels like this injury has been coming with all the talk of him managing something and as soon as he does play flat out he's pulled up. Fair play to him managing to get through a full game with an injury like that and to play as well as he did. How brave the lad is doesn't get anywhere near enough attention.

6 - 8 weeks from today, or from the CC final? If it's the latter, then we're almost 2 weeks in & a break next week.

Sam Eseh has gone to Leeds on loan.

That will do wonders for his development.........

Not the most positive of environments to go in to but hopefully he'll get plenty of minutes. Avoiding head injuries may be the big worry for him. Unbelievable that they have 7 players missing with concussion this weekend

I think they're assessing things differently than other teams, possibly because of the Stevie Ward case. There's 3 or 4 new ones from the Hull game and there's was little out of the ordinary during that game. I hope he doesn't fall foul of their concussion protocols.

Especially as the coach has just left (mutual consent) - hardly a good sign.

Stuff like Smith leaving and the seemingly positive changes at Hull FC, really show what a farce the current fixture format is.

We've played Cas three times and not played either of the above. We'll now probably have to face better versions of both Hull and Leeds (home and away), where others have played them and racked up decent points differences.

Don't get me wrong- Team's switch coaches and sign new guys, but it's mostly after a good run of games. We're half way through the season and we've not played them.

Swings and roundabouts.

You were fortunate to play an in-form Warrington away who made more changes than Wigan and were more weakened and you also played Leigh A when they had a lot of injuries.

We still have to play Leigh away twice when they are more likelt to have a much better team. You were also very fortunate with your fixture the week after the CC Final.

Each team gets good and bad luck.