The big two page spread in the paper itself makes it pretty clear it doesn't include Watts I liked the final paragraph where Pearson gently nudges the Coach with a "I expect to be in the top 3 0r 4 in 18 months time" Quote!

That would be quite remarkable recruitment.

That's what James Smailes has just said, didn't seem enough at first but...

9 out (assuming Tickle stays) - Wade, Sharp, Turner, Martin, Ogre, Moa, Manu, Ellis, O'Carroll

6 in - plus Watts and Pitts this year along with emergence of Kent, Bowden and Crooks.


Of the new six we know Arundel, Ellis, Crookes, Paea so who would the other two be....Fullback and halfback?

Can't be that if only 6 coming in.

So after this piece we could possibly be looking at something like:

McDonnell?
Crookes?
Arundel
Yeaman
Briscoe
High Profile A N Other?
Seymour
Paea?
Houghton
Lynch
Ellis
Tickle
Westerman
Heremaia
Whiting
Watts
Johnson/Lovegrove?

Supported by:

Johnson/Lovegrove?
Horne
Pitts
Aspinwall?
Crooks
Kent
Bowden
Green

Would suddenly look a good deal better than I keep hearing on here, fingers crossed.

If only 6 total, I could live with Horne at fullback for a year with the dearth available at the minute and hopefully there'll be better next year.

Those other 2 big names would be.

If I recall correctly, A.N.Other & S.O.Else always turned up for a match & never caused any bother both on & off the pitch. Both were model players whilst @ our club.

It can't be only 6. The article clearly states that 6 players are already confirmed (which includes Arundel and Ellis) and 2 more are yet to be confirmed.

Either that or it's the worst written article the HDM have done in a while.

Ellis confirmed to Cas on a 2 year deal

I know we dont know the identity of the two mystery players but apart from those im thoroughly unimpressed and if Pearson and Gentle think this new team can achieve anything in SL then they are seiously underestimating the competetion

But saying that look at Warrington and Wigan:

Riley, Cooper, Grix, O'Brien, Dwyer
Goulding, Geiling, Tuson, Farrel, Hughes, Crosby

They are pretty average players, but made to look good by the system they play and interspersed with some quality

What exactly are you expecting?

'Predominately young and predominately english' suggests to me it will be-
Ellis
Arundal

Crookes
Young english 2nd rower/prop
Lovegrove
Mcdonnel

Paea
Halfback

I was told a few weeks ago we had 7 'done deals' and around 12 players would be leaving. Above are 8 signings add to that watts and pitts and I think with the amount of people we are letting go the numbers and figures look about right.

I don't think McDonnel will come.

Going on rumours and my own guesswork this is the 17 I hope (being realistic) we will put out next season:

Horne
Crookes
Arundel
Yeaman
Briscoe
Brough
Seymour
Lynch
Houghton
Galloway
Tickle
Ellis
Westerman

Lovegrove
Watts
Hermaia
Paea

James Smailes has just said that is only present situation, could easily be 1 or 2 more.