I think Leigh and Fev to a certain point have put rest to that. Asiata, Ferguson, Amone etc all played in the championship. We’re obviously not going to sign a paul Vaughn but if we get someone anywhere near Asiata I’ll be very happy.

There were extenuating circumstances with both Asiata & Ferguson as to why they ended up over here. Asiata was effectively barred from playing in the NRL at the time over his covid vaccine stance and nobody over there would touch Ferguson with a barge pole over his Japan escapade. I think PopTart is correct, any overseas signings are more likely to be fringe players or lower league tier 2 internationals rather than first graders. Unless we go down the Proctor-style past it route again......

When is it we will all know our fate IMG wise.

It may well be a case that we end the 2024 season with a stronger squad than the start, but having a competitive squad to kick off the season, that hopefully, if we get accepted back in , we can have a good tilt at it immediately, on our return.

IMG score doesn't come in till end of next season

Didn't think it did to be honest.

We will soon have an owner with genuine resources so maybe a rethink about our ambitions and abilities both on and off the field compared to the past will be necessary.

That is true.

However, we don't know what the impact money wise will be on what is likely to be lower crowds, but then on the other side, revenue streams received from such as room hire on the new facilites, not to mention in the lack of funding.

Didn't ME state that he wants to make further improvements to the ground to improve out IMG grading, this will also come at a cost?

Although we may have a backer, that wants to really take us places, as he is trying to improve all aspects of the club, he may actually have a set budget in mind as to what he wants to invest in the playing side of things.

I saw something posted or banded about (this may have been from another fan post and I can’t say that there’s any truth in it) that 1.5 million was budgeted for next season on players. That would be similar I would imagine to this season though I would hope we spend more wisely in areas.

Should read spend it more wis wisely in all areas

My understanding is that each team will be given a provisional grading in the next month or so. This is then their 'starting point' to get their ducks in a row ready for the real thing at the end of the 2024 season.

I think you are spot on there. Thanks to our relegation Ellis has a rather large hole in the central funding to plug, plus all the reductions in sponsorship,crowds etc that follow by playing at a lower level. And whilst the new stand will start to bring in income it will have to first be fully opened and then its business built up over time. Throw in the loan repayments for the ground and the covid loan then paying out a massive wage bill is unlikely until we are back in super league i would imagine, even for a man of ME's wealth. I'd rather hope and fully expect that whilst he will 'invest' more than the duo he is replacing he has the business nous to run the club sensibly and not go for a Glover-esque 'spend spend spend' tactic. Given the IMG regulations chucking money at players Leigh style isn't the be all and end all anymore. Spending money on some incremental improvements elsewhere in the club will also have the desired effect.

Well yes that is the case. Though for us it won't tell the full story as the stand won't be operational and we won't have reduced crowds or performance scores.
The actual rating comes in at the end of the coming season to decide who makes up Super League in 2025.

Signed a new two year deal with them, been announced today.

Peter Matuatia having us all hoping he's signed elsewhere, earlier today.