Yeah, maybe with Stewart it was just a case of him being available and obviously pretty cheap that they felt it was maybe the best move at the time. Now they’ve had to go back to the drawing board we might have to wait until next season and hopefully by that time the financial situation is sorted and more players might be available rather than mid season.

Hopefully we might be in a situation to bring in a better class of player. Not exclusively Sailor but someone who’s shown promise at NRL level.

If they do come out shortly and announce an extension for Balmforth then for me although its welcome it shows just how naive the club have been.
All most of us asked for was for Balmforth to be given a run to see what he can do yet all we heard was he had to work on aspects of his game.Really?
Dont all young players have to work on aspects of their game?
Then we had the version from some on here that it was bad attitude,not fit enough,cant tackle.
You play to players strengths and Balmforth has shown he is what we need from dummy half positions with his pace and decent distribution.
With Riding been squeezed out recently who was the guy who brough him here you have to wonder if words have been said

So basically the club are criticised if they don't give Balmforth a new contract but also if they do. Thanks for clearing that up.

No but you have to admit that it looks like the club have maybe put themselves in a situation that there could be a scramble for his signature now that he looks the part in SL. You’d think that had he been given a bit more game time before May (there was ample opportunity) it would have been a lot easier to tie him down to a new deal. If we lose him now and he goes on to be a top player the club look silly again.

This isn’t a dig at Morgan Smith as he’s played his part in difficult circumstances and always given a go, but it’s hard to see how he’s so much better in fitness or defence then Balmford, the areas we have been told Balmford ‘needs to work on’ so often. It looks like it could have been handled better TBH.

Not feeling positive about the retention of Balmforth. Just the way Grix seems to be overly critical of him, more than the other youngsters. Two weeks now it’s been a “yeh, he was great, but…” after scoring and assisting in both games.

Don’t know, just got a feeling he doesn’t want to give credit and we haven’t kept him.

Maybe grix doesn't want to talk him up because he's leaving. Would look a bit stupid saying how great he is just before he's announced somewhere else

It's a strange one, you'd think if another club had signed him either it would have been made official or there'd at least be some rumours online but there's been nothing.

After a couple of good performances it would seem an ideal time for the club to announce that he's staying.

INOUT

That's how I'm reading it. Next season we'll have Rimbu, Bourouh and Smith if he stays plus Hodgson coming through.

Any praise he seems to get is caveated with references to flaws in his game which seems to be more compared to other youngsters.

Love to be proved wrong as he looks like he could be a very good player but the signs don't look good.

Can see him going to KR.

Am I right in thinking that Balmforth’s contract has a year extension in the club’s favour?

Think that was last year, the club triggered a year extension near the end of last season.

Potentially better than the other 3 hookers mentioned who will likely be here next year

Maybe the club just fancy Hodgson more?
Talent and attitude wise.

Dont think anyone really knows
As i see it and i assume he has an agent then given his lack of first team game time it would have been sensible for the agent to look for another club for his player.
On that basis its more likely Balmforth has signed for another club.
That said if the club are holding an extension in their favour then it could also be likely that the club were biding their time and now will be forced to make a decision in the next couple of weeks.which they didnt want to make given the additional signings they have made in his position
For me if Balmforth is staying then the signing of Rimbu and the Salford third choice nine is illogical.
Interesting to see how this plays out
Over to you Ritchie Rich.Whichever way you look at it its a cock up

You can add a young academy player to that list as well buddy, Hutchinson, a great deal of promise in Balmforth, it’s frankly unbelievable if he’s not secured, I don’t know anything about the overseas hooker, so I’ll accept that, but for me Denive is looking the best option of all the others, hopefully common sense will prevail.