I have only seen him on the games that he has played on SKY etc and from highlights but he looks to be a decent player and somebody who should fit into a team like Wakey.

He seems to give 100% and at 24 he should still have improvement in him.

Of those you name, only Ryan and Kirmo are contracted for next year!

I think you need up to 6 who can play in the back row / LF positions - so no problem then?

At the moment Gilmour is playing in this position.

If he's cheap then hes an ok signing as he'll give cover for Kirmond & Ryan but he is the epitome of the average second rower to be honest and isn't going to improve the first choice 17 imho. I'm expecting Ali to sign up for another year so he'd be my bench spot next year and i'd like to see Dan Smith at loose to help give us more size. The catalans and hudds games have shown us we need that. I'm hoping we will retain Walshaw and Annakin but i've feeling they'll be going. I hope Crowther gets more gametime next year. Molloy i expect to be realeased and Washbrook i can't make my mind up on. No idea what the plan is for Trout, isn't he under contract for next year?

For me this is a great signing Matty is hard working nothing flash solid in defence just what we need IMHO. Every side needs grafters to compliment the flair side of things at 24 he is just coming into his own.

No inside knowledge here but with Kylie signing on for one more year at Leeds I think Ali will stay another season.

Thats my take on it also.

Gets through a load of work and has as been suggested every side needs players of that ilk. Had a bit of a shocker against Wigan last week but every other time ive seen him he has been decent. If Danny Wash is not staying, somebody is going to have to take on the work load. Hits a decent line as well imo

I only half agree with your assessment of Ashurst, he's a specialist back rower who knows and plays the position very well. He runs great lines in attack and understands his responsibilities in defence. He gives 100% every time he puts his boots on! he supports well! is very fit and knows his way to the line, often bravely hitting a short ball in traffic to crash over.

He's not going to make opposition fans worry too much but his contribution to team performances are vastly under rated.

Last time we signed a second rower called Ashurst we went all the way to the Challenge Cup Final!

It would make sense if Washbrook is on his way as style of player wise it would be pretty much like for like, although the stats are in Washbrooks favour. Given he was an Elston signing though i imagine Ashurst would be the better value for money player. Not the kind of signing who will put bums on seats but willl do the job required ok when required. I would like to see some more punch in the front now though.

He's a lot younger and is far more athletic than Washbrook.

I completely agree about the front row, if we sign some real size and power to compliment Scruton, Anderson and Simon, maybe 2 more BIG front rowers, then we can mix that with wide running athletic back rowers like Kirmond, Walshaw if he stays and Ashurst.

I'd also play D Smith in the back row for a year or two before moving him up front.

Two more big front rowers off the bench with Ali and Godinet would give us some real impact from our rotations

Talk the ground yesterday was that Mathers & Sykes are not being retained so for me we a specialist fullback and some extra cover in the halves. We already need some three-quarter cover. Theres going to have to be some wheeling and dealing done i reckon.

You’ve got yourself a very solid and dependable player in Matty Ashurst. Doesn’t take a step back and works very hard, I have noticed a big improvement in his attacking game this season too with the lines he runs and his ability to offload.

Unfortunately for him we have Hock, Hansen, Hauraki, Walton, Dixon, Griffin, Rapira and Hope all playing in the back row for 2015.

Young and British too which is always a bonus, as more often than not these type of positions are filled by NRL rejects. Leaves Salford with the best wishes of the fans.

Think this just about sums up where Ashurst is with the options in the back row that Salford have.
Not a glamour player but we were falling over ourselves when we signed Tuson.
Think they are similar, only difference is, one came from Wigan and the other is coming from Salford.
May get loads of stick about my next opinion but I think Hansen is quite overrated, does the hard work but not a game breaker, again I think Hansen and Ashurst are similar players.

Matty was top tackler against Wigan and could've scored if Sau had not been so greedy, really good buy for your club , Wigan were interested last year but Nobby wouldn't sell

Wont get loads of stick from me, as I have questioned H in attack this season but in defence he really is magnificent. I can’t think of many better defenders in Super League, if he hadn’t missed the games he has with his hand injury he would be up there with the most tackles this season, which for a back rower is phenomenal.

As for being similar, Ashurst misses many more tackles than H but that’s nothing major it’s just Hansen is a freak in defence. Going forward, the stats indicate Hansen has made around 130m more than Matty this season which is surprising.