Lets be honest until we move into the new stadium or we get a money bags new owner willing to throw loads of money at the club, we will always be fighting to keep our best talent, it's frustrating at times but that's the reality. It's the same for all clubs in our position, like Cas, HKR & Salford, the best players get pinched by the top 5 or 6 sides, those who are offering the chance of trophies, a better wage packet or in most cases both.

No, I don't buy it. I agree that the stadium (or lack of it) is undoubtedly our biggest challenge and it will always be an uphill struggle, but that is only part of the problem. This makes it even more important to ensure the limited resources we have are directed to the areas that need it most and pouring thousand after thousand on mid/low level imports often mid season is crazy. A quick look at the Cas squad shows the following who I [iassume[/i to be products of their system:

Owen
Shenton
Walker
Huby
Milner
Massey
Holmes
Boyle
Thompson

All regular, solid enough first teamers playing most weeks. Now compare and contrast ours...... We are, more or less scouting the same pool of players at community level so why the difference? What do they do that produces the spine of their side that we don't? If it is down purely to cash then we should free up funds from elsewhere in the budget, and my call would be imports who more often than not flop to a greater or lesser degree.

With regards to putting KR in the same bracket, one of their forwards who used to play for us had a far better game for them than anything in RW&B on Sunday - and that includes our big name imports, so it's not simply a case of glamour clubs hoovering up our talent.

You are correct with these 9 players - Owen, Shenton, Walker, Huby, Milner, Massey, Holmes, Boyle and Thompson but don't forget Daz Clark. All these feature for Cas Tigers on a regular basis. Additional squad players are James Clare, Charlie Martin and Dan Fleming who have played over a dozen games between them this year.

When we played Widnes a couple of weeks ago 12 of the 17 were home-grown Castleford players. As you know, clubs like us and Saints don't get any medals for this and the bafoons on Sky didn't even pick up on it but it is certainly cheaper and the way forward IMO.
Even in defeat (which we have had many) - its very satisfying to see all the time and hard work in developing these youngsters come to fruition. The production line of SL quality players is alive and well in our area - WTW might need to up their game a bit in this department thats all - take more of a chance with the youngsters.

Midget

Teeny Tiny Taulima Tauti!!!

On a serious note, i hope he isn't crap - size isn't everything neither is a disproportionate amount of vowels or a "funny" accent!!

Personally, I think we're past the Hickey, Laeano type signings, so I feel reasonably hopeful; I guess we'll find out on Saturday.

But as we like to convince ourselves, it's not just the size- it's what you do with it.
Some play above their numbers, some play below.

Welcome to Wakefield Taulima. All the best for the up coming rounds. And hopefully you will not be judged by all us couch coaches too harshly. New country, new coach, different style of game, team mates, and some over passionate supporters.
Give the lad a chance to settle, before the oversea player, overpaid import card get dealt.
Welcome.

Agree its not about size alone, Paul Aiton's got the heart of a lion and is no more than a midget and Wayne McDonald had the heart of a pea and the body of a giant.

Looking forward to seeing him play.

RA record of overseas players for us is good, Smith , Collis and Aiton have all proved a success, Poore has played well in parts and I am sure that once he settles he will get better. I am sure that he can step up and prove his worth. Isac John was going to struggle to oust Tim Smith or Paul Sykes, he is proving in the NRL that he is a good player. From listening to RA talk at Carlton Cricket Club last night it is very evident that he has some very good contacts on the coaching staff at NRL clubs so I am sure that he has done his research in Tauti.