Hull live saying that we’ve pulled out of signing Jamie Shaul.
Can’t see it but with Hardaker signing for a club, I’d like that to be us apart from it said lucrative deal so hudds. Or Leigh for me

I think this is a good decision by the club, either we think we have a better option which could be Hardaker (I hope this is the case) or Mash has decided that we don`t need another fullback as after all it was Willie that was keen on Shaul.

But we do need another FB as we only have the one as far as I can see. Nobody in the youth set up stands out at present.
However whether we needed one a s pricey as Shaul may have been I don't know.

You think we do and I tend to agree with you, MA might not think we do though. I guess we will soon find out.

The rumour is Hardaker has joined Leigh, if that`s the case and I was a Leigh fan I would be seriously questioning why the club would throw money at a player that not long ago didn`t want to travel to Wigan...

Two separate issues here.

Clearly MA doesn't fancy Shaul.

However I suspect he see's the need for a FB.

Funny but most of the stand out available players in the WC so far have been FB's, who knows.

We don’t need one. Afterall Jowitt could go on to have an injury free run. If we don’t though we carry some risk in the event of injury.

That said, Gaskell can cover full back for the odd game so there is an option. Butterworth if he’s still here as a 3rd option.

I’m happy we seem to be trusting in Jowitt and it may be that Apelgarth wants a player with more utility for the back line to cover multiple positions so we can invest for quality in other positions to improve the starting 13/17. Just an example but Hampshire would likely cost less than Shaul but offer cover and depth at fb/wing/halfback. Im sure there are similar players who cover full back and other positions who may be options.

Shaul isn’t a necessery signing for me. I’d much rather us strengthen other positions like prop/Loose and maybe second row while look for more versatile depth for the backline and maybe halves.

As someone said it was probably Poching driving the Shaul move.

I am happy with this, we could do better than Shaul. However lets not kid ourselves we do need fullback cover. Gaskill is terrible defensivly and would be a liability should he be needed to cover Max.

Deffo need a FB
Don't need cover on the wings
One centre wouldn't go a miss
One regular HB would be handy
At least one prop required pos 2
Cover for S/R reqd

LF wouldn't go a miss.
Quite a shopping list

Not overly fussed on this to be fair

As lampyboy mentioned we do still have quite a shopping list, ad hopefully money not spent here could be used to improve the quality of our targets.

I'd say the following

2 props, as I would look to release Battye when we can
1 second rower
Loose forward possibly, I don't think Westerman was ever replaced
Maybe half back. We do have 3 quota spots available. Bog responsibility on the shoulders of Smith, only what about 20-30 games at this level, replacing someone with 200

As expected Hardaker has been confirmed by Leigh.

I've mentioned this before as a long shot; if he's ok under bombs i'd be trialling Kyle Evans at FB.He's a talented player with bags of pace but unlikely to unseat Murphy and Kersh on their current form.I know it's a specialist position, but nothing to lose and could be an option if MJ gets injured.

I think that’s a very good call, but I’d like to see him there a few times first. Friendlies and reserves. Be great back up if he could do it.

We need an actual fullback to cover fullback.

You are way more fickle than me at times

We have a winger who is now a hooker and he does ok, then there was a centre who did ok at second row and you defended both of those. So why is this any different.

TBH as noted it's a long shot and by back up I actually mean after Jowitt/whoever we hopefully sign. It can't hurt to try in a few pre-season games.

Not sure myself and surprised you think that’s a good call yourself Vastman. Relatively new to the sport with little experience and learning the full back role is all imo a bridge too far. It’s not the physical side as he’s clearly a fit bloke. It’s everything else that’s required in terms of positioning, organising the defence line, knowing how to deal with breaks in plays and that’s before knowing if he can create an overlap and pass the ball effectively.

I like him as a winger, his game seems to be built on being physical and having some speed to back himself. Not sure it transitions to full back especially at SL level.

I think a few have said it before but if he had the opportunity at League even a few years ago he would have probably been established as a SL winger/top end champ winger by now.

I’m honestly shocked that Fev/Fax/Batley etc haven’t picked him up yet.