It wasn't a rumour tim sheen openly stated he wants to sign shillington but would bide time, he is recovering from surgery so not proved fitness also shillington being released from current club

He had a cracking season just gone apparently. Pretty sure we where after him last season and took the cheaper option of Tilse?

According to an interview I read, he had his bags packed ready to join us, but got a last minute NRL offer. Following his decision to stay in Aus we then approached Tilse.

Sheens stated he didn't want to bring in players with doubts over fitness, which immediately ruled out Hala, and then said (subject to rehab) he has spoken to 'Shillo' who is keen to come over. Its a wait and see scenario, and if he does come it will be after Easter earliest.

TBH I would rather Rovers recruited a squad from the off but leave 'cap' for any quality that comes available during the season. Much is made of the Leigh 'model' but it was really a hit-and-miss affair with the right players becoming available. However, what Leigh did do was to trim the under-performers in a ruthless manner. It will be interesting to see how Rovers deal with this issue. Sheens is a hard task master who doesn't hold back, something that we haven't had at Rovers since Roger.

I spoke to a sponsor over Xmas who said there are a couple of loan signings in the pipeline from SL clubs - he mentioned Wigan and Cas but wouldn't name names except to say they would be short-term loans.

Thanks for that squire I wasn't aware of that although I did read hala had been plagued by knee injuries? Last thing we need is crocked quota players, also wasn't aware that Clark is an impact player so shillington would be a better fit

Always better to use others,is it not?

Please explain yourself.

What HKR dont want to do is waste money on becoming 1st in the League.

You will walk it, but will need to improve the squad at the business end of the season.

Leigh lost just the 1 last season, and even though you will have some close games with the top 4 clubs, It would not surprise me if you go 23/23.

"We have Blair, Tilse, Clark, Heffernan, Quinlan and Butler-Fleming. There's been rumours of an antipodean prop as well, which'd fill the quota up.*"

Unsure on Clark's status but believe he was born over here in Pontefract

In theory it shouldn't matter much, as it is where you trained rather than where you where born, as far as the non-fed rule goes. It is on somewhat shaky legal ground though. IIRC Simon Finnigan and the Henderson brothers who were born in the UK, but grew up and learned the game in in Australia got exemptions.

While there is precedent, Clark would need an exemption.

Gotcha. Didn't know that detail, thanks.

One decision that seems to have not been underlined on this thread, was the suspension of Albert Kelly on the morning of the qualifier against Leigh. I remember Jukesy saying what a lift it gave the team. Surely he could have been disciplined after such a vital match?

I question your moral judgement.

In any case you do not know Kelly's mental state and whether he would have been fit to play anyway.

Much as he was very, very good in 2015, by this point it is his initial signing that (with hindsight) seems the more questionable decision.

He was done at Rovers by the Leigh game, and didn't play for us again.

Because we went down by such a fine margin, there are any number of decisions you can look back at and say that could have been the difference. Lessons from Hull KR, 2016 could have its own thread. If we win promotion, I expect it will. In the short-term though the focus has to be on adapting to the Championship, trying to emulate what Leigh did last year and avoid what has befallen Bradford.

Correct,well said.