Not that I think we should re sign him, but I presume the satae deal the HDM reported on a whole back isnt happening now? Wouldn't be the best use of a quota spot given our needs for a centre / half

I for one really don't understand all the talk of us still looking like a bottom 4 squad next year? I mean aside from the fact we have one of the most highly respected NRL level coaches coming in who has recently coached at the very very highest level in SOO, we have some really experienced SL hardened players coming in to blend with our crop of exciting youngsters. Not to mention we are clearly still going to be throwing money (and a lot of it) at a half back by sounds of things and are still in market for a strike centre, i just don't see the issue? Yes its not gonna go and take us to challenging again but its 100% progress on the field ion terms of what we will be able to field next year and if you look Like for like with the other teams that we want to be challenging to get in front of next year (Cas, Huddersfied, Leeds, Salford, Leigh etc) i don't actually think we are a million miles off, so with a real drill sergeant in Cartwright and a new backroom staff i think there's so much room for optimism next season. Take Salford as prime example ... you would look at their squad and think it was capable of top 6 let alone top 4 but they punching well above their weigh due to good coaching

I believe if we look something like the below next year (left gaps for new signings i think we will end up getting) then we will be there or there abouts challenge ging to get in the 6 which would be a MASSIVE step up on this season.

FB Moy/Walker
WG Briscoe
CE Hardaker
CE NEW SIGNING (Lafai?)
WG Martin
HB Abdul
HB NEW SIGNING (Sullivan?)
HK Cust
SR Cartwright
SR Holmes/Lane
PR Sao/Aydin
PR Ese Ese
LF Asiata

IN Sao/Aydin
IN Lane/Holmes
IN Balmforth/Burouh
IN Chamberlain

Abdul has been brought to play 7, his job with be organising and kicking.

If (and I know it's a bit if) we can get him fit, think he will do a good job, hoping him been dropped (which should have happened weeks ago at Catalans gives him a kick up the backside

Need a line breaking half back and a centre IMO with the last two quota spots

Agreed, the club have to go for an out and out half, we saw what a difference that made to us with last season with Clifford in a poor and poorly coached side.

You'd think with the club going big trying to get Lam it shows that's a position they are looking to add some genuine quality in and that in Cartwright he'd have some pull to get another Clifford type player over.

With Walker and the emergence of Moy just don't see the need for a FB or utility type player on a quota spot with having signed Cust and also Hardaker.

We need a out & out half with a running game and some quality in the centres and either Lafai or Leutele would be a big upgrade on what we currently have.

If (and I know it's a bit if) we can get him fit, think he will do a good job, hoping him been dropped (which should have happened weeks ago at Catalans gives him a kick up the backside

Need a line breaking half back and a centre IMO with the last two quota spots'"

I can’t see anything other than a bottom 3 finish again, regardless of who we sign. Everyone is just expecting Cartwright to work wonders. He’s not had a head coaches job for ten years. There must be a reason for that. I hope he comes across and transforms us. But jury out for me.

I remember a lot of people saying this when he first got the job.., He hasn't been a head coach for ages etc etc, Ill respond with... How many head coach positions EVER had Willie Peters had? Hes not done too bad...

I understand that, but they don’t always work (Hodgson for one). Rovers were already on the up when he took charge and he’s done a good job, they’ve made good signings. We have signed a lot of dross for next year with injury prone players thrown in too. I see nothing other than a stronger Wakefield coming up to replace London to say we won’t be in the mix at the bottom again.

I appreciate that there is a huge difference between being an assistant and being a head coach, however Cartwright has been involved in some pretty successful teams, Cowboys, Broncos and NSW just to name a few, you don't get into those clubs on a whim.

The jury will also be out for me until we see change on and off the pitch, however for the time being he is saying all the right things. I have heard some pretty damming stories about the players and what they get up to in training and socially, if he is as strict and comes down as hard as reported, some of these players will be in for a hell of a shock.

If you look at the "expected spines for next season and compare us with the teams we would want to be challenging it would look something like...

Hull
Walker
Abdul
Sullivan?
Cust

Salford
Brierley
Atkin
Sneyd
New hooker?

Leeds
Miller
Frawley
Croft
Ackers

Leigh
O'Brien
Moylan
Lam
Ipape

Huddersfield
Connor
Lolohea
Clune
Milner

I think Leeds & Leigh are better in the spine than us on paper but Salford and Huddersfield i think we could match them. Obviously there may be some new signings which may alter some of their spines etc

If we could get Clifford back for a year, then try get someone longer term for 2026 onwards and Lafai/leutele, I'd be happy with that for next season

Agree with all you say but I think you are being harsh describing the signings as dross. Apart from Asiata and hopefully Abdull I would say the others although pretty average are an improvement on who they'll replace. Given that we are 11th and would have finished bottom in most other seasons we have a lot of catching up to do. Wakefield will be far more competitive than London and teams who we will be competing with at the bottom of the table will be adding to their squads as well. It's vital that we use the quota places to sign a high end Super League quality half a centre and a non quota forward. One positive is going forward is through necessity we have unearthed several quality youngsters who have the potential to be the core of the team for the future. I'll reserve judgement until the recruitment is complete but at the moment I'm not that optimistic that we will improve our league position.

None of our signings are dross, some gambles but better than have.

Surely we can get clifford back, he's not getting a look in at first team action and no contract for next year. We all know what he could be capable of in an improved team that (fingers crossed) will be coached better. Could sell the deal to him as a fresh start to player and club. Can really see this happening

In addition to a 6 or 7 (I'd replace Trueman and Abdul but we'll have at least one of them next year), a big, fast centre and a back row, I still think we really lack size and experience in our middles. Only Ese has and size. Asiata is a completely different type of middle that we've had for years. We need some additional grunt. The best halves in the world struggle behind beaten packs.