Watched him play out here near his peak for West Tigers. Have seen players coming here from the English game for almost 50 years and he certainly ranks in my top 10. Only seen him play for Hull FC once at Wembley last year. A truly great player.

Still at the top of my ranking is Mal Reilly. It was great to see him again as a pundit on yesterdays TV game at Castleford.

Youngest ever Trinity Captain at 23 (he was either 22 or 23) and came through our Academy.
Exceptional player and a great guy too.

A real asset to the game of RL.

Sheens gave him a glowing tribute was devastated when he left Wests tried to get him to stay but understood why he wanted to come home he has been the difference so many times for you

Ellis is Hull's best signing since Steve Norton. A giant of a player. Will be missed massively.

It's great news that he'll be staying at the club in an important off field role.

forums.leagueunlimited.com/threa ... es.465903/

forums.leagueunlimited.com/threa ... es.465903/

If Cats get relegated could we move for Bird? He's as good as replacement as we could hope for.

No quota spots. But could see some structure goalpost moving should Catalans SL tenure look dodgy.

Weren't relegated quota players exempt this year? Or am I getting confused with the Bradford situation?

Who are our signed up non-fed players next year?

1. Kelly
2. Faraimo
3. Tuimavave
4. Paea
5. Manu

So is that the end for Mini and Michaels?

Mini is already signed up as is Talanoa. So Michaels must be going home or elsewhere.

Forgot about Talanoa! Wasn't sure if Mini was confirmed or still a rumour. Also I just realised I was looking at the 2013 rules where you were allowed 5 non-fed players instead of the current 7. Michaels has been a bit cold for me this year. Not been given an extended run, but when he's played he just seems to have lost a bit of the attributes he carried last year.

HDM stated not so long back that the club had confirmed negotiations with Michaels for next year, so what is happening, is it like last season were it appaeared he was offered a deal but then some were saying the club were letting him go. For the sake of the player one would hope that the club let him know one way or the other sooner rather than later otherwise he'll be in limbo and out of a job with no-one able to take him in their squad which would be a bloody shame.

And in all honesty there are plenty of times when the backline have being average bordering on pants so I think it's unfair singling out SM in that respect. He's been no worse than others over the whole season and doing his usual of filling in in any position required.

He wants to go home as far as I know. Of the current backline Shaul is contracted. Fonua is going home, to be replaced like for like with Faraimo. Carlos has been very good for us this year and is contracted up to 2018. Griffin has improved significantly and, again, is contracted. Only Talanoa was OOC this year and few would argue that Michaels is better. Michaels is out of contract, and many have argued against wasting a quota spot on a back up winger. So all in all we could guess that he's leaving with our best wishes rather than imply we're leading him on to the point of him being unable to secure future employment.

Michaels has to go as we have no non fed places left, he is steady but it's the right decision IMO.

Been a very good signing.

Who has made any 'implying' that the club have lead him on, you should learn to read/understand what has being written before making unfounded accusations of a poster!