You're a bit inconsistent. Not that long ago you were Mr Positivity and, IMO, seriously overestimating the ability of our squad. Now you're Mr Doom 'n' Gloom.

We've had poor recruitment and retention for years. Last off season we [istarted[/i to turn that around. It will take two or three years at least to put things right due to cap, contract, and player availability constraints. It seems odd that you'd abandon all hope just at the time when it looks like corrective action is being undertaken.

2012 is the year I consider to be Hulls big year .If we get the recruitment wrong , On and Off the pitch then we can kiss good bye to any success for years.

I dont normally post names i just normally laugh at the names suggested on here!

How about a young english, utility/half back playing on the wing for another super league side.

Would you like the cover that this kind of player would prefer??

J set!

xx

That's fair enough but have we really started to address recruitment and retention?

Last season we signed 2 former greats at the end of their careers - hardly long term planning; a promising youngster who looks OK but no world beater and ogre, who was great for much of the season but needs better quality around him if we're to get the best out of him.

This time around we've handed out new contracts to yeaman and radford, plus we're talking to dowes about renewing and the only player we've brought in replaces 2 former international wingers so in pure ability terms is a step backwards from what we had this time last year (I know there were a million and one issues with calderwood and raynor before you start on that one). We're also looking at a back up half back who won't set the pulses racing

I think we all (myself included) are possibly overlooking sharps talents. for a winger to pick up player of the year and players player shows he does actually have it in him to be at the same level as calders/raynor have been.

IMO yes we have.

Last season's recruitment was a big step in the right direction. This year was always going to be difficult. Next year will be the crucial one. If we mess up the opportunity for squad overhaul offered by the 2012 season then we really will have something to worry about.

Well, you know what they say about opinions

I think 2012 will be like 2011 recruitment. We'll struggle to sign quality players because there will be better options available to them in sides with more chance of success who play a brand of rugby the player will likely want to be involved in. The only way we will pick up players others want is either by paying transfer fees or offering a fair bit more cash

Westerman would be a great signing, only 20, English and loads of potential.

Who cares how much money he costs, if we have it this is the type of signing we should be making.

Be good to play with a ball handling LF, which will improve our attacking play.

A starting pack of

Fitz
Hougton
O Meley
Tickle
Manu
Westerman

is as good as any starting pack in the league IMO.

There doesn't seem to be any decent halfbacks (or props) available so we might as we sign a player like Westerman,

We should still have money and a quota space if any players become available (like they often do) during the season.

Digby wrote:What are you basing "Green would walk into our side" on?

Genuine question. I follow the NRL as comprehensively as footage allows and I can't recall ever seeing him play. I'm not saying he wouldn't walk into the team, just wondering how you've seen enough of him to form that opinion.


He's bog standard, he'll do well in sl and will move to 7 when Dobson leaves.

But a top signing? Nope.

From the Westerman thread
Not a top signing I agree but most of Morgan's signings seem to be part of a logical plan that creates balance whereas we sign who is available and then try to fit them in. Judas was the exception of course but not down to him I think.

So you would like us to sling the ball about,play great rugby and play with 1000% passion and commitment but get beat week in week out....thats would win us nothing.....

I understand peoples' frustrations about signing a quality half back but looking at the bigger picture, we have Long, Fitz and Berro probably all moving on at the end of next season, that is a massive chunk of the salary cap freed up to nail a world class half back for 2012.

Player of the year in a team that finished 2nd bottom. He has talent but I'd be amazed if he were ever as good as raynor