^this!

Really not convinced myself. If anybody i was expecting Varks or maybe Tyrer or Penny, it makes me wonder how many more we will retain. 7 out of the 10 signings we have for next year are on the current 300K salary cap. Albeit they willget pay rises but not by a ridiculous amount. If we are aiming for around 22-25 players then we are going to have to anounce 7/8 established high level players or 2/3 megga signings. To attract new stronghold members we need to anounce new signings to excite people, not retain a crop of the current players from the current squad.

I'm pleased with the Haggerty signing but i am alittle worried for next year. Lets all be honest, 3/4 months ago, people were on here were struggling to name 3/4 players who we would retain in SL, it now looks like we are going to hitting double figures.

But on the other hand we STILL haven't hit the official SL approaching deadline?
Always thought we'd keep a good amount... Availability being the major reason if need be. Plus yes 3/4 months ago not many BUT 5/6 months ago you'd be keeping more after great start?

Sorry J20 i disagree. The jump from this league to SL is so big its undescribable at times. They salary cap is more than 5 times as big, its not as if we've set this league alight. However like you said the official deadline isn't until September, but i would rather sign more SL players up and announce them then than what it seems like signing what we can and announcing it because we can.

I know what your getting at mate but bare in mind excluding kids their is probably still 15 SL contracts available at Widnes next season with 10 signed!

Fair point lets just hope we have signings lined up with the same calibre of briscoe

The backs get told this week who will be staying and who will be going (that direct from a players mouth) the forwards were told last week.

From the backs i would take the below

Danny Hulme
Steve Tyrer
Chaz I'anson

Is it just me that thinks coyle is a bit of a chubster? Needs to lose some weight for sure, or at least turn some into muscle

Sorry but this 'full time training' myth that transforms ordinary players into SL standard is just that, a myth.Like Popeye taking his Spinach.Haggerty will do fine,Allen so so.But Coyle?Nah.

Your entitled to your opinion but he's played very well this year, in fact the only bad game ive seen him play was against Hunslet a couple of weeks back. He has a slightly chunky build but as with Macgraff IMO i think he will thrive in a full time environment. Defensively pretty solid and he's a tricky player for the oppo and is often very difficult to get down, his distribution could be improved but he'll have more time to concentrate on that now.

All 3 will likely be squad players anyway so I don't see why people are over reacting.

I trust Denis and Paul, Denis in particular is no mug and he knows they can handle Super League.

It isnt a myth though is it ? They will improve as players in the full time environment. It is plain and simple to understand if you follow logic.

Full time training will reap benefits for all of those who are currently part timers.

Whether that means they can step up to SL level consistently remains to be seen, however I think some of them, Coyle in particular for this years efforts deserve the shot.

Some will be a success and thrive and others wont make the grade and end up back in part time rugby. I dont see the major issue here in giving some of our own players a chance to better themselves and trying to develop some continuity in the squad.

I agree Lardboy,full time training is great for part time players who have something about them such as Haggerty.I just don't think it can do much for the James Coyle's of this world,just my opinion.Time will tell.

Im presuming you mean Tom.

If anything for me he is the one who it could have the most affect on.

He has a great deal of talent but I get the impression that throughout his short career to date in the National Leagues he has suffered from a lack of application. He didnt make the grade initially at SL level and then it was quite easy at Oldham. He could cope at that level even being what looked like fairly out of shape.

He has settled into the hooking role slowly. This year he has been one of the successes IMO.

Getting him back into a full time environment and down to a more natural weight could really see him thrive. He certainly has the talent and a bit more guidance in the hooking role and he could be a success IMO.

He is like Tyrer in some ways I think. Extremely talented junior who went off the boil when success didnt come as naturallly as what they may have thought. If we can get both of their heads straight and on target in a full time environment then they both could be effective players and get somewhere towards their initial promise.

I agree but a lot of people were naming Penny aswell. thats 4 from the backs and if that is the approached system i'm surprised Vark's name wasn't yet mentioned/announced?

Wouldn't Hulme/Gore/Craven etc be excluded from the salary cap for being under 21?