It’ll be interesting to see how the new NRL expansion club Perth Bears affect the transfer market for next year and the year after with obviously a full team to find. If Burgess or Arthur potentially get it, I think there will definitely be SL  based players going over. 

Think there is more than one overseas player going they did say they just failed to get the Oz forward over the line that was mentioned a few week ago .As you say Smoothy would strengthen the spine ,or is it in case they do not know if Trueman is/will be fit to play every week ,and they want a playmaker in the team who is good kicker and passer of the ball as cover Both on the field with Lino and we are looking very good Two on the field and we are still strong. 

It also depends on what English players are available.
If we make some big English signings then it's better to keep the slightly cheaper overseas players.


That's why Mill's job isn't easy.


I really like how they talk about Smoothy.
They say they are talking to him often and he's keen to see footage of us playing.

On the subject of attendances/capacity, was anything mentioned about the recent changes to the ground?

We had an official attendance of 8016 Last year for the final v Toulouse  
 (which btw was probably an accurate number of those actually in the ground, as you had to pay extra, and it wasn't included in season tickets)


But since then, we've added a few 100 places with temporary standing at the South end.    Not to mention the complete re-working of the North Terrace and corner bits, which you would think must've raised the capacity a fair bit.   This year the 2 Hull games have been sold out with quoted attendances of 8065 and 8027.  So pretty much same as the end of last season.


Are we just waiting for a new safety certificate to be issued?  Or am I missing something?

Guessing it's linked with the current planning application.  Can't assess capacity with something that still doesn't have planning yet (with regards to the south terrace). 

Back to walmsley and Atoni - I know somebody has to go to make way for Smoothy, and I reckon it's a sign of where we are now that we are letting a player of such quality go.
Not everybody's cup of tea, but I rate Walmsley.
To me he's as good a finisher as TJ.
I don't buy into the business of him not good enough or big enough to drive the ball up.
Tommy Makinson is similar but it hasn't stopped him being a top winger for years.
I like Atoni, and it seems DP rates him too.
Unfortunately somebody has to be a coach and I'm pleased he's making the decision not me!

Agree would always take a good winger who as pace to burn to finish of moves ,than a winger who can clear is line ,.In defence speed is important, as in getting across to defend .Think lack of speed as cost us two games .I like Atoni  as well Mr Powell as not got a lot wrong but it looks like he as some big calls to make

Alas a modern winger has to do both.


If you don't get off the line you won't have field position to score the tries.


I'd happily keep Lacky but there are a lot of English wingers around that could replace him.
Not the same for every position.

That’s it. Most SL and NRL wingers can do both - the lads who can do one or the other really well play in the Championship. Look across the top English wingers - Marshall, Johnstone, Makinson, Swift, Ashton - and they all make huge metres out their own end, and can pull off finishes with hardly any space. 

It’s clear the reason we signed Walmsley on a short contract was to see if he could stack on some muscle and improve the physical side of his game. And in fairness, he really has. He’s making far more metres now than he was at the beginning of the season, and you can see he’s been working on finding his front instead of battling. As someone with firsthand experience of this, if you’re lanky with exposed ribs and long levers you’re very easy to whack and get driven back. 


We all know if Walmsley was British or French, he’d be staying. But if we can use his quota spot to sign someone else of Tyson Smoothy’s quality, and either sign a top winger or get Tchamambe ready, then we should.

Powelly will do what needs to be done for the best.
No sentiment I'm afraid in sport.