Agreed. The highlights don’t actually lie, Pele, Okunbor and Bienek are all big units capable making for a semi decent highlight reel. This highlights don’t show the serious issues with fitness, work rate etc those players had at SL level. At least with Cross he has the highlights with the footwork, speed, finishing but we also know that he’s managed to consistently play well for 3 seasons in a SL side that’s always in and around the play offs, those other players didn’t have that track record.

Now that the chance of a marquee level overseas centre (would have been my priority) has sailed Cross would tick all the boxes for a realistic signing. Like I say I think we’ll struggle to pull it off as I think he’ll be in demand by lots of clubs.

100% see that logic and personally I wouldn’t have gone for Hardaker (age) and Chamberlain on multi year deals for that exact reason. I think Cross though is the type of player who could maybe step up a level or two, he’s a late bloomer in his career. I also think we have to look at what’s available in context to other SL clubs. Keighran and Wardle are the benchmark best centre combo in SL, top players but when you compare to some of the top SL centres over the years the level has definitely dropped. I just don’t see where the centres the quality of prime Seniors, Lyon, Watkins, etc would be available to any SL club. Even any homegrown superstars will be snapped up by the NRL nowadays in their early 20s.

It’s a tough one, however we are not going to go from 11th to Top 4 in a season. Think we all realistically expect 8th at best next season and then kick on from 2026.

I think Cross will be a decent addition. There appears no scope to add top quality for 2025. As I’ve mentioned before, other than the halves, our Centres have been a real weakness in recent years. Primarily due to fitness, Carlos and Sutty hardly played together and the back up options were not Super League standard.

Cross is a no risk upgrade. He’s played in the Super League and if he’s fit and can give us 20+ games next season, then that gives us some much needed stability and allows a more settled team which in turn should deliver improved results.

I’m sure they’ll be a review if all contracts during 2025. Although not ideal, we now have more funds to move on players if necessary to improve the squad further for 2026.

But we could be in the battle for a top four position in 2026 if we can add three quality players at centre,second and front row.
Lack of real pace is still an issue but a quality centre would give us a decent backline with the two wings we have and Moy/Rapana fighting for the full back role or even moving Rapana to centre.
Adding a couple of big name powerhouses to the forwards would make a huge difference but as i said we cant do any of this for 2026 without moving several of the 2025 signings on and possibly only Sao moving on if Cartwright extends would give us just one quota spot as it stands
Understand adding experience for 2025 to try and stabilize the clubs on field perfomance but there seems no strategy for 2026 given what is likely to be a lack of quota spots.and cap space

Of course there will be a strategy but their focus publicly at this time (and rightly so IMO) is on the upcoming season and the work that has been done to improve things at the club through a new head coach, staff, players, facilities and owner. In fact that is probably part of the strategy for 2026 when you think about it. They're doing a lot of PR work and it won't just be aimed at us fans but at the wider sport as a whole. As has been mentioned by others, our situation in recent seasons likely means that we aren't in a position to sign top quality players not just because of where we have finished in the table but also because the club will have developed a reputation over it's facilities, attitude etc. Putting on a PR front will help make us more attractive.

But the biggest thing that is going to make us more attractive is improving ourselves on the field. You mention that our signings for 2025 are to try and stabilise the club's on field performances which is a fair assessment but maybe the price we have had to pay to do that is these two/three year deals for players and that will hinder our 2026 recruitment. Maybe the club don't want to run before they can walk and we find ourselves in a position similar to 2014 and 2015 where we also didn't have a lot of room and manoeuvrability on the cap/quota but work was done to change that for 2026. Maybe the long term strategy is for 2027, not just in terms of getting our youngsters developed and ready but also in terms of improving our position for recruitment but that requires a different shorter term strategy that includes what we are able to do in 2026. Or maybe they are planning on ending a few contracts early for 2026 recruitment. Who knows? It's all if's, but's and maybes right now. Anything can happen and with FC it frequently does. Let's just get behind the club and enjoy the ride.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... k-34408336 This is tough to read and you have to feel for the guy but at a club where sentiment has for years over ruled sense as far as retention of players is concerned (how many times have we seen players kept too long after their sell by date just because they have been good servants). Its been a commendable attitude at times but left us short too and unfortunately in business and sport (particularly where a salary cap is in operation) you have to put the business or the team first and obviously despite what Walker says and he makes a good case, but obviously Myler waited to see where we were with our recruitment and what sort of funds we needed to free up to fill any holes in the team, as is now happening. So, I guess he was simply hedging his bets on getting us the best rosta for 2025. I have spoken to him a couple of times over the last season and he comes across as a measure and sensitive sort of guy but he always says that he will always put what is best for the club going forward first. I hope Walker gets a club and proves us all wrong but I feel that isa pretty unlikely myself!!

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... k-34408336 This is tough to read and you have to feel for the guy but at a club where sentiment has for years over ruled sense as far as retention of players is concerned (how many times have we seen players kept too long after their sell by date just because they have been good servants). Its been a commendable attitude at times but left us short too and unfortunately in business and sport (particularly where a salary cap is in operation) you have to put the business or the team first and obviously despite what Walker says and he makes a good case, but obviously Myler waited to see where we were with our recruitment and what sort of funds we needed to free up to fill any holes in the team, as is now happening. So, I guess he was simply hedging his bets on getting us the best rosta for 2025. I have spoken to him a couple of times over the last season and he comes across as a measure and sensitive sort of guy but he always says that he will always put what is best for the club going forward first. I hope Walker gets a club and proves us all wrong but I feel that isa pretty unlikely myself!!

Can see it from Walkers point of view but he was on a two year deal so I’m guessing he’s been paid a settlement and there must have been some kind of negotiation around that, it can’t have been right out of the blue. Says a lot about Walker that he’s obviously gutted to be without a club even if he has had his contract paid, I’m guessing that a few of the players we’ve paid off mid contract haven’t been quite so gutted. Good luck to him seems a good lad.

He was a strange signing for us to make at the time with us having Hoy and Litten.

We signed and then released Treigh Stewart this season, then signed Rapana. The writing was on the wall for a while.

You'd imagine he'd be on a decent wedge and we've got Moy, Litten, Hardaker plus Rapana for this year. All of those players can play other positions, Walker is an out and out fullback. From a salary cap position it makes sense to move him on.

He was dropped by Grix after the London away game because of his attitude too.

I can see it from both sides to be honest. Unfortunately that’s sport in most cases when a new coach comes some players don’t fit or in our case a total change.

Walker came to an agreement and was paid off so not like he’s just been dumped either. It’s unfortunate he’s still without a club but for me that in a way supports the decision made by Myler to release him.

I would say a factor in the decision would likely have been the progress in Moy and the club belief in him to progress coupled with Litten and the arrival of Rapana & Hardaker he was always going to down the pecking order.
He likely won’t have been on a bad contract either and in a salary cap sport you can not afford to have a player on the cap that’s unlikely to play.

For far too long we’ve been way to sentimental and to be successful you have to be more ruthless in that aspect.

I think ability wise Walkers a good player but as he has shown physically there are question marks over his durability. I’m surprised no Championship teams have taken any interest though.

Something more to this. Don't just get told to not train with the first team squad and told your 5th choice full back for nothing.

His ability is clearly there so there is something more for me..

i guess the rumour of Walker wanting to move back west during 2024 was just that...

Club have been accused of not been ruthless enough, but since Myler has come in we have certainly have, some decisions might be harsh but have needed to happen, Wlker would have been behind Rapana and Moy for me so its understandable.