Taufua signed after Tupou retired. Effectively he is a straight replacement for Tupou and has taken that wage for 2023 (though I’m not sure where he will play tbh).

Bowden became available early but by all accounts is a 2023 signing. We just got him early.

Butler was a signing I suspect on the funds we had reserved at start of season as that was a fair bit earlier.

We just need a handful of quality players in the right positions. Half, a prop and another forward along with fullback/centre cover is all that’s needed.

Honestly there’s plenty out there.

If I got my current wish list out I’d look at ….

Martin Taupau (prop)
John Asiata (Loose/Prop)
Mark Ioane (Prop)
Jack Ashworth (second row)
Nu Brown (halfback/hooker)
Hardaker (centre/fullback)

Re sign

Isaac Shaw
Jack Croft

I’d look to promote 1/2 academy players too if possible to keep the conveyor belt going. Do we have a quality young half coming through?

I am excited to see who we sign tbh.

That makes sense now - thanks.

And on the whole your wish list looks good. Still missing a half though. I'm expecting Gale. But hopeful for Corey Norman

Nu Brown I think is a halfback and has played 18 games for West tigers this year. Previously at fev I believe. He can play halfback and 9.

There’s certainly plenty of players out there. We may have to sign less in order to upgrade the likes of Hall/Murphy.

For me there’s players like (Bowes, Eseh, Hall, Murphy) all will be a year older and have varying number of games under them. They are starting 2023 in a stronger position than 2022. I expect them to feature heavily next season with maybe Shaw too who I hope extends.

The likes of Jowitt/Crowther/Whitbread all about to hit their prime years as players will be you would hope stronger too this season.

If we can find the little improvements within these players we will be halfway there imho.

There’s a lot to be positive about. I can see Apelgarth running an aggressive schedule in pre season to have the players in good shape. He comes across as a coach who demands hard work.

Think Corey Norman to guide us round the field is exactly what we need and would compliment Lino.
Read somewhere earlier season we were keen on Elijah Taylor should we secure our SL status but that might have been a player Willie was keen on.

Would love Taupau be a massive signing but can’t help thinking if available we’d been outbid by another club. Fingers crossed

Corey Norman? Really? Just took Toulouse down. Banned for start of next season and only played 11 games with a whopping total of 4 try assists and 40 (yes 40) missed tackles. He’s not what we need imho. I’d rather have Gale but then again neither of them id be excited about. May as well go with Gaskell if we are looking at Norman or Gale and invest elsewhere.

Id rather have Williams back. He is more of a half that could guide a team round and put us in some try scoring positions. These are all short term options though.

Would be great if we could find a player on the up.

Do we have any good halfbacks coming through academy? I wonder if we could pick a promising young half up from somewhere. Didn’t that Abrahams who was part of the successful 2021 academy go to Australia to develop his game?

I’m just speculating for fun to kill the boredom but I’m sure we must be talking to a wide range of players young and old.

The missed tackles stat for Norman is bonkers! But looking past that I'd be delighted if he signed (for the right price). He's got pedigree and would probably please the vast majority of fans. Half a years SL experience under his belt now. The ban isn't great but might actually work in our favour as it might make him affordable.

Gale I'd also be happy with. A bit of a grub yes. A bit old yes. Not the quickest either. But he's a player who wants to win and that mentality can rub off on the team. He would also be an on field coach imo which I think would be beneficial to Apelgarth too. Albeit the fan base would probably be against this one I'd back him to come good in the end

Still when you consider Miller had 22 assists last season and then you look at Norman with a meagre 4 try assists it’s pretty poor. These would be 1 year only fill in players at best. Gale only created 5 try’s in 19 games last season. They’re honestly just not what we need.

I’d rather try and loan out young Jack Sinfield for 2023 than see Gale or Norman at trinity.

Gale in any coaching capacity on or off field seems strange. No experience and I have no idea if he has any qualifications to offer any benefit.

Maybe there’s a promising half at a SL club or academy level 18/19 that Apelgarths had his eye on. There could be another Mikey Lewis out there.

I don’t envy Apelgarth as he must be having players and agents banging his door down and wearing his battery out presently with the space and quota spots we have.

I’ve been looking at some of the WC teams for this year. Samoa team consists of about 7 SOO players and half the Penrith back line, which if they play to their potential will probably pump England in the opening game. I think this WC will be different as loads of quality players have defected to tier 2 countries. I hope this doesn’t stop fringe players which we will be potentially looking at from playing.

1 year does feel about right for both. I'm getting way ahead of myself but wouldn't it be great to get a young half in aswell.

With Gale I don't literally mean coach. I guess I more mean lead. He'd bark orders and be able to ensure MA's system of play is adhered to. Aswell as demanding standards from the rest of the team. Liverpool play much better with Jordan Henderson on the pitch. Not because he's going to trouble the stattos. But because everyone is reminded of their responsibilities cos he never shuts up. I could see Gale doing this for us. If we signed him od make him captain.

You mention Mikey Lewis, Hull FC are trying to tempt him away from Hull KR, should we not, be trying to gatecrash this?

Is he not under contract? Most likely just malicious rumours I would think. We can’t just talk to a player under contract. Maybe there’s a fee involved.

To be fair I thought he was, too.

The photos of Lewis in his Hull FC replica kit as a young kid suggest they may have a chance though.

I'm not sure what draw Wakefield would have for Mikey Lewis over Hull FC.

Salford have loads of money because they don't pay their rent.

Have you been living under a rock?