I thought Sandercock sorted our pack out and under him in his last season, we had on paper a big pack with the likes of Taylor, Weyman, Poore and Walker in the front row along with Costigan in the back row. The problem we had was that we never replaced Dobson and had to put up with Kris Keating and Travis Burns. We seemed to have no problem rolling down the field but couldn't score when we got to the oppositions line and of course our defense was poor.

Got to admit was a touch envious of your pack that had Vella, Newton and Galea in. I would take a punt on Donaldson again at the Bulls as he looked very sharp for you guys in the championship

Not sure all of them played in same team? But yes Weyman was very good.Poore hardly played Costigan was lazy.Seem to remember Weyman carrying pack on his own?

Taylor’s last season with us was 2012. Walker was effectively his replacement. Weyman, Poore and Costigan arrived for 2014, along with Langley. Even though Paea left, that felt like the last time we made a conscious effort to stop being bullied. Rugged as they were, their impact was pretty brief, as age and injuries caught up with them.

2015 we lost Weyman to retirement, and Ryan Bailey, having played 300+ games for one club was just starting on his new mission to play one game for 300+ clubs. That left us scrambling a bit.

Clarkson has been a good servant and Mulhern has matured really well, but 2016s forward recruitment seemed to be aimed at maximising opportunities for Kieran Moran.

That a 35-year old Danny Tickle has been a massive breath of fresh air tells its own story. James Webster’s pre-season ‘mobile pack’ quote was deeply dispiriting at the time. But we survived, and this looks fairly promising imo:

Masoe
Lunt
Mulhern
Greenwood
Tomkins
Lannon

Jewitt, Lee, Hauraki, Lawler.

Plus a few more re-signings and new signings. Hopefully Josh Johnson will come on a bit.

Thats brilliant

Quote: His Bobness "No he was not a loan signing he left Leigh permanently, Crooks similarly.'" www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/44974862 We can't afford them, but reckon they are open to offers from anywhere

Quote: His Bobness "No he was not a loan signing he left Leigh permanently, Crooks similarly.'" www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/44974862 We can't afford them, but reckon they are open to offers from anywhere

Nice to see we have been "promoted" back into the Super League fold on this site. Lets not drop out again. Some quality signings would be a big help to keep us away from the trap door. Happy with the ones who are staying and hopefully Blair and Hall. The benefit of having a large squad has been proved, now lets hope it,s maintained and improved to get this club firing again.

Could try resigning cheap plodder Jordan Thompson or a winger with no pace like Dawson? Real bargain basement for Austerity Birds.

That report is incorrect Hall & Crooks did not sign on loan.

However they only signed deals until the end of the season so yes are now open to offers (although Sheens has already said that Crooks has signed a new deal).

The point I was replying to was the suggestion that they are Leigh players they are not they left permanently on joining Rovers.

So according to the HDM we are not signing a full back. Is that a mistake bearing in mind that FB is a key position. Dagger shows promise but unproved in SL and needs back up,Hall has not signed yet(or do the club know something) but think his best position is on the wing.Atkin is a half and believe that,s where he should stay,(are we keeping T.Carney?) Other options to cover Atkin are Blair, but he is a forward, a quality back up but a forward. No guarantee that Quinlan will be back next season.
Just hope that we don,t end up playing people out of position. Sometimes it can,t be helped, but really think proper cover is needed.
However we have to trust TS, he knows more than me and seems confident we can cope. My concern is that without Quinlan we lose a lot of strike. Dagger may be great, but I would prefer a specialist FB on the team to cover the inevitable injuries.
Square pegs and all that. Thoughts

It's a tough one. Dagger is a specialist fullback, and I think in the odd game he can be excellent - whether he can continue to perform week in week out remains to be seen. I think saying to him now though you are our first choice gives him real motivation to have a pre season of his life and really set a marker down. The ambiguity of not knowing would of detracted him so I think thats a good move. Dagger has shown glimpses of class so the only real way we know is by putting him in the firing line.

If we are not signing a fullback, I hope we are signing a big beast of a winger. A back 3 of Dagger, Hall, Shaw/oakes would mean teams would just do what Salford did to us week 1 of the qualifiers and kick us to death knowing we can't get sets started

All this talk of Craig Hall improving and been a must sign is a little premature I think , has he been tested really ?
Lets face it he has looked improved but in all honesty we have been playing championship rugby with him in the side and as the last poster said he was average against Salford

He did well against Hull he went better than I thought he would and everyone’s raving about Jackson Hastings yet he’s played against the same opposition as Hall

FWIW

Must go: Todd Carney, Brad Clavering, Matty Marsh, Liam Salter, Nick Scruton, Jordan Walne & Connor Williams

I would have kept Clarkson but going apparently.
We must keep Hall and more so, Blair.

Not many left off contract: Moss - can probably go but backup at FB? Tickle can probably go as we've probably just seen hus swansong season.

I will emphasise this though - Marsh must go to take away the temptation to play him.