These signings just compliment our already very young squad.

Walker, Trueman, Fash, Martin, Sutcliffe, Bourouh, Ashworth, Herman are all under 30 and are likely to be in the starting 17 next season. Not including Lane, Cator and Scott who may or may not be here. Some experience in the pack isn’t a bad thing. Add Asiata, Whitehead, Satae to that, with a younger 7 and maybe another winger, that’s a massive upgrade to what we currently have.

One of Whitehead or Bateman, along with already having Ellis at the club, would be huge for the development of Staveley and Jebson.
I think I'd prefer Whitehead because he would only get a 1 year contract which would be enough to steady us next year and add leadership while passing down his knowledge, and then Steveley and Jebson to contend the 2nd row spots after that. Staveley looks SL ready already and Jebson not a million miles off. With an experienced 2nd row along side them both they could both have good careers.

In my view we're going to have to accept that we'll be signing quite a number of solid players on 2 year deals as not many players will move for 1 year deals and we're not an attractive proposition right now.
In 2 years if we've put our house in order and these deals expire then with any luck we can attract some real quality.
Hopefully that will be supplemented by 2 or 3 (or more) of our academy players that have stepped up as quality first teamers.
That seems the realistic route forward to me.

Exactly how I see it.

Whitehead would be a brilliant signing. Getting the extra 5% out of his team mates and all that.

Walker
Briscoe
Hardraker/Sutcliffe
Lafai
Martin
Trueman
Abdul
Sao
Bourouh
Ese Ese
Whitehead
Holmes
Asiata

Satae
Ashworth
Smith
Staveley

Is miles better than we have an what I thought we would look like a couple of months ago.

That still gives us two quota spots too, one would need to be a starting hooker.

Although i can't see it, would be happy if we could get Chan in on a permanent deal.

John Davidson thinks Lafai is staying at Salford.
Said we've shown an interest but he won't be coming.

Wait and see what happens.

I wouldn't rule it out, way behind the pecking order at Wigan, even this week with a couple out, he hasn't been called back. Maybe a year long loan deal.

That’s what I’ve been told, he’s committed to Salford. I’d be looking at masters personally, but can’t see anything coming of that.

I'd like Lafai, but I'm not sure it's worth chasing hard and paying a fee for a 33 year old.

Whitehead has several current top 4 clubs chasing him, so can’t see that one either.

Davidson today said that the rumours are we closing in on Whitehead.

With Nicholson now going the NRL I could see him ending up at Warrington, I’ve been told no deal is anywhere near contrary to other reports on social media.

Hope springs eternal!

Whitehead would be a great signing for a year.