The game agaist wakey really hammered the nail into the coffin of some players gentle was unsure whether to keep or not.he feels there is no one in the squad who can play off the cuff if needs be or smart rugby players(whiting apart).expect plenty of players to leave this off season,and a fair few to come in

Bravo

Another thought I have had on recruitment is that we are following the 'model' McRae used back in 2003/2004, where he added unknown signings from the SL reserves and the Championship to existing quality players like Jason Smith and Ritchie Barnett and young talent such as Cooke, Horne and Yeaman.

players like Raynor, Carvell, Dowes, Whiting and McMenemy were all signed with little fanfare, but turned out to be some of the best players we have had at the club in years.

That side was very unlucky with injuries in 2004, and obviously went on to win the CC and appear in a Grand Final in 2005/2006.

The years that followed we seem to abandon that way of building the squad, and instead seemed to pick anyone who was a 'name' in the game, such as Berrigan, Dykes and Long...and we know how that ended up.

A team next season built around the quality of G Ellis, Briscoe and Yeaman, the homegrown stars like Houghton, Bowden and Crooks and lesser known players such as Elima, Crookes and Arundel could have a similar impact to what we were doing in 2004.

Gentle seems to be favouring bringing in most of the new signings who are already in this country as they know the game,the country and the weather!!he doesn't want another mckinnon scenario happening.we will bring in a couple of players from over seas though

anynames?

Of the signings from the nrl?no,I aren't getting names,just been told a front line nrl prop and a halfback.
We've been speaking to watts for a while,crookes,mcdonnel was definately given an offer.there will be a few 'suprise' signings I think,we tend to announce players that no one has mentioned at all.

Comments in the HDM are merely there to give the fans some hope.
When IMO it would seem more like rats deserting a sinking ship.
Is Liam Watts a better replacement than Manu ?

A very dreary troll. At least try for God's sake.

You're spot on with your comment about rats deserting a sinking ship. I assume you mean Watts leaving the Dobbins.

So who is Lovegrove a better signing than ? Aspinwall ?

I am glad Gentle came out and said this as maybe some fans are losing a little heart at the moment BUT that is not an excuse for writing this season off

Who said were signing Lovegrove?

rovers have had to substantially up their offers to lovegrove and mcdonnell as we offered both deals. Probably both stay at rovers now but will hurt them financially

What a shame that will be.

This serves Rovers right for letting players get to the point of been able to sign for or talk to other clubs, if Hull hadn't offered a deal then some other club would/may have anyway.
No different to yourselves with Manu, Turner and Moa I guess.

Rovers offered significantly less than Hull, but both have decided to stay at Rovers. I think that speaks volumes !