Wholeheartedly agree
Out wide is best for Ali. We have others who can do the grunt work with far less skill

If you are looking for a HB who isn't an average Aussie or a quick fix SL player who you can build a team around then the pickings are fairly slim.

Have listed some possibilities below in order of most to least plausible. Remember it's all subjective and nobody really knows (not even the forum experts) as to whether they'd fit in or not. One mans reject is another hero.

1 Sam Powell (Wigan) who is on loan to South Wales. 5 appearances for Wigan so some SL. It's a speculator but they seem to work for us.

2: Liam Sutcliffe/Steve Ward (Leeds) not much between them but Ward has more experience. Sutcliffe however is OMHO the more likely HB.

3: Luke Gayle (Bradford) a steady player with a few years left in him, better bet than Sammut IMHO.

4: Farges/Snayed (Salford), Surplus to requirements, both decent.

5: Kyle Wood (Hudds) 3rd time lucky maybe a loan to start - not ever ones favourite but Hudds seem to rate him. I think he'd do a job, always made an impression in the limited time Agar gave him. (poor defender but so was Smith).

6: Liam Finn (Fev) Not fast and not top notch but experienced with a decent brain, behind our better by the day pack he may thrive. Only one I have mentioned that is probably not in the (build a team around" group, not really a long term prospect I accept.

PS: One way or another I think they are all affordable.

Farges would be a great addition if he thinks his opportunities will be limited at Salford. The fact his national coach is at the club could be a draw.

Or his countryman, William Barthau - RA gave him international starts even though getting very little game time at Les Cats. Seemed to go OK against PNG & Samoa (although hammered)
Now 23, experienced or never will ??

From that list i would be really happy with Powell or Gale.

Think those would be my choice also.

However you can have all your props, strong running second rowers and a slick three quarter line but without decent halves it means nothing.

I really hope we havn't signed one forward too many and left us a little light financially to really push the boat out and get us the best possible half available.

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The Leeds pair I included more because of Kath and the fact that they are very similar players. As for their position, 6,7 and 13 are IMHO slight variations of a new position which is a Playmaker so they would do just fine at 7. T Smith was a playmaker, certainly not a Scrum Half in the original sense of the word.

Gale over Sammut for me. Whilst Sammut might have that extra bit of individual x-factor Gale is more consistant and has a superior kicking game which is what we need. He would also be a decent amount cheaper i should imagine.

With McShane we have kicking options from dummy half.

Hopefully we are past the worse and renewed optimism about how the squad is shaping up, will lead to plenty of season tickets being bought for Christmas.
This maybe the key to the quality of halfback we sign.

All conjecture, but Gale would be by far and a way the pick of that bunch in my opinion. Always looked very good for London in not the best side, and I thought he would be destined for bigger and better things - but I believe he's took a couple of bad knocks.

Would be a fantastic signing for us to land if he did come available, but I fear he would be out of our price bracket as we are going for an import as we tend to do. Expect to see an imported half very soon.

Anyone got any gossip?

Well I think Katie at no.9 is seeing Ben at no.13 on our street but no one knows so don't say anything.

Not another guy 'in the know'.