Blessing in disguise for me and I'd bet McRae and Gentle are very pleased to have a 31 year old player who was (most likely) overpaid relative to his ability off the books, at least for next year.

For me, he was not top class. He did some good individual things, but this was negated by many other aspects of his play, i.e. looked lightweight, generally poor kick returns, failed to establish good links with half backs or outside backs, no kicking game, and above all made serious cock ups far too regularly for an experienced player which directly resulted in opposition trys.

IMO, Phelps offered us much better value overall, although for a side that wants to challenge for trophys I agreed with not retaining him.

Gentle wants his own team . 2012 is transition time indeed.
Looks like some of Agar`s signings don`t impress him.

I've noticed you keep posting similar comments to this, but the fact remains that all of the replacements you are concerned about are still nothing more than idle gossip at the moment.

I personally suspect that Kearney will not happen, if Crookes does it will be in addition to what we have to see if he can replace Briscoe the year after, Arundel has at least as much potential as Turner had when he first came, and if Johnson comes it may be another 'in addition to' rather than direct replacement. The amount of wage we have just had taken off next year's cap can only help this, too.

Agree with the 3 you pick out, would love us to get Gardner or Locke but like you say, it's very unlikely.

Totally disagree about him not establishing good links with the half backs, it was really starting to come together before he got injured, and I really don't give a toss how good a fullback's kicking game is, way down the list of priorities.

I've noticed that most of the recent rumours are starting to come true and that I'm right that the replacements are weaker than the outgoing players. You keep on living in your cosy dreamworld where agar was a good coach, rule led the club to a grade a SL licence and kath wasn't milking the club dry

I agree a full back's ability to kick the ball is not high priority. However it is just another example of things he doesn't do particularly well. IMO, the overall package adds up to a player not worth what we had agreed to pay him.

there is a full bk at the moment at york aka jordan tansey ??????

Pretty much how I see it, too. No point crying about it. Yes, it's a blow and I ain't buying all this 'I bet Gentle and AP are pleased' e. Why on earth would they be pleased that one of their stand out players in an important role is leaving half way through the season? Beyond me. However, it does give them a good wedge to scope out his replacement and ample amount of time before next season to do so. Goodbye Wado, a big shame it didn't work out.

We've had 2 rumours come true, both about outgoings. As of yet we have had nothing confirmed about any incoming that were rumoured, in fact the only signing we have confirmed was supposedly 'nailed on' to go elsewhere.

I'll reiterate what was in my previous post, too; it's your assumption that all of the rumoured incoming players are replacements, some may well just be additions (or even in fact, not coming at all), and we could have much better players coming in yet, it's only just turned May.

Don't recall where I'm claiming the last 3 points, either, or indeed that things are all rosy. I'm just pointing out that it's very early to be getting so disappointed with so little confirmed information.

Bowen isn't ooc.

That list is pretty poor tbh some aren't even fb's.

Obviously you're at an advantage to me, as I don't know what he was paid nor what other fullbacks around SL are paid for a suitable comparison.

Shame he's left mid-season but I'm definitely in the 'blessing in disguise' camp longer-term. He's got a bad injury record, couldn't make 1st grade in Oz for parts of his NRL career and he dropped some stinking brain farts. But I accept most on here tolerated that because he did offer something different in attack.
Would be happy with Horne as replacement FB provided we got a top drawer 6 in.

He was the best thing since sliced bread when you signed him, shame it hasn't worked out for him.

Did he bring his wife and kids over with him? Presumming he has them.

A shame to lose a player mid-season, but it was a bit daft signing up a 30-year old who was never more than solid in the NRL for 3 years. I wouldn't be surprised if Hull sign Minicello for next year.

I seriously hope McKinnon joins the Tigers, because Moltzen is sometimes almost embarrassing to watch at fullback. He does some good things, but in a couple of games he has looked like a scared kid under the high ball.