I heard a rumour mid season about Crabtree but not heard anything else.

Pretty sure he has 3-4 years to go on his long deal that he signed a bit ago

Bryn has retired, and is taking up a marketing job in the USA.

You'd better hope you are not the club that has signed Kopout, since the RFL are investigating the circumstances of his leaving Bulls.

Did he reject TUPE or accept it and then bail?

Understood to have rejected TUPE immediately it was put it writing, (as is his right), but at issue is which club must have approached him or at least negotiated with him when he was still under contract and being paid, and therefore not a free agent allowed to talk to other clubs as those OOC this year were.

wheeldon has signed for another year at london hasnt't he?

A new one taken from nrlnews twitter. Justin poore. 27 years old and a former nsw state of origin prop forward.

Just saw that one - interesting!

Had a dip in form over recent times but started to show signs of getting back to something like the form that got him a rep jersey. He could be a real good signing.

Tronc-esque?

Scott Murrell (Hull KR) and Ian Kirke (Leeds)

I hope you stay well away from Justin Poore shocking form after a promising start to his career. Gets regularly bullied around the field by the opposition pack. Packer is under contract but who knows, great impact player, very aggressive old fashioned type of Prop, instant fans favorite type of player.

IF Asotasi comes to SL I would think it would be as a direct replacement for Lima given the links between the 2 clubs and the fact Wigan need an experienced Prop even if we do sign Scott Taylor from Hull KR. Significant announcement expected from Wigan today that may well see us needing to replace a member of our pack.

Murrell and Mason are 2 names which will not go away, Murrell I think could provide outstanding utility value and Mason may surprise a few, simply because if his top class work ethic and desire.

Apparently poore had a slow start to his season this season after injuries in 2011 but has been getting back to his old form over the pats 8-10 weeks. Rumours abound thy hock been at it again or moving to saints. Would imagine the former would be more likely but would not surprise me if both are untrue.

Is it just me? All these British based players don't seem to excite and inspire me? This maybe since I think of what we have achieved this year and what our current players have done. When I think of these British players they feel like squad fillers rather than improving our team.

A few months ago there was a lot of talk of bulking up our pack. Now we've seen what the current pack can do and with a good off season they could improve more.

Maybe after such a good finish a marque signing will inspire me? For me I'll be more excited to hear we have retained Sykes and Mathers. Anyone in addition to that is only adding to the squad rather than building my excitement for February.

Is anyone else suffering from end of season cold turkey? The fact of not being able to go and watch our team next weekend leaves me feeling empty

Not me matey, some great junior rugby being played on sat/sun mornings plus a lot of good open age amateur games to watch Saturday afternoons, I still get my fix through the winter

The English signings don't inspire me other than kirke who would be a good solid prop. However I thought this about Raleigh and Sykes and they turned out to be signings who contributed very well this year.

We do need a marquee signing or two to get to be regular playoff contenders. I'd like a centre/fullback and a prop.

According to the T&A (Bradford local paper) Sykes is expected to join you guys on a 2-year deal. Link below but it's buried in the article. www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... rts_today/

According to the T&A (Bradford local paper) Sykes is expected to join you guys on a 2-year deal. Link below but it's buried in the article. www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... rts_today/

Let's be honest, how many of our current squad of misfits were we inspired by this time last year? On paper we're a right ramshackle old bunch, but I wouldn't swap em for anyone.

The bit thats relevant:
"Paul Sykes , meanwhile, is believed to have been offered a two-year deal to join Wakefield permanently"

^^^^THIS!!!!^^^^

The problem with NRL signings is unless you have a massive amount of cap space you are only going to attract those players who are surplus to requirements in the NRL.

The salary cap in the NRL is almost double ours in SL as of last year, so even the average players in the NRL can earn good money in Australia without having to come to SL.

Justin Poore may be a player who is not really in demand and may well be looking for a SL move, Asotasi because of his age and form that is not what is once was is another possibility, I would be surprised if Packer was released by the Warriors and the form he has shown this season I am sure he would get a decent offer from another NRL club that would equal anything a club in SL could or should pay for him.

Tbf, most of us thought the "new" squad was an improvement on the previous season and it took over half of the season for them to start and play as a team.
We just need some genuine pace and a bit of quality plus someone like Ben Westwood.
It was pace (and some fatigue) that did for us on Saturday and it would be great to see us frightening opposition teams when the ball turns over in our favour.
It is going to feel like a long off season.

Id the squad started like this for next season I'd be more than pleased:

Mathers
Fox
Collis
Smith
Cockayne
Sykes
Smith
Amor
Ellis
Raleigh
Kirmond
Lauititi
Washbrook

Aiton
Wilkes
New Prop
Mariano

Then we'd have the likes of Wood, Mellars, Southern, possibly Johnson, Wildie, James, Cowling, etc as cover. Yes it would be nice to add a little bit more quality, maybe two props and a wing/centre, but tinkering is more important than overhauling.

I agree. The only place we need an addition is at prop for me. The rest is fine assuming we retain who we have.
I'm ok if PJ goes as his position would be under pressure with a new prop, and then James would be the 5th

After your 17 you name I would retain
Southern
Wood
Mellars
James
Cowling
Walshaw
Trout

I'd have to question keeping John, but happy if he sees out his contract. I'd love to see him put the others under pressure. Can easily move Sykes to other positions if John picks up the challenge.

The new kid from Hull added would be a decent sized squad. Depends how much we loan to Championship to keep them fit.

One thing that is important is to keep both Aiton and Ellis for rotation. I'm not sure any other club would be as blessed as us in that area.