We don't know what happened or why but I would guess there was a limited budget available so it would not matter who was recruiting. Probably thought they were taking a risk on Ock and Pele but one might work out?

I understand James Webster was involved in the deals for Pele and Okunbor, he was doing some consultancy/mentoring stuff here whilst Smith was in charge. Maybe he's no longer involved either so they're having a proper clear out.

That will depend on who they can convince to sign for us. Let's keep our fingers crossed that Ese'ese is the new benchmark!

Absolutely and still wouldn’t discount Pele making a top player somewhere and Ockunbor ending up a solid player for someone, it’s easier in hindsight to criticise but the club really does seem to have been a perfect storm for everyone to fail especially young lads moving across the world.

Jed Cartwright, Rimbu and Stewart are (or would have been) are similar somewhat risky uses of the quota places but you just get the impression there’s a bit more knowledge and resources available now to make a more educated guess on these type of players and a better environment once they get here.

Pele apparently signing for Bradford according to
Matthew Shaw. Think he’s found his level for now.

Meh, another Dobbins secret agent marmalizing our club

Agree with this.
I've said this before (when Hoy and Brown left for example), but the club has to take some of the blame for this situation. It goes without saying that, in particular, the first three months of the season have been a nightmare of catastrophic proportions for everyone concerned. To fly half-way round the world and find yourself working for a club which appeared to have completely lost any sense of direction cannot have been easy for anyone, let alone a young rugby professional.

It easy to say he should have knuckled down and worked hard, but life doesn't always work out as easy as that. I suspect the atmosphere around the club (Feb - May) made it very easy for players to become disheartened fairly quickly, heaven knows we supporters were in despair at what was happening, why wouldn't a player feel the same way as us?

I too think Pele has potential to be a decent player for someone, and hope it works out well for him, be it at Bradford or wherever. Think it was simply wrong player - wrong club - wrong time in this instance. Think this is best for player and club. Let's hope it works out well all round in this case.

pele isn't ready for SL. Needs a couple more years in the lower grades and to build his fitness. I agree that the club has been a shambles. Smith has to shoulder most of the blame. grix has at least instilled a bit of discipline and we are starting to look like a team who trains during the week

Jack Walker on Instagram:

"Anyone got a 2-3 bed property in Leeds/Cas to rent for 6 months?"

The club not reacting better to the Trueman situation was a big factor in all the other dominoes falling IMO. It hampered us enough at the start of 23 even with someone of the quality Clifford in the half’s and senior performers like Swift and Satae on the field.

To sleep walk into the same situation again with Nu Brown more of a ball runner and replacing other experienced players with inexperienced players was a recipe for disaster.

I know it’s hindsight again but we did know from aug that our main playmaker was missing a huge chunk of the season if he returned at all. We’ve seen just how much someone like Reynolds has helped steady things with a bit of direction.

I think a top side , with a squad good enough to carry a luxury type signing, could have seen Pele go onto be the impact player we all hoped he would be for us. A lack of playmakers and a shambolic environment that he came in to would have hampered his development, especially given that fitness wasn't an area Smith concentrated on. I think he'll go great with Bradford, hopefully improve his fitness and then maybe get another crack at SL. Okunbor, if used on the wing with his proven record in that position, may get another club, but I don't think it'll be anyone in the tope end of SLt hat signs him; he may get a permanent deal with Bradford, subject to this loan period.

He wouldn't get into a top side, in his current state.

zon another note, think Walker is gone, not even made the 21 man squad, think he will go out on loan and won't be seen again.
Too good to be playing reserves.

Sometimes signings just don’t work and that was probably always going to be the case with Pele. He probably would have gone okay under a top set up where fitness and conditioning were of high importance and , as has been said, in a squad where he could develop into a good player . We just weren’t the right club for him and if anything , his fitness may have actually deteriorated under Tony itsnotmyfault Smith because as Clifford publicly stated preseason was “a piece of pi$$” at Hull. Just glad we have now appointed a seasoned coach , who has already laid down a marker with his comments on fitness. I dread to think what level Smith night have taken us to had he still been in charge .

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