Clifford may only be here for a year, so we may be after a 7 again

Peoples sentiment on here reflects recruitment decisions at the top and explains the mess we're in with our squad currently. We currently have 3 hookers on decent ish salaries (Houghton, Dwyer and lovodua), if we knew Houghton was going to take up his extra year, we either shouldn't have re signed lovodua or Dwyer, it was a terrible recruitment choice to have 3 hookers taking up our cap, at the end of the year we should keep just 1 and go with the retained player and Balmforth as our hookers next year...spend the money saved on a big second rower or two. Evans unfortunately isn't worth retaining, as others have said, he looks like he should be a good player, but he just isnt worth the quota spot currently, there are decent quota props out there, Paul Vaughan, Paasi, Taukiyaho etc, all have also moved across the world, but have offered more than Evans. Sentimental recruitment again rewarded Lane with a 3 year deal, which other top super League team can you imagine him commanding a 3 year deal and a starting spot? I'm hoping Tony Smith puts an end to this sentimental recruitment and manages our cap better.

The same person who seemed to know about Dwyer coming to us a good couple weeks before it came to light is confident the club is trying hard to get Ratu Naulago back for 2024, imagine it wouldn't be cheap or easy but, personally, id have him back in a heartbeat.

I just can't see that happening, as much as I liked Ratu, I wouldn't want to be spending marquee wage on a winger. If we could get him on a reasonable salary then I'd be all for it.

That would be really disappointing, what have you heard, hopefully not true, I'd be worried about losing Hoy too if Cliiford went.

He'll be 32 this year. I'd avoid this tbh

Rumours of going to the Dolphins, but with the way they've started, maybe not. SL was only ever a filler for Clifford in my opinion, and Hoy was probably the one out of the 2 of them that would be here a bit longer

As much as I liked Ratu when he was here first time around I'd also avoid re signing Ratu as a player coming back to a club they left very rarely works out well, as Mahe and Westy have shown. As mwindass states he'll also be 32 this year so unless he'd be a low hit on our cap then I can't see any other reason for the club to want him back.

I'll be honest, I had no idea that he'd be 32 that does change things, I do think if its a reduced salary then it would still be a decent signing, even if we get a couple years out of him.

Think he's been injured most of the time since he left us. So that's a big worry

you are right.he has missed 1 full season and a half with a knee injury but is now back in the first team fully fit.
That could actually be a good thing that he has missed so much playing time given his age.
I would have him back in a flash.
Bristol have some speed players but according to thier coach Ratu is still the fastest player in their squad.
If Ratu was a worry what about Savelio,Trueman,Tuimavave.
One thing is for sure we need some strike in our backs.Swift is Ok but McIntosh and our centres are average.I dont see any attacking strike from either Scott or Sutcliffe

He'd still be the fastest at our club on one leg .

Minichello was 33 when we signed him

Ellis 34 in 2016

Ratu could score trys from nothing and was solid in defence

Swift is ok but I can't remember him beating 3 players and going full length like ratu did numerous times

Age is the biggest issue here, the salary cap in Union is over 3 times RL, we couldn't compete with the offer they made, so he would likely be our most expensive player for a winger who has played 11 games in 2 seasons.

Swift is solid, reads the game well and reliable, not spectacular, as Ratu was, but Ratu's injury record, age and wage would be the issue.
Mini and Ellis were both schooled in fitness and recovery by top NRL conditioning staff and Ellis wasn't signed in 2016, if anything, he got fitter after his initial foot injury, ironically during the warm up for his debut at Leeds.
I'd rather spend on a nasty hard running front rower and a decent backrower, particularly as we have Baron to come back into the fold after his baptism of fire, last year. Personally, Mitch would be my pick over Macintosh, who looks like a startled rabbit when under pressure and is decidedly weak in defence, with his pace only really average, not as rapid as Marshall or even Ethan Ryan.