For me this is about building a squad. I think we have the spine of our team pretty much in place i.e. Centres, halves and back row. Its now time to build a squad around the likes of Webster, Welham, Green, Dobson, Newton and Galea and this for me makes Greame Horn a decent to good signing.

IMO Cook has been every bit as effective as Newton when he has played this season. As for the "[iwe're missing Newton[/i" calls, this was just a plain excuse for Rovers poor form. Fact is they have not been any better when he has played.

I think Graham Horne is a very good signing. Yes he offer plenty of versatility but he is a pretty accomplished back rower now and he is still only 26.

I think it's fair to say everyone is happy with your recruitment so far for 2012, Hull and rovers fans alike.

a - I agree with.
b - the Mason farago was very embarrassing, but it was a very peculiar set of circumstances - a good chunk of them beyond HKR's control. I can't see it being a major issue going forward.
c - We'll get a coach, players that leave will be replaced. Our finances are no worse than most. They're worse than yours - that's the only reason people go on about them as much as they do. The level of ambition and how realistic that is will be important.

Cook has been unlucky not to get more games IMO - but it got exaggerated amongst those who wanted a stick to beat Morgan.

Correct on all points. There have been several posters attempting to suggest that the Mason fiasco will directly affect Rovers recruitment options, but its our quota situation which dictates, not our supposed reputation in Australia. O'Hara is non-quota, same with Withers if he comes. With the salary cap changes in the NRL on the horizon, I'm more than happy with recruitment based closer to home.

The priority now would appear to be a full back. Lets hope the Lee Smith rumours have some substance.

I'm not so sure. I think he has been harshly treated by Rovers (or more specifically, Morgan), but he has genuinely played very well whenever he got the chance. I'm not convinced Cook out, Horne in is an improvement in terms of back row quality, however GH has more utility value. Cook will go very well down in London I'd expect.

Cook's problem has been that he is an out and out second rower, and Galea and Newton both do long minutes. He'd have been even more knacked if Mason had stayed.
The oft made comparison with Netherton ignores the fact that JN is a prop.
Quins will hopefully be a better fit for the kid - he is a good player.

I am a Matt Cook fan, very good with ball in hand with strong running. However, I have noticed that in defence he is very slow getting up off the floor and also on the goal line he has let in 3 or 4 easy tries. Not every player is perfect, however I can see why he has been left out on occasions. Like said previously, it gave some people a nice big stick to beat Morgan with.

O'hara is a good signing as is horne,if horne wasnt a former fc player we would be more than happy,a good utility man can be crucial. As for netherton,gives 100% every game but would not shine in a lower league just not s/l standard.!

I suspect due to no contract offer on the table from huddersfield, they are upgrading young players contracts like mcgilvray and lawrence and bringing in the odd player like chan so I suspect salary cap pressures mean they have to move on squad players like horne and older lads like hodgson.

Horne is an average squad player and will do the job required of him at rovers I suspect most of his games will be from the bench, will play more than matt cook has

and will cost less.