I agree Mick,I know what your saying.

I got the impression we targeted him precisely because he was so dangerous. It used to happen to Vainikolo, lots of kicks, force him to use his energy in returning defence to attack, take him out and wear him out in the right half of the field.
And eventually you get a mistake that gives you match winning position.
Worked at the Grand Final, but doesn't change the fact he could be really good for us next year.
Him and Chris Baines actually - doesn't have to kick for us...

We know that to survive in this division we need to be bigger, faster, stronger, smarter.

To me this means that the new players need to be the above.

The existing players need better conditioning and skills training and also spend more time on tactics. You don't get "owt for nowt".

I am sure that the players Barry has chosen to keep can step up but without a good injection of "new blood" we are going to have a very torrid year.

I hope there are more signings imminent.

The real plus side for me is that the whole club really wanted this promotion. Last time it was treated like an embarrassing accident.

Agreed!

The current players are good but could be so much better. It's up to them and the coaching team.

Spot on Dreamer.

We have good players here but we can't afford to be sentimental with them just because they took us up.

For this league we'll need a lot more professionalism from the players we've got and hopefully the players we bring in will set a good example.

If we don't move forwards we'll really end up just going backwards.

I think Barry more than any of us know what this team needs.
He will also know that he can only spend within the clubs means.
It really is going to be a balancing game for him.

The last time we went up, Gary Moorby ended up with a weaker team than the one that won him promotion. He wasn't given the means he needed to keep us up. For whatever reason.

This can be allowed to happen. If the team suffers a load of injures and we go down again then fair enough.

But we cant be on the end of defeat after defeat and come back down again.

Andy Bowman from Halifax to sign for you guys

Position? Any good?

Been on their site, he's 21 , loose forward with 11 tries last season.

Sounds like he's going to provide Carl Hughes some stiff competition.

We're going to have a pretty damn good pack at this rate.

I have to agree with Stealth Comic, things in the pack are looking good.
But will a strongish pack be enough?

A good strong pack and quality half backs will at least make us competitive.

We've let 2 wingers go so i'm sure Barry will be looking to bring someone in there.

My only concern is lack of experience.

Mine too MIck,however Barry has gone about his business in the past for us by seeking out quality players relitavely unheard of or fringe players i.e Jones,Presley etc and so far it has served us well,I trust in Barrys ability on this and whos to say Richard Jones,Crowther etc cant set this division alight?the proof has yet to be confirmed of course but keep the faith,Bazza knows what hes doing on our budget.