The way I see it our pack has been fantastic this season so if we retain Dowes then I have no issue with that. I have maintained all along that we our big recruitment year will be next year, you can't have major recruitment every 12 months and we had a good one last season.

I am sure there will be some signings for next season on top of the Sharp one and hopefully we start to look at a few players who might be OOC at the end of next season too.

Saints have players like Clough/Hargreaves.

Leeds have player like Kirke/Burgess.

We have two great impact props in Ogre/Moa plus two real workhorses in Dowes/Radford which is a good balance.

Don't you think our pack has been an effective unit this season? Of course it would have been nice to add the likes of LMS or Fielden to our front line, but it's certainly not the end of the world if we re-sign Dowes for another year. We've struggled this year because of lack of half back option, not forward power. That this issue remains unresolved is of far more concern to me than whether we give Dowes another year or not.

it's pretty frustrating if we end up re-signing craig hall and dowes but having said that i wouldn't mind Hall if he continues to play like he did last week and we may need dowes if nobody else will sign for us. either way it is not ideal

fielden stayed at wigan and LMS chose saints. i think we should try to sign Nick Scruton from bradford. kyle briggs could be a good signing too. my top choice would be greenshields since he is quality and it allows tansey to cover the halves

what i'd really like to know is the rumour regarding berro coming off quota and the reason behind it...

Obvious reason behind it would be the chance to secure another player from overseas. It might be a case of going into the season and perhaps making a signing during the season who knows?

berro should be classed as fed trained but as far as im aware nothing has been said would be good to hear something from the club. hopefully he can come off the quota and we can bring in a top quality centre and look for an english prop and halfback

But that has not been the clubs plan, has it Paul?

We are made to believe that they have been actively looking to sign 'top players' this year, but seem to have so far failed. They have been looking to improve the pack, so they cannot be to satisfied with what we have got.

Unless their search has been half hearted, so as to be seen as wanting to go forward, to appease the fans, then I don't take the line you propose of 'end of next season'.

More a case of not many British players available and taregtting the best of what is available. However clubs are wanting to hang onto them so it makes it harder to get them. Fielden opted to stay put and LMS opted to join one the best clubs in the comp.

We don't have quota spots so the next thing is to decide if what else is out there is better than what we have. WHich is probably what we are doing now.

Against the lesser teams it has, even against Saints. But the times we've played Wigan and Leeds (apart from the last time) it's been dominated IMO. If you add that to the fact Wigan have got a much better pack next year and Saints probably have an even better front row than Wigan. Also Rovers have impoved their forwards and we're just stood still.

made to believe by whom?? dont recal the club site stating who we had failed to sign??

Hargreaves has left and Clough is a much much better player than Dowes as is Burgess.

Better or bigger??
I am sure the stats would say Dowes holds his own but is not try scorer, but the two you mention are clearly bigger units

Quote: EXPRO "Better or bigger?? I am sure the stats would say Dowes holds his own but is not try scorer, but the two you mention are clearly bigger units'" superleague.co.uk/statistics_pla ... eason=2010 I'd take Clough every time.

Quote: EXPRO "Better or bigger?? I am sure the stats would say Dowes holds his own but is not try scorer, but the two you mention are clearly bigger units'" superleague.co.uk/statistics_pla ... eason=2010 I'd take Clough every time.

but who says he was ever involved with bradford anyway ?? the press, bootsn all oh well it must have been true then

Think sometimes Dowes does not get the credit he deserves he always puts the effort in is very solid in defence and has been a very good servant to our club, I dont think it would be the end of the world if he got another year. go with Dowes/Radders as grafters and Ogre/Moa and impact props.