totally agree....
Probably got a lift with his ' partner in crime ' Minchella..

I think we've signed Holmes to drive him to training.

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It’s a hell of a winners haul by him….think his off-field antics have now overshadowed what a player he was/could be…personally wouldn’t have touched him with bargepole but he is here now and let’s see how he goes for us before we really stick the boot in

Can’t say I’m over enthralled with the signing of Hardaker but as has been said it is what it is. I only hope that he has been signed as a squad player as opposed to being seen as regular starter.

Hopefully he behaves on or more so off the pitch.

I appreciate recruitment isn’t complete yet and we are shopping in the reduced section of the market currently but do feel a little underwhelmed so far.

Although we knew he had signed, and i'll always support and get behind any signing we make but i can't with this guy. Not just a loose cannon off the pitch but he's not even good on it anymore.
A very poor signing by the club.

The final potential 2 quota spots are doing some serious heavy lifting here. People won’t admit it but the hinting of investment has clouded peoples minds. Go back 3 months before the Pearson interview if we announced these signings people would have lost their minds. Now they’ve conditioned themselves to believe that these are only squad players and we’ll suddenly announce a load of top drawer players because we’ve got an investor that’s going to throw money away without wanting a return. Not going to happen IMO.

Don’t get me wrong a couple of really good signings changes the landscape but I’m skeptical. If it’s Lafai 33 on a 2 year deal or even 3 and a reserve grade Aussie I don’t think it’s enough, and the wage bill will be the same if not lower then this year.

Probably right. Hope we’re all wrong!

I understand that we have two remaining quota places left. Please correct me if I'm wrong. One will be used for a full back and the other I'm guessing will be a centre.

For me I'd be very satisfied with Sailor and Lafai/Leutele. Any players of lesser quality would be disappointing as I find some of the players already signed pretty underwhelming.

What are your realistic hopes and expectations?

I think Sailor will be one. Wouldn't be surprised to see Tese Niu - both players that Cartwright will have coached

So the side could look like this:

Sailor
Briscoe
Hardaker
Niu
Martin
Trueman
Abdull
Ese'Ese
Cust
Sao
Holmes
Cartwright
Asiata

Lane
Balmforth
Fash
Ashworth

That would leave depth players such as Moy, Barron, Aydin, Charles, Staveley, Jebson, Litten and players such as Armstrong and Wainhouse who haven't featured yet due to injury.

I think we do need a couple of backs, perhaps Dawson will step up, and rumours of the York winger could be true

I still think we might try offload Trueman to Wakey, they'll need a better half next year, Trueman hasn't been brilliant for us and he's stupidly on marquee money, if we release him, the Cust signing makes a lot more sense.

Sailor would be ideal as he’s got the pace we need and can play fullback or 6. I think he’s still contracted though and maybe still fancies his chance of NRL minutes so won’t be an easy deal to do. Think he could have a Kelly like impact in SL and possibly even better suited to playing 6 over here, would allow Moy/Litten a bit of game time at fullback.

That makes a lot of sense.

Signing a player as a marquee who had yet to fulfil his early potential with a worrying injury history was one more example of how poorly the cap was managed.

Yeah, I can see Trueman being allowed to leave. Would still be disapointed if Cust is seen as the replacement 6 though. Next to Abdull, we need an explosive, quick number 6

Dream scenario..
Trueman to Wakey.
Sao off-quota. 5 years rule.
Return of Clifford.