I've never heard so much tosh in all my life.

Wheeldon got a new contract on the back of a string of very very good performances. I doubt Radford even came up in discussion.

You couldn't be further from the truth. You also missed the part in bold, about Radford not being a second rower.

Did you manage to see Wheldons last 6 games for Rovers. If not your really not in a position to comment are you?

Well done for avoiding the original point once again. I didn't need to see them, again you've missed the point. Your claim that you 'doubt Radford even came up in discussion' is wrong. If you hadn't been so quick to jump down Sheldon's throat, maybe you'd have avoided looking like an idiot.

1-Briscoe
2-Fox
3-Welham
4-Webster
5-Colbon
6-Green
7-Dobson
8-Vella
9-Fisher
10-Mason
11-Newton
12-Galea
13-Watts

14-Lovegrove
15-Clinton
16-Cockayne
17-Hodgson

I think Cockayne offers alot more from the bench than Murrel. The pack is very impressive.

I think Murrell will play 13, Mason will be used as impact from the bench and Hall wont start in front of Colbon. I can see Liam Watts getting more time as an actual prop this year. My line up would be.

Briscoe
Fox
Welham
Webster
Colbon

Green
Dobson

Vella
Fisher
Lovegrove
Newton
Galea
Murrell

Mason
Watts
Clinton
Hodgeson

Then dependant on injuries, opposition and rotation we'll have Wheeldon, Netherton, Cockayne, Hall, Ratu, Cook etc available for selection. A few headaches for Morgan in terms of selection there.

Double boost then. Good fortune does seem to be flowing our way.

1. Briscoe
2. Fox
3. Welham
4. Webster
5. Cockayne
6. Green
7. Dobson
8. Vella
9. Fisher
10. Wheeldon
11. Newton
12. Galea
13. Murrell

14. Hodgson
15. Mason
16. Clinton
17. Lovegrove/Watts

Radford has played at second row for most of his time playing the game professionally. He was switched to prop because of the quality you possessed in the back row and couldn't fit him in elsewhere yet couldn't leave a work horse out of a team that lacks that work ethic.

Whether or not we retained Scott due to Radford not coming is anyones guess, I am sure Sheldon heard it from his best mates pet pig or something but I'm quite inclined to believe that had Wheeldon not performed in those last half dozen games he would not have been retained either way.

Our pack has to be one of the most powerful and skillful in this league, and with plenty of support to come into the side we really should be kicking on and getting a home play off tie and a second chance if needed next season.

With this pack in mind though I really cannot see too many backs being given a chance off the bench which gives Benny Cockayne the greatest chance to get that last bench spot because I can only see Justin having 3 front rowers and a utility man in there.

As long as the training our players do in the off season sorts out the problems we have in and around the ruck I think we should be ok. The amount of times teams off load in the tackle against us is really worrying so this is certainly something that needs work.

1. Briscoe
2. Fox
3. Hall
4. Webster
5. Colbon
6. Green
7. Dobson
8. Vella
9. Fisher
10. Watts
11. Newton
12. Galea
13. Murrell

14. Cockayne
15. Mason
16. Clinton
17. Lovegrove

Its a massive weakspot in Rovers overall make up and IMO it is more down to poor defensive technique particularly from the middle men. Ironically i think the worst culprits are the aussies Vella,Lovegrove and Clinton. Netherton,Watts and Wheeldon generally attack the ball and more often than not hit the target slowing things down at the ruck to 5-6 second ptb's. Clinton is the poorest defender of all the props imo and his passive leg tackles are by and large pretty ineffective resulting in ruck dominance for the ball carrier and speedier ptb's.

It is an area that undoubtedly needs improving and hopefully a full off season together will do this, thats providing the aussies are here that is .

Picture the scene, a smokey board room in a corner of craven park. the scent of stale ale and cheap aftershave fills the air. A bead of condensation tickles down the side of a half drunk pint of mild, when into the room walks a young, upcoming prop, ready to start contract negotiations.
"take a seat Scott" mutters the Chairman of the club in his dulcet Hull accent. "we've bin thinking, and despite your brilliant performances in the last 'alf duzzun games of the season, we're gonna offer you a couple a years more, just coz Rad-dud didn't sign forruz. Alright lad?"
The contract is passed across the table in a flicking motion, and slides across the barely polished surface as if it were a curling stone, thrown by a champion scotsman.
The young prop, who has now been joined by his agent, begin reading the text. Tho opening line of the contract states the the offer being made is only owing to the fact that the club had failed to sign Rad-dud, and that otherwise there would've been no deal, our intrepid hero carries on regardless, as such things are commonplace in contract negotiations, that is to say other players being discussed.
Suddenly the chairman slides back his chair, making a dreadful screeching noise on the slate tiled floor. He stands up quickly, and leans across the table thrusting a shiney metallic object towards the face of the young prop, "'ere, use my pen to sign the bloody thing, then bugger off!"

I take it that's about how it went Ash?

Thats how he dreamt it i reckon. If that was the case Rovers would have offered him a one year deal as They'd be actively looking for a replacement for the following year. But Instead we offered him a two year deal why is that Ash?

Ins (visas permitting): Mason, Green, Hall.

Outs (excluding club-trained): Cooke, Walker, Mills.

I suspect that we may release another non-club-trained (nct) player, as Hodgson is too old to qualify as club-trained now I think. You can only have 17 nct players in the top 25 earners, so I wouldn't be in least surprised that we went back to Wheeldon when the Radford deal fell through. I'm happy enough with how things turned out, but I don't think there would have been much sense in having both and we (HKR) clearly wanted Radford.