Would only improve us in the games he "turns up". He has mental health issues and too much of a risk for me. We need someone more likely to be successful

Do you see Holdsworth as the organiser, therefore looking to sign a running 7 who takes on the line more? I think Handbury would be a cracking signing for you but might take some getting from Widnes. Its a difficult task due to the limited availability. On one hand you want someone who is guaranteed to do the job for you, which limits you to current SL halves because lets face it youll struggle to get a 1st choice NRL half. As good as NRL understudies can be ala Dobson, Dureau, you can never be sure and if you take another risk (Dykes, Long etc) it could really cost you long term

I reckon we could have signed Miller last close season, but the Prince opportunity came along.
By the time we went back for him, Wests had a new coach in place who wanted to retain him.
I'd have taken a punt on Sammut this year. He has the unpredictability & pace which we sorely need.

How about going to widnes with a swap offer of Tickle for Handbury?

id go for handbury in a heartbeat even sammut would be an improvement

One's thing is for certain, it needs resolving!. We just aren't going to kick on as a club until it happens.
I think the club have learnt their lesson from last years high profile pursuit of a half back.
I expect it to be very low key this time.

Spot on. We must have one of the worst ptbs in SL, it's this that causes us to be such a poor attacking side. No matter who the halfbacks/hookers are, it will always be harder to break down a set defence moving up to meet you than a scrambling defence on the retreat.

I agree with those that have mentioned pace. We are so laboured in the middle of the pitch, just no threat. Holdsworth can organise and kick. We need someone alongside him with real pace, get that and we have a shot.

It's not just about a halfback though. We are a lazy team with ball in hand and no matter who the halves are they need runners, we had them at Saints and it showed. Too often we offer the halves nothing or just one option. Then there is the slow ptb's which are another big issue.

Get a halfback with pace, quicker ptbs and some dummy runners and then see the improvement.

Whoever Hull go for i can guarantee is Saints will be going for the same player, its a small market and we both need a quality half back.

Unless a transfer fee is involved of course, Saints dont pay for players anymore.

Slow ptbs are a big issue for us. A top half with authority bossing players around and demanding off the ball running would help though so I don't quite subscribe to the 'it wouldn't matter who was playing 7' argument. In regard to the ptb if our ball players played closer to the line it would help us win more collisions and ptb more quickly - at the moment because we don't challenge the opposition's defence enough they win more rucks than us. All these things are linked but come back to the same root cause IMO. Since DJ got smashed off the ball at Saints we seem to be putting our plays on even further in front of the opposition than normal.

Tickle is out of contract come end of this season, so he'll go to widnes for free so hull had to pay a transfer fee for handbury

It's Hanbury not Handbury. Fast player with a decent brain. No world beater but would improve us. Would be nice to set our sights higher but realistically who is available ?

It's noticeable how far away from the line DJ is standing, must be for protection after his recent injury. Your halfback has to play in the face of the opposition to make a difference.

Miller must be coming to Hull, he's injured!

IF we had Green & Smith from Wigan,as our halfbacks, do fans think, we'd attack the same as Wigan??

For mine, its not about personnel totally, its more about structure & coaching.