The thing for me with half back is, in the past we have gone for players with potential and some have worked out really well......

But now, if we want to kick on, we need a finished article. Like a young Gale, not someone who might do well but is unproven.

I agree with this, if we are targeting top 6 next season and top 4 beyond then a quality proven half would help realise that.

The problem is there’s not many of them I guess so if there’s not much out there we may have to look for a half who’s improven to some degree till we find that.

Perhaps it’s an opportunity to have a look at some players on loan like maybe Hampshire to see what they could offer longer term in the halves.

I was thinking of a higher level than Hampshire.
Like Hastings or Maloney or French or even Lam when they came over.

Hampshire had plenty of chance to shine with us and failed to do so....that ship has sailed for me

Are those realistic though? I’d say absolutely not.

Seen talk too possibly you of top 6 next year and top 4 year after!!!

That is in my opinion too much to expect.

8-10th next year would be a good achievement and I think we have to expect a few years as fans hoping for solid mid table finishes before we can expect to consistently push towards the top 4.

I don’t think it is. We are not the Trinity of old and the foundations have been set and the owner is going to spend marquee money and full cap same as the likes of Wigan etc. as it stand we are planning to do exactly what Leigh did last year. Why wouldn’t he aim for top 6/playoffs?

With already 2 x England internationals signed up thats indicative he’s going to go for it.

If we finish outside top 6 and spend full cap next season with one of the best back room set ups (England conditioner etc) then I’d be very dissapointed.

As am I but there’s a huge shortage of those players available currently. We may have to look at other options till that quality half comes available.

I don't disagree, but that's where we are aiming.
I'd be happy if we were mid table and in the fight for playoffs with a view to be consistently in the 6 for the following years.
But we are currently in Championship so we don't really know how we'll fair when we get there.

I hope you are right.

Personally I’d be over the moon with 8th next year.

If we got 8th I’d be okay with it but I guess it depends on the squad we put together. Hard to judge at this point.

Some of the signings, possibly our ideal half might be on our radar for season after. Ste Mills knows when everyone is off contract and will update as new targets will be available. I would love a real high quality organising half but all the quota ones are on big money down under. Ollie Russell is the best one here off contract and hasn't kicked on under Watson but can anyone give me an example of anyone that has at hudds?

We have done well with poorer squads so with team togetherness we might even surprise our own doubters. We have 8 more players coming in only 4 of which are pretty public knowledge. We have a quota spot available and most clubs are nearly full. We may pull out a really wow signing.

Matt is a big of a showman in the best possible way so wouldn't shock me if we have another big name up our sleeve.

Would like to have Lam for Gale's replacement but according to his dad might be going back to Aus.

Got to agree with both those sentiments, at the moment we have superior fitness and more strength in depth than any other championship club.
This years pack will be nucleus of next year. is is our current pack as good as the top teams in super league. Personally even with storton and mckmeeken I think we would struggle. Against the bottom teams I m sure we will compete.

As regards ‘we are spending the cap,’ so are a lot of other teams and they have a foundation of players that have been recruited or brought through the junior system. Sadly ours left and our team is going to have 9 non fed trained players only two of which has sl experience - neither of which set the world alight!

Atoni appears to be a totally different player - my opinion on Lino hasn’t really changed.

I look forward to the challenge and the journey but mid table respectability would be amazing