Eagles deals off


THE move by Sheffield Eagles to sign back-row forward Richard Fletcher has been put on the back-burner.
Coach Mark Aston was unable to agree a contract with the 28-year-old Scottish international who was with Widnes Vikings last season.

"It doesn't look as if we will be going further," said Aston. "I offered him a contract but we couldn't agree on terms."

A young Australian forward who holds a UK passport has also pulled out of a deal to come to the Eagles.

The failure to make the signings is not a major concern for Aston who has an impressive set of back-row forwards in his squad for 2010.

He added; "The two lads would have been a bonus."

I know Sheffield will go well anyway next season but add Fletcher to an already impressive team and they could have put a real challenge towards Fax and Barrow for the top two spots.

Whcih bit do you disagree with? If your going to add something to the debate at least make it sensible.

You dont think Fax and Barrow will be the top 2? You dont think Sheffield have improved an already very good team from last season? For me they have the two best centres in the league by a country mile, and not a Matt Calland one at that! In Taulapapa they have signed a try machine to play outside them. Best 7 in the league if he comes back from his injury ok. Id also say they have the best prop in the league and look pretty strong in most areas. They may just be dark horses if you ask me.

They are not nailed on by any means but they will start as favorites as we will see when the bookies announce the odds. Im not writing you off i fully expect you to make the top 6 and any thing can happen after that, its just that i dont think you have the strength when you compare your team to the Barrow and Widnes ones.

What matters is Widnes are looking long term rather than short, the likes of Halifax and i mean no offence by this have basically abandoned there youth policy for has beens like Stanley Gene. Have a look at our squad we have some excellent youngsters coming through and have a squad which are mainly British players.

We are stronger than last year and will get more out of these players in terms of game time unlike we did last year when we had a regular 6 out for most of the season. For once im glad weve had a low key off season because like Busty said were going to do our talking on the pitch. Mick Cassidy has had them flying over recent weeks and we'll be battle hardened for the start of the season. Another couple of players are still to arrive which will only enhance an already strong squad.

2012 is the aim for us and were well on the way to getting that goal.

Call me single minded but i want to see Fax doing the best they can in whatever league they are in. I really dont care how many Halifax born players are in our team every week because im realistic enough to realise any decent young players are snapped up by other SL clubs in the area and this will continue to do so unless the RFL put a stop to it. I just dont see why we should spend money developing players just to see them snapped up by SL clubs which has happened time and time again.

The whole Franchise system was brought in by the RFL to help us compete with the Aussies on the international stage. Them along with the RFL press thought that teams would suddenly start bringing youngsters through instead of shopping abroad. What they failed to take in to account was Chairman, Coach and fans views on this. As a chairman you want to see your team winning every week, as a coach if your team isnt winning every week then your job is in jepordy, as a fan you want to see your team as high as possible in the league, all that means is that the coaches have to sign the best players available to them at the cheapest price, the best players been foreign players.

I really have no care as to whether Fax make SL or not, personally i would rather be competing at the top of this league than watching us get hammered every week in SL. So as far as that goes im not bothered that we have no youth policy as i want to see the best players we can get playing for Fax. So far our signings have been top notch and im sure they will deliver what they have been brought in to do. Not a single one is English, do i care? Not in the slightest because i will, fingers crossed, be watching my team compete near the top of the league.

In your opinion. Whats the overall view though? I bet its close to mine than it is to yours.

Couldnt care less whether we are in SL or not. I will watch us wherever we are. Im realistic enough to realise we cant sustain a SL club, theres just not the crowds or the income.

Seen many youth players come and go. If SL clubs wanted your players they would take them. Simples. Shame on me? Shame on the majority involved with the game as well then. Club rugby first for me, international second. I watch my team every game home and away, i see England, GB, or whatever they are called about 4 times a year. End of the day if a young player is good enough they will get game time, the problem isnt to do with franchises or anything like that its a lot more simple than that. The Aussies produce far more good players than we do, due to numbers of people playing the game and how they are coached from an early age.

You show a lack of ambition as a fan which is disappointing, Fax need to make the ground work for them when fully finished. Generate more support through the turnsytles and you have derby central on your doorstep.

Never give up!

As for putting club before country well i do the same but it doesnt mean i dont want to see the national team do well, Im english after all and would love to see Widnes born and bred lads in the English side just like Richard Myler.

Let's hope your club chairman and coach don't share this view...