Whilst I can see what you're saying, I just think that letting Chase go could be at least as damaging to their chances. They're always defensively suspect with the way they play. If you then also take their most creative player out of the side on the back of their best strike player (Shenton), they could end up rooted to the bottom of the table.

Losing Chase would have the most impact on their side out of their entire squad IMO, so they'd be better off losing 2 or even 3 others than him. So we'd probably need them to have no other options before they'd consider it, and there's always going to be some interest in others (as we've just proved).

I agree. But I also think he'd need to put some weight on to play LF, I don't think he could take the punishment for 80 minutes as he is now. So the problem is present regardless of which way we'd like to go.

As i said earlier, we should of just thrown Washy in as part of the deal, Assuming he's happy to go, of course. Burnett won't make the grade in SL IMO. Last year was his chance, we now have 2-3 youngsters who can back up, if needed.

It's getting to the point now where he may have to be loaned out to prove his worth because he won't get many more in the first team. As you say there are a few youngsters who can back up so Burnett's best chances may have come and gone.

Which ultimately is why he's 2nd or 3rd choice for each position. Too light for the pack, too slow for the backs. He needs to change one of those facets to have a serious chance.

As an example i'm really excited to see what opportunities Liam Cunningham gets this season. After France last year i expect big things from him.

Agree again. The few times I saw him for the reserves last season he didn't really stand out either, though, which is disappointing.

Yes, but that was the case whether or not Westerman signed. That's why I don't quite see why this would be the catalyst for him to move on. It's still entirely within his own hands to push for a place IMO.

I guess my arguement is that he'd be 1st choice for the LF spot if Fitz plays prop before Westerman signs. He's now 2nd choice again and Westerman isn't a short term signing. Whiting may have been sitting it out waiting to take over from Fitz. This additional obstacle now in his way does change things imo.

Possibly. But personally, as much as I think Whiting has the better rugby brain I think Washbrook copes with the physical side better than him, so I'd have still leant towards him instead. So he still wasn't necessarily in line to be 1st choice. I just don't see Whiting at his current size holding his own down the middle where the big boys play.

Whiting is so useful in many positions that I think he will get enough gametime to keep him at the club. Washy is a tough one as when we sign Rovelli we then have halfback cover and with Westerman signed we have a few options at 13. Washy's only position then is impact hooker but I tend to think Rovelli will play from the bench whenever Horne/Long are fit and spell Houghton as he can cover 6,7 & 9.

You're quite right, he has spoken about this several times. Whiting is the same type of build Sean O'loughlin was for Wigan but he has now 'beef-up' slightly. Niether will never be a 'mountains' but Whiting just needs to now concentrate on this area.
Like O'Loughlin, he'll be fine, he knows what he now has to do. Everything else is in place for Whiting.

how certain is rovelli to sign?

We're still light in the backs and lets be honest is anyone really that confident that Tansey will play the entire season. There's no way that Richard Horne will either so Whiting will still be a very valuable member of the first team and will more often than not occupy a position in the backs.

I wouldn't be surprised if Cas maybe tried to sign Washbrook at some point, even if for an extended loan period.