Not on the wind up, but I think you are still another front line prop and a better hooker away from a dominant front row. GB is a great start though.

I'd agree with that.

The pack as a whole looks promising, but the starting prop opposite Burgess and the hooker position hold us back from being 'dominant' i'd say:

8. Burgess
9. Leuluai / Powell
10. Clark / Flower
11. Greenwood
12. Farrell
13. O'Loughlin / Smithies

I'm very happy with the backrow providing Greenwood is punted to the right-edge, but 9 and 10 are 'average' for us now (i'm to be convinced about Clark still).

No bones about it though, this is a top, top signing and along with Hastings is a step in the right direction.

I was thinking the same thing myself re Clubb. We've a number of young guys coming through and maybe Clubb has been assigned this role. Personally I don't see him in the starting 17.

Happy with the signings let's hope we have more luck on the injuries front next year.

Let's not forget that his sizeable salary still counts on the cap. I can't see Clubb signing to play in the reserves. If this was true then why not put him on a rolling contract that is dependant on a minimum number of matches played rather than opting for a two year deal?

I think they are keeping Clubb around as a leader off the pitch more than anything, especially as Lockers hasn’t made his mind up yet.

I’m really looking forward to next season now. The playing front looks better and exciting, the fan zone on Robin Park arena if it gets going properly that could make it even better. I just want more Sunday afternoon games through the warmer months now, that would be the icing on the cake.

On a side note I think if not for the whole Edwards debacle, poor start and idiot players getting up to mischief I don’t see us signing Burgess, I see this as a bit of an apology on behalf of the club to the fans especially from Lenagan.

I would imagine, given Rads comments about our recruitment being finalised, that Lockers will be playing again next season.

Totally agree mate. He’s been the only decent prop we’ve had for a while and it’s almost as if he’s carrying too much responsibility. I think we’ll see a real difference in him next season.

Yeah fair enough. Although I wouldn't count out Clubb at 13 rotating with Smithies.

Is this Mitch Clarke any good? Can't get in the Cas team and bad been punted off to championship clubs for the last couple of seasons.

Everyone I ask says he was good against a poor Wigan pack, but have never seen him otherwise.

Great news!

I'm just wondering how long it'll be before we hear the drone of "Wigan must be cheating the salary cap again" diatribe from over 'thill and elsewhere.
Any bets?

What an exciting prospect for next season tied in with the Hastings signing. Presumably this will ignite season ticket sales. On paper I can't see any team being dominant but the top should be ultra competitive, I certainly hope so.
This will be the first season in a long while where we will see a number of top class NRL players in SL.

I do think the "second row is comfortably the best in the league" comment rather blinkered, but time will tell.

Well, people were mocking Radlinski's "most destructive prop in Superleague" comment and, whilst it may well have been hyperbole, he is very destructive but only in short bursts. It's not really true to say he couldn't get in the Cas team as it was more a case of other options giving Powell what he was looking for in terms of minutes and, more latterly, because there'd been a fallout with the coach and club. Few question his impact or the quality of his work when he was on though. Check out the Cas board for evidence of this. The general consensus early in the season was he was a first 4 prop as long as he was teamed with others who could play long minutes.

And therein lies the conundrum. It all depends on how we intend to use him. We have props capable of playing good stints in Flower and Partington and I think Bullock was moving in the right direction too prior to his injury but George Burgess is most definitely an impact prop. However Clarke is still young for a prop and maybe the coaching team see some improvements to be made in his engine. We'll see, I guess but, alongside Burgess, he definitely has the tools to give us the go forward we've been missing these last few years.