I've been away , so might of missed something here - but is Tim Smith definitely ours next year ? I'd imagine that the Dr would want a fair sized fee for us to buy him back ( even though he wouldn't want him ) & so we'd probably have to lose a fair chunk off the wage bill to get him & so Sammut going could make sense ( although Mathers was one of many on a v. good deal from the Glover era).

I'm not sure how the loan thing works at the end of our season. I would have thought that loan players return to parent club and we would not pay them. If the club decided they did want to keep the player wages would have to be paid for the close of season. With regard to Tim Smith I don't think we could hope to sign him on loan next season. If he did return to Salford I'm not sure they would still want him on the pay role. So they could either release him from his contract or ask for a fee.

With Tim Smith it would depend a lot on if Salford want the quota spot that he takes up if they do it could work in our favour the other thing would be if our ex coach wanted him ?.Still have other options in Hall/Sammut,Hall/Godinet,Sammut/Godinet Burns has been mentioned going to replace Green at the pies.A lot of ifs and buts before next season.

Given that even without Smith Salford already have one too many overseas players signed up for next year the chances of him returning there are nil.

Look at what happened with Sneyd at Cas. The next thing the public knew was that he'd signed for Hull FC. At the end of the day 'Timmy' will go to the highest bidder.

Not if he doesn't want to go he won't!

Salford can not sell him to anyone if Tim Smith doesn't agree to go there!

I've a strong feeling that Tim a Smith has realised he's better off being somewhere that he's happy and on decent money rather than on more money somewhere else and being miserable.

The Avenger - I to think with how Tim Smith has talked in interviews that he is happy to be at Wakey rather than elsewhere as he has said he has probably played some of his best rugby and enjoyed it the most.If he don't fancy going to any other club than Wakey then the good Dr has limited choices,let him stay at Salford and not play while taking a quota spot and still paying him,let him go for free and free the salary and quota spot up or let him go out on loan and the club he goes to pay or part pay his wages.

Not true even though Salford own his contract Tim has more of a say on where he goes. Salford are on the cap and also Tim would also put them over quota. Tim has been to two clubs in superleague that didnt work out and has had two spells with us that went well for him. Wouldnt be suprised If we were to Give him a decent contract offer but not pay a few asking Tim to dig his heels in when Salford trying to push him elsewhere.

Well Hull FC must have sold themselves to Sneyd then because he has moved from a relatively unknown to a key part of Castleford's successful year.

There are a number of differences between Sneyd and Smith
Smith is a proven class player as he showed during his early days in the NRL where he was Dally M Rookie of the year. Smith has also had the chance to see how being content is a major part of how he performs when playing the game. Stints at Cronulla St George Wigan and Salford have not worked out for him because he wasn't happy or comfortable within those environments. On the other hand he has seen how being settled and able to enjoy training can help is game. Add into that the management of his bipolar condition and you can understand why he would choose to stay at Wakefield rather than accept another big-money offer to go and gamble his career and health with another club.

Sneyd is a young man who hasn't suffered the tribulations of the mental condition that Smith endures, he hasn't had the crisis of confidence after making what should have been a career enhancing move that Smith has. Sneyd Will feel that the world is his oyster at the moment and a high-profile move to a bigger club, where expectations of him are higher, will still be seen by him as career progression and a step towards realising his ambitions.

They are at different points of their careers where their priorities are worlds apart

Hull FC throw money at a lot of things, Sneyd is one of them.

I cant see the new half back partnership at Hull working , and I hope it doesn't.