We've been saying this for a while now, and we're still just as bad in the backs as ever. We may have players in our youth set ups that look a class above at that level, but who's to say they'll be able to make the transition. Until those players you've mentioned above (on other prospects at other teams) prove themselves to be good enough to play for England then I don't see how anyone can say our problems in the backs will be sorted in a couple of years.

Fair point, and a lot depends on whether McNamara gives them a chance, of course. I do think that we have a lot more excellent prospects, in all positions, than we had a few years ago, and I hope that will continue as the RFL's quota reductions start to take effect.

Which demonstrates my gripe.

I'd imagine its also because most of the 2nd rowers (Farrell, Tuson, Mossop etc) are playing first team or are injured now, and he's leaving us anyway so we can stop developing him as a centre!

Not wanting to sound like 'Leaguefan' as long as you have teams like HKR and Wakefield with 9 or 10 overseas players in their team it won't make difference if McNamara picks them or not because they won't be playing enough SL games to justify selection.

For me the biggest improvement that needs to be made is in the standard of our reserve and U18s competition, at the moment its pretty awful and the step up to SL is far far too wide at the moment.

Partly, yes, but also to accommodate Roberts at fullback as he continues his rehab, which means switching Veivers to centre.

Going off what I hear on here about Roberts, do you think the club would want to offload him if they could? He seems to be taking an extraordinarily long time to recover fully.

No. It was a bad injury, and the way we're managing OK without him, I'd much rather see him properly recovered, so he can start next season as he did this one.