On the rare occasion that the forwards rolled their sleeves up and gave him a platform I thought he looked the part. As long as there is an organising type alongside him (be that Sneyd, HTW or whoever) then I think he will go well.

I can see the temptation in playing him at hooker. With his speed off the mark I can see him making alot of breaks from DH as long as the forwards do their job, and we already know he can pass a ball.

Indeed. I think that because he's been around for so long people forget that Westerman still has his best days ahead of him.

He's as much the future of the club as any of the other youngsters mentioned here.

100% agree Westerman, Houghton and Watts (who has matured massively) will be the leaders of the team in the next 2 years.

Westerman has always had the ability, and whilst I don't think he's ever been as bad as some on here claimed in his first two years, these last two years he's been superb, especially in 2014. No doubt this is down to the influence of Gareth Ellis for me, no surprise Watts has matured either. Yet more evidence of the intangible benefit of signing a player of Ellis' stature.

out of interest how many times have you seen Naughton play?? How do you know he would be a better option than Rankin at full back? Your opinion of course..I'd keep Rankin for sure, love the guys passion!

Rankin is exactly the type of player we have been looking for for ages. A half who is prepared to take on the line, got pace and doesn't mind getting smashed in a tackle once in a while. I have a feeling that that signing of Pryce was to mentor Rankin as much as it was to utilise his experience on the field of play.

I don't really understand the blind faith some show in the untried and very much unproven youngsters at the club. Far too much sentiment in wanting locally produced players. With the lack of halves we have had over the last few years if these youngsters were the real deal they surely would have had opportunities to shine in the first team.

I like what we have seen in the first team of Abdul, but as has been pointed out, he is more of an old style 13 than a half.

Rankin has produced not just solid performances but something extra. He is not th finished article by any means, but he will benefit greatly from Pryce.

Reflects my views. Rankin has talent and attitude, lacks consistency but definitely worth persisting with.

I think the mistake was signing Naughton, just why? we already knew that Rankin can play FB so can cover Shaul (or even usurp him based on form), we know potentially he could play interchange 9 as well as his preferred position of 6.
IF Radford had any thoughts of keeping Rankin long term then he wouldn't have signed Pryce and/or naughton, Pryce I think is a very poor signing for us. Sneyd & Rankin I'd be fairly happy with for next season.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Naughton given a run out at 6 in the future .

Sorry but that's just a nonsense, he was one of the most consistent players last year along with Talanoa and a couple of others. Just how many of the squad performed pants from one game to the next then after a rocket got up and played? I'll tell you, 75% of them Rankin was not one of them.

We need some experience in the halves. This season proved that.

Pryce is an upgrade from Horne.

How is signing Naughton a mistake? He is not on big wages, & he is cover in the outside backs, what happens if we have injuries to our 1,6,7 & maybe a winger? We have cover with these utilitity players, Pryce is experience to train/play alongside these young members of the squad to show them what's needed at certain times of the game.

You don't know the first thing about the guy, I bet you had never even heard of him before we signed him. How can it possibly be seen as a mistake? At worst he provides cover, but there's also a possibility he will be twice as good as Shaul. Not to mention he's young, English, fairly cheap and has experience of playing in Aus.

As for Pryce. He will be here for 2 years and then retire. If Rankin is seen as the future of the club then that timing is perfect for him to serve as his understudy and then take over.

I would have also been happy with Rankin and Sneyd as if happens. But consider also that our full back is 22, our LF 24 and our back up halves both 18. It doesn't give us much experience in those creative positions.

I don't need to know anything about him aside from the positions he is supposed to be covering. We already have adequate cover in the positions he covers so his signing is a mistake/pointless.
If you think he is twice as good as Shaul then you clearly haven't got a clue about rugby league. No player is ever twice as good at this level, that just isn't possible and whilst I don't think Shaul is in top 5 of SL fullbacks he's a very decent player. If the intention was to replace Shaul then the coach would be making that clear from the outset but then you wouldn't understand either from your comment. That this amazingly talented twice as good as Shaul player has gone massively under the radar to all & sundry suggests that he just isn't.
And as for your creative comment re the halves, well I would never put Pryce in the creative dept and frankly age has got nothing to do with creativity. A player has it or they don't, the coach alllows a player to be creative or they don't (and with Radford at the helm that'll be a won't/don't) again that's something you clearly don't have any concept of...

Oh and Easthullfc fan, exactly how much is he on or are you guessing again re individuals salaries?

naughton will be on a pittance and looks like he could be a good prospect so well worth a punt IMO