Sometime last week Bradford announced that they had signed 5 new players, Walshaw, Clough, Baille, Pitts and someone from Whitehaven, If they can sign at least three decent squad players in Walshaw, Clough and Baille what are we doing, I'm guessing that we could have got Baille and Clough for around the same amount of cash has Ashurst would be getting. Baille yes he's old but on his day he is devastating and Clough would provide the experience and guile that Ashurst could be missing. Baille has utility value playing both in the 2nd row and centres and that could have also helped out Simon to settle down with his move to god's county. I believe that next year your squad will be even more important in the first set of games and there should be pressure during pre-season to get the start we need and I believe that can partly come from more quality numbers in the squad, I'd have liked to have seen Baille and Clough in the red, white and blue next year alongside Walshaw, so let's see some more signings that would add quality to the team.

Ashurst is better than both Clough and Baille IMO. As for more new signings, that will only happen if more season tickets are sold.

I like Clough and Baille but what makes you think we are not looking at better.
The signings we have made so far are much better than them.

Much like the Richard Moore question. Would I have kept him? Yes. Would I rather have Paea? Yes

The old season ticket ploy. Fans who get them season after season would get one if 13 dustbins took the field. The vast majority don't care that they still have a club / team to watch, they will come and watch a winning side. Its strange how the responsibility of team building can be put on the shoulders of the might get a season ticket brigade.
Season tickets will remain the same unless the club can promote and increase interest in the club.
It could be argued that if you buy a season ticket now it will pay the players wages during the closed season, but the way things stand now its the public that need convincing not your annual season ticket buyer.

How have we lacked depth in the back row the past few years? If anything we have had an abundance of back rowers. 2010 onwards we've had JD, Hendo, Morrison, Ferguson, Mariano, Howarth, Molloy, Kirmond, Lauitiiti, Mellars, Southern, Washbrook, Walshaw, Annakin, Trout. Next year we will have Kirmond, Lautiiti, Ashurst, Washbrook, Annakin, Molloy. No shortage there. The two places I can see us lacking next year is in the 3/4 line.

Unfortunately, Webster is saying he is going for a smaller, better quality squad, rather than a big one that can cover all options.
Just a cash issue.

Has Kear from Bulls been signed by anyone yet?

Going to union last I heard, would be a shame - hes a decent player.

Playing Union for either London Irish or London Welsh.

I think we are short of a full back, centre and another prop. Most SL teams seem to have 6 props in their squad. We've got 5 and 4 of them will be in the 17 every week unless injured/suspended.

Willzay wrote,
How have we lacked depth in the back row the past few years? If anything we have had an abundance of back rowers. 2010 onwards we've had JD, Hendo, Morrison, Ferguson, Mariano, Howarth, Molloy, Kirmond, Lauitiiti, Mellars, Southern, Washbrook, Walshaw, Annakin, Trout. Next year we will have Kirmond, Lautiiti, Ashurst, Washbrook, Annakin, Molloy. No shortage there. The two places I can see us lacking next year is in the 3/4 line.

Just looking at that list there is 9 players who weren't up to scratch, played out of position or wasted. Southern was wasted at prop why play a player who played his career in the 2nd row at prop? Mellars what a waste of cap room, Ferguson, Molloy Walshaw, Trout haven't been used right and the biggest waste is/was how Mariano and Annakin have worked out. I know that Mariano left to go to Cas for more money but he really impressed, Annakin I think has been one of the best young forwards I've seen down at Wakey but he needs game time and the signing of Ashurst just puts him further back down the pecking order and games at Fev although good for fitness won't give him the right physical workout that Superleague would.
I do agree with the later comment about lack of depth in the 3/4's Riley and Owen have now competition for places, I don't believe that Webster is going to risk the youngsters next year so they have no pressure on them. Also we really NEED a full-back and cover half (someone how can come in and do a job for us at 6 or 7, not Skeija)

I disagree about Fev, they are going have to be SL standard next year to compete in the middle 8