I'm not sure I agree - Penny and Veivers are simply not up to the job, and since the average interested observer probably doesn't know or care what nationality the players are, losing them in favour of better players will probably be good PR.

Most 'casual' (i.e non-anorak, like us) fans just want to see good players winning games - on paper, our new squad looks like it can do significantly more of that than we've become used to; roll on next Feb.

Have to agree about Vievers, neitehr really saw anything from him that made me think he was going to make a decent SL player. Not particularly quick, strong or astute positionally. Not much to build on. He'll do ok in the next level down you would imagine but not SL imo.

Howarth I can't honestly remember doing anything, positive or negative. Not because he didn't but because I never really picked him out. There were that many new faces last year I spent half of the matches trying to work out who was who.

I agree to an extent, i mentioned in my previous post that i didnt think they were upto it but to the rest of the RL world its an easy pop. 3 brits out 3 overseas in etc.. but yes, the 1000 to 2000 floating Trinity "fans" will probably not care.

In an ideal world we would have 17 lads born in the UK (ideally within a WF postcode) running out every week but unfortunately that isnt going to happen anytime soon, in fact, we are probably closer to the opposite.

Obviously I didn't just mean because he was English.
Personally I think he has time to develop and I'd give him a shot.
It was all just too soon for him in my opinion. Don't mind that you disagree. That's just the way it is.

Totally agree - if, by the end of this franchise period, we're not significantly closer to that 'ideal world' than we are now, plenty of people will be less than gruntled, including me.

Lets hope its short term pain for long term gain. I wish the lads that are leaving well for the future.

Howrah going to Salford. Penny released and hasn't got a club. Tongia not been training this week don't know what's going on with him. Heard he signed but agar wasn't keen but that was a few weeks back not heard anything since.

A rather strange recent tweet from AG

'My daughters favourite signing so far announced, if I have more followers than @jameselston21'

I assume this is the future announcement of a player (could be regarding Daddycool - is the current one staying wiyh us?)

I feel that this refers to a person who is already known at the club, so perhaps it is Sam O ?

I believe the club have persuaded the real daddy cool to have another season with us. Best mascot in the league.

i heard that also but now he is not coming

Having had a beer with his his agent this evening he's mr backup!

yeah I guess that has been the plan all along based on visa applications.

Correct. I think the clincher was that the suit will now be washed each week! Not sure Mummy Cool has agreed yet, but as far as he is concerned he will be there.
I am already working on next years talks with the line "after 10 years at Belle Vue dont you fancy being the 1st mascot to run out at the new stadium"

Not sure if this concerns you, but McRae said he was hopefull that a deal would be struck this week to allow Sam Obst to play regular rugby elsewhere.