You say you haven't written him off, and then say he's only good for cover and preferably in a position he's hardly played in?

How about we see how he goes first before throwing in a player who is completely untried at SL level and looks to have a fair amount of work to do in pre-season to get up to SL fitness levels? We've signed Ellis as a player for the future and alongside Niklas we could have a young halfback partnership to build around over the coming years. I'm sure both will get some game time through injuries and may also step in if Horne or Seymour have performance issues. No sense in rushing them in just for the sake of a change though.

Is the right answer.

People so easily forget that Shaun Briscoe scored a hatfull of tries 'just following Richard around the park' in his own words. Maybe if we had some support play we'd see that happening again? At the moment Horne is being expected to create opportunities AND somehow follow them up since no bugger else seems capable of it.

I find it bordering on the surreal that there are people on this forum who seemingly want to get rid of Horne but keep Washbrook

I agree. It's also exactly the reason why he has been less effective taking the line on. People are saying it's because he's too predictable now, but it's at least as much that we as a team are more predictable. It's not hard to get bodies ready to tackle him and prepare for his step when it's clear he has no other options available to him.

But what's the alternative?

If we did release Horne, which players are/were available that we could have brought in?

This is what winds me up about our fans. "He's crap", "he should be released" etc, without the thought entering their minds that these players that they want rid of need (for the most part) replacing. There simply aren't that many players available of sufficient quality, not to mention fitting them within the quota/non fed rules etc. Pfft.

We have been screaming out for quality h/backs for several years it should have been a priority, if we had to use a qouta place fair dos...instead we end up next season if Obst stays with 3 hookers!!
Of course fans understand the situation the problem is so far the club appear to have not!

And I do not recall reading that he is crap!...opinions differ and some including mine believe he is not good enough, we are a club who rewards far too many average players with 2 yr deals

You are aware we've signed Seymour & Heremaia, and aware of course of their strengths?

Heremiah will take alot of the kicking pressure away from Horne, and Seymour will take alot of the organising pressure off Horne. Simplez.

Obst does seem to be abit of a spare part looking at next years squad I agree.

Plus there is genuine cover with Ellis.

We've signed up an experienced 7 for next season, Ellis for the longer term, and have Niklas in the mix as well. Horne is a perfect fit for the next two years while we see if Ellis and Niklas are going to be good enough to take us forward in the future. Add in Heremia and Westerman and we have plenty of creative players and at last a few who can kick. Not bad for a club that hasn't been listening.

And if you can't recall reading that Horne is crap then you can't have been reading any of the regular Horne threads properly.

I am aware of the signings and their strengths yes, hence why I hope young Ellis will prove his worth and be able to make the step up to SL has he has a lot more in the bag to offer than Horney does and the combinations could be lethal enough to challenge at the top.
For a SL 6 Horney offers very little apart from support play, he has lost a lot of pace, and his dummy is predictable imo.