Article says Sio has signed an 18 month deal for Trinity and flew out today from Australia. YT shows although plays 13 for Samoa he often takes the acting half position for his country...wonder if Howarth broke his arm so Sio comes in to cover. www.loverugbyleague.com/news_186 ... ackay.html

Article says Sio has signed an 18 month deal for Trinity and flew out today from Australia. YT shows although plays 13 for Samoa he often takes the acting half position for his country...wonder if Howarth broke his arm so Sio comes in to cover. www.loverugbyleague.com/news_186 ... ackay.html

It's a sad reflection on SL that almost any reserve grade Aussie/NZ will almost certainly be better than almost any British player - it's even sadder still that he will without doubt be miles better than any of ours. This is proved by Pita who is if we are honest is pretty ordinary yet is almost our only hope of doing anything that might break the line.

So welcome our next great hope

I think it suggests that we will be losing either McShane or Godinet or even both. I regret our current position does not allow us to prepare for next season player wise so I suppose it will be the usual clear out followed by the scramble to find last minute replacements. The quality will depend on which division we are in.

I agee Mcshane will be off and probably knows his new club. Unlike many I think hes overrated and if he can go early and the club have cover let him go. When Aiton went I knew he would stiffen the leeds pack up, and improve I don't see Mcshane having the same effect .

I don't agree. Aiton was much slower with ball in hand. It doesn't matter as much at Leeds and even then he has improved in that area but McShane brings more to us. We have lost the defence there is no doubt.

Oh come on mate.

Average or OK a bit above average is still pretty good in SL but he’s not world class is he, even if he did ok for Somoa. If you think he is then you’ve been watching Trinity for to long.

Regardless of our varied opinion the fact remains that a SL can not find or grow a British player anywhere near as capable as an IMHO an “average” non regular NRL player. Let’s be right when we signed Pita he was a total unknown even in NZ.!

I do agree however that under Smith he could well mature into a very good SL player - assuming we keep him.

I what way, jeez you talk some bull at times.

The exit door will be well and truly open at the end of the season. Over the last few seasons im not aware of to many players extending their deals. For stability 2 year deals would appear to be best option , with an extension offered after year one. Any player who does not take up the option could be made available by the club for immediate transfer. The present system aint working the more successful clubs will always get the first pickings and tap up players nearing the end of contracts.
With 13 players off contract we can expect a really busy closed season.

Although I am one that always calls for stability and would like to keep much of the squad, wholesale changes are getting to be the norm so we may have to get used to it.
I'm starting to think we live without Smith even though I'd love him to stay. I hope he can turn his form round and make it impossible to let him go.

I'd really like to keep Anderson, Scruton, Simon and Kirke (possibly) for next year. Front rowers are hard to get and when they are all fit it is quite a good group.
We can build the impact runners in the back row.

This but I feel that still need an additional real impact prop from the bench to replace what Paea was supposed to offer plus a centre and a specialist full back rather than utility backs. Plus retain Godinet, McShane,Johnstone and Washbrook not sure about some of the others...

Agree, although I feel we need two centres, Lynn is a winger, never a centre. Not doubting that he's played well in the centre on the odd occassion but he could, with a little confidence, be a quality winger.

Agree with regards to centre and fullback. I wouldn't retain Washbrook and McShane though, time to bring in fresh blood in those departments.