Personally, I can't wait for the kick off and I think we will go well but I am unsure why we need so many overseas players on the books, although the quality this time is far superior.:-

2010 2011
Tony Tony
Henderson Collis
Korki Mellars
Smith J Smith T?
Semi Southern
Tongia Masselot
Jeffreys I.John?
Rinaldi Lauititi
Hickey Obst ?
Morrison Morrison

What are we saying about GB talent? 10 overseas players, excluding the quota rules for Federation, residency, etc. It's a lot of money leaving the UK.

Henderson's scottish and was born in england so don't no why he is there

Shame that we choose to exploit the 'rules' like this but I guess until the RFL tightens up on it then clubs will continue to rely on second/third and fourth rate overseas players.

No all of them do though, Trinity are one of the perennial offenders, and the argument was the club had to do so to remain in the top flight. It has paid off in ensuring the club was in SL at the right time, but now off field criteria has more weight behind it and clubs are judged on young talent they are bringing through there is no reason to continue with this policy.

I totally agree never has there been a better time to be blooding young British talent but it does seem that we are not prepared to do that.

This is a wind up right ? Do you read the hull board ? Agar is renowned for NOT giving kids a chance and would rather bring in second rate or washed up aussies. There will be very few youngsters given a shot this season.

Henderson is not staying is he?

Cos he is non Fed trained and a (second rate) import - and is therefore an import.

We had the chance to get aware from 2nd rate Ozzies, and we appear to have chosen not to take it. Yet again we have taken the easy option and it worries me because the new management seem to be going down the well trodden route of the old management and potentially making the same mistakes.

not prepared to do that? what did we do last year? where did that get us? look around at the other clubs in the division. Their lineups are a mix of overseas imports, players with experience, and youth. A 100% British league, with British players is the dream, but at present that's all it is. It's not ideal, it's certainly not unique, but in order for us to move forward we have to do the same as other clubs. Kids can only get you so far. If we don't want a team of overseas players, but can't compete with kids, what does that leave us with? Look at the England side. It consists of overseas players for a start. This country is hardly flush with good young English talent. The club have recruited well in that market, and have a lot of British kids on our books with potential. But that's all they have right now. Players like Southern, Morrison and Lauititi provide the experience, the leadership, the drive to give these kids something to aspire to. They will get their chance, and when they do it's up to them to show that they have more than potential, and come 3 years time when players like Southern retire, they should be there on new long term contracts to step in and replace them.

to be fair to the club they will be doing exactly what agar wants and has a history of doing.....the only difference now is that the quality of import and value will have reduced from what it was at Hull.

The country is not flushed with english talent for the exact reason of this thread....bringing in overpaid aussies who are playing NSW Cup. That is why our game is where it is.
Look at Hickey for example are you trying to tell me we could not have picked up a better player over here on half his salary ??? I think we all know the answer to that.
I dont mind if the imports are real quality.....i would welcome a Cronk or Thurston every day of the week, but a second grader and a player with more issues than Gary Glitter !!

We were forced into it last year because of finances there is no reason this year why we can't have a better balance but we don't have to go back that other way and load up on as many imports as we can get our hands on. It is not a unique situation but if you look at the 2 sides that got to the grand final this year they both have a good recent record of bringing young British players through so the players are out there. The fact that there are overseas players in the England side only backs up my point that there are far too many overseas players in SL. I'm not saying no overseas signings but there is no need to have 10 in the squad that is a backwards step for the club.

So who came through to replace these from 2008?

Blanch, Martin, Drew, MacGillivary, Demetriou, Obst, Peterson, Henderson, Latu, (Watene)

Or these from 2005:

Halpenny, Demetriou, Domic, Tadulala, Jeffries, Korkidas, Solomona, Obst, Macgillivary, Henderson

Or these from 2003:

Sovatabua, Jeffries, Seers, Davis, O'Brian, Hood, Vowles, Halpenny, Slattery