But, on the other hand, most clubs are back in training now with their squads largely finalised, particularly in the non-fed trained quota. So, although other clubs may have a few non-fed spots open, the demand for WC players may not be as high as you think and there may still be bargains to be had.

Quote: vastman "Exciting though it is I think we have to be more realistic about these WC "bargains". I hope I have some credibility on this subject having been proved right as to how expensive last years squad actually was. Just to clarify I have a lot of contacts in the game, most non Trinity and that's where I get my info - can't name names sadly. These players who are being mentioned may or may not be potential superstars - who knows as non of us have a crystal ball do we. However the days of cheap overseas signings picked up from WC minnow teams is now long gone IMHO. Most are actually NRL fringe players anyway and probably make a very good part time living out of the Aussie game already. However for the real issue step forward "the player agent" - and trust me they will all have one. There won't be any Stanley Genes etc stepping off the boat in this WC. Despite what I fear people are thinking those "fringe" players will not be cheap and as such will be a huge risk and possibly a monumental mistake. True you would hope our coaching staff could spot a lemon but WC RL is a completely different animal to SL. For perspective take the much touted Mark Offerdahi. Good player no doubt but until this WC a nobody in the transfer market. Now had we spotted him pre WC we may have got him relatively cheap. However logic states that as he's had a great WC his value has gone up - that is certainly how his agent will view it and rightly so - who after all would want to sign a player who has had a bad WC! I reckon he will want (maybe not get but want) 40-50k a season and it won't stop there either. He will want housing, a car, travel expenses etc which will bump it up to 50-60k for season one. This for a player unproven at club level. Not looking such a bargain now IMHO. When you consider you could probably sign 2 maybe 3 young SL fringe players from top clubs for that, either as loans or transfers it looks even worse. I can also guarantee that at least one of those will end up as a new Paul Johnson (decent) or if we are really lucky a Kyle Amor (excellent) or mega lucky both. These players arrive ready acclimatised probably living at home with a second hand Cleo all of there own. For me they offer us far better VFM than almost any WC speculator IMHO. I think if we had a bit of spare they'd be worth a punt but I feel our resources are so tight shouldn't risk it. There are plenty of equally good young English players out there busting a gut for a chance in SL - it's not like Mark Offerdahi etc bring much more experience anyway - for me giving them a go is long term better for the club and the game. I for one hope we don't sign any of these WC speculators - not at this moment in the clubs history anyway. Sorry to be a party pooper but we need to go down the Kear/Ferres rout when they were signing fringe players like Moore, Atkins and some young kid called Ferres who Steve apparently knew. www.wakefieldwildcats.co.uk/news ... 2/2013/10/ 'I have always said that we will put as competitive a team out, as the finances allow. If we sell extra season tickets, sponsorship, Club 1873 and merchandise over and above our budget, all this extra money will be ploughed back into the team. There is still time to make further signings and we are targeting a few players at the World Cup. But until we have something finalised, I cannot just speculate on names.' Michael Carter. Was the World Cup players being targeted a 'time delaying option' with it appearing to be conditional on money coming in? It would also take some focus away from the exodus of WTW squad players over the last 5/6 weeks. As for Offerdahl he's not ripped up trees and so far has played against Cook Islands, Wales and Scotland none of which are world beaters. He's also no longer in the top tackle busts. It'll be interesting to see how he copes with the Australian front row but I can 't see a former Carcasonne player demanding big bucks for a chance at Super League on a 1 year deal when unproven at that level week in week out, but I may be wrong? As already said a lot of SL squads are already in pre season training so can't see him getting a long queue for him either. He's been around a few years at 25 also so why has he been missed if he's more than a possible solid competent SL prop?

Quote: vastman "Exciting though it is I think we have to be more realistic about these WC "bargains". I hope I have some credibility on this subject having been proved right as to how expensive last years squad actually was. Just to clarify I have a lot of contacts in the game, most non Trinity and that's where I get my info - can't name names sadly. These players who are being mentioned may or may not be potential superstars - who knows as non of us have a crystal ball do we. However the days of cheap overseas signings picked up from WC minnow teams is now long gone IMHO. Most are actually NRL fringe players anyway and probably make a very good part time living out of the Aussie game already. However for the real issue step forward "the player agent" - and trust me they will all have one. There won't be any Stanley Genes etc stepping off the boat in this WC. Despite what I fear people are thinking those "fringe" players will not be cheap and as such will be a huge risk and possibly a monumental mistake. True you would hope our coaching staff could spot a lemon but WC RL is a completely different animal to SL. For perspective take the much touted Mark Offerdahi. Good player no doubt but until this WC a nobody in the transfer market. Now had we spotted him pre WC we may have got him relatively cheap. However logic states that as he's had a great WC his value has gone up - that is certainly how his agent will view it and rightly so - who after all would want to sign a player who has had a bad WC! I reckon he will want (maybe not get but want) 40-50k a season and it won't stop there either. He will want housing, a car, travel expenses etc which will bump it up to 50-60k for season one. This for a player unproven at club level. Not looking such a bargain now IMHO. When you consider you could probably sign 2 maybe 3 young SL fringe players from top clubs for that, either as loans or transfers it looks even worse. I can also guarantee that at least one of those will end up as a new Paul Johnson (decent) or if we are really lucky a Kyle Amor (excellent) or mega lucky both. These players arrive ready acclimatised probably living at home with a second hand Cleo all of there own. For me they offer us far better VFM than almost any WC speculator IMHO. I think if we had a bit of spare they'd be worth a punt but I feel our resources are so tight shouldn't risk it. There are plenty of equally good young English players out there busting a gut for a chance in SL - it's not like Mark Offerdahi etc bring much more experience anyway - for me giving them a go is long term better for the club and the game. I for one hope we don't sign any of these WC speculators - not at this moment in the clubs history anyway. Sorry to be a party pooper but we need to go down the Kear/Ferres rout when they were signing fringe players like Moore, Atkins and some young kid called Ferres who Steve apparently knew. www.wakefieldwildcats.co.uk/news ... 2/2013/10/ 'I have always said that we will put as competitive a team out, as the finances allow. If we sell extra season tickets, sponsorship, Club 1873 and merchandise over and above our budget, all this extra money will be ploughed back into the team. There is still time to make further signings and we are targeting a few players at the World Cup. But until we have something finalised, I cannot just speculate on names.' Michael Carter. Was the World Cup players being targeted a 'time delaying option' with it appearing to be conditional on money coming in? It would also take some focus away from the exodus of WTW squad players over the last 5/6 weeks. As for Offerdahl he's not ripped up trees and so far has played against Cook Islands, Wales and Scotland none of which are world beaters. He's also no longer in the top tackle busts. It'll be interesting to see how he copes with the Australian front row but I can 't see a former Carcasonne player demanding big bucks for a chance at Super League on a 1 year deal when unproven at that level week in week out, but I may be wrong? As already said a lot of SL squads are already in pre season training so can't see him getting a long queue for him either. He's been around a few years at 25 also so why has he been missed if he's more than a possible solid competent SL prop?

The Gower we are after is David Gower a prop at Manly 28 years old played at Salford 06/07

Excellent post by Vastman I for one think the same about the WC players. We need some shrewd signings from our own leagues.

To be fare,the signings 2 seasons ago were players who nobody had considered to have ripped up trees but turned out to be excellent signings and helped the club with the transfer monies generated from their sales.Who's to say it can't be done again.That's the players ability,not the selling of them.

The quote from Mr Carter suggests though that he is targeting some players from the World Cup which may make up some of the seven.

I'm also not suggesting that any players we sign must show signs of ripping up trees but that Offerdahl may be a good cheap signing for a 1 year deal. He can't surely command any big contract though based on his past playing pedigree or 240 mins of decent rugby against average opposition? If he does then he doesn't get signed.

To be honest, Mitchel Stringer has looked pretty good so far.
He's a no name to a lot but I'd take him.

and he is one of our 'juniors'

Quote: poplar cats alive "The Gower we are after is David Gower a prop at Manly 28 years old played at Salford 06/07'" No, it's definitely Craig we're after Also expect a fair few Leeds "fringe players" to come in on loan. People like; - Alex Foster, James Duckworth, Jimmy Keinhorst, maybe even Liam Sutcliffe if we're lucky - Also maybe we could look at this guy, played a few times for Leeds: www1.skysports.com/news/12040/8836896/

Quote: poplar cats alive "The Gower we are after is David Gower a prop at Manly 28 years old played at Salford 06/07'" No, it's definitely Craig we're after Also expect a fair few Leeds "fringe players" to come in on loan. People like; - Alex Foster, James Duckworth, Jimmy Keinhorst, maybe even Liam Sutcliffe if we're lucky - Also maybe we could look at this guy, played a few times for Leeds: www1.skysports.com/news/12040/8836896/

Id have taken Keinhost whatever our situation. Decent.

As for Vickery, im sure i read that he was "heading home" to Oz after been released by Leeds before the end of last season. He was only here travelling from what i remember and happened to get taken on by Leeds for a period.

Yes think he would fit in well with you giving a tough backline of Watkins, Moon, Briscoe, Hall, Hardacker and BJB to break into.

As far as Vickery goes I heard he fell off the commitment wagon once he was injured and yes that he headed home.

Keinhost as done nothing to impress me ,even in a good side like Whinos,as for Stringer,goodness me we are clutching at straws,just an ordinary Championship prop.

I would have a punt on Stephen Wild, released by Salford.
Still got something to offer at 32 years old.