I don't think he actually said that, only that, in effect, we only had 1.2M worth this year based on long term injuries to 4 of the top 5 earners at the club. When moving onto next season, he intimated we wouldn't operate at full cap, but didn't mention a figure.

Hall at six, Burns at loose, Lovegrove to go back to being a full time prop for Fatty Fatty Moob Man, job done.

We've come a long way, but we aren't as inherently strong as Leeds or Wigan and although our backers have been great for the club, their pockets aren't as deep as a McManus or a Moran. The reality of our situation may be uncomfortable, but it's a lot better than it used to be (so I'm told

) and when you look at certain other SL clubs at the moment, I'm happy to count our blessings.

i think its common knowledge rovers are skint,as are a lot of other teams,hence selling their crown jewels, burns could turn out to be a good signing time will tell but he comes with a lot of baggage,

Cheers Stan, I knew I shouldn't believe ever thing I read on here.

Even so Hkr's recruitment has been good, Gleeson, Burns, Tuimavave, Paterson in for Webster, Green, Clinton and Galea gives you players on the field instead of on the treatment table.

If your replacing McDonnell, Murrell and Watts with Sherriff, Petersen and Green then it's a slight dip in quality to begin with but the savings secure your future.

I agree, there are many factors at play and yes the players do have a say, and perhaps Rovers have tried to persuade Blake to stay, but we won't know until the club make an official announcement. Mind you, I fully expect a statement which follows the lines of unsettled player blah blah!

You will find that that is exactly the coaches line of thinking. And i totally agree with him on this one.

Burns is the sort of aggressive player Rovers have not had for many a year. As the best Rovers team of all time had this in abundance, as do the Wigans and Warringtons of this world , i welcome the move in this direction.

Sherriff has been as good if not better than McDonnell, and he will only get better next season, I would give him the No 1 shirt next season.

I'd disagree on the first part. But my point stands.

I tend to work from the other end - beliveving nothing I read on here is my start point.

In theory, we should have less occupancy in the treatment room, but professional sport isn't so easy to predict and any of the new signings could miss a shed load of games. Green & Galea have just been unlucky this year, whereas Webster & Clinton have just carried on from where they left off last season - either injured or (and I'm being kind here) not giving value for money.

I like the idea of replacing the last 3 with home grown, its a sign of genuine progress at last on this front. With sufficient game time, they could be exceeding the quality of the departing players before we reach mid-point of the 2013 season.

I agree with you. I'm hoping Rovers Board say something along these lines.

Perhaps our coach doesn't rate Green and overall we're more than happy to replace his quota spot with Burns.
If the HDM's £100k figure is anywhere near correct - I think we've got a good money deal outta' the situation if nothing else.

My thinking exactly.

CS has worked with both players now so he is the best person to judge, I like it!

Or maybe he rated Green better but he didnt want to stay at the club and thought Burns was the best replacement

- yeh, that's definitely it

I think that both opportunities have come at the right time for burns and green, opportunity for rovers to make sum money as app there is a clause in greens contract for end of next season so like the Taylor one I'd say rovers are cashing in now, If green doesn't want to stay at rovers or any of the players then I say get rid get some Money for them and get the players in that want to play for kr, I agree with Sandra I think Craig hall is far better at 6 and I wud give sheriffe the no 1 shirt he's come on leaps and bounds and he Is always talking on the pitch, I would defo give salter no 4 the only dubious one is dobbo as there are a fair few rumours flying about, only another month before we find out really who is coming and going.

I think we need that bit of grunt in the halves rough the opposition up a bit and looking at burns on u tube he's certainly Gonna ruffle a few feathers

We have gone soft just lately, we are in need of an enforcer.

Travis Burns is the same height as Chuck Norris, so he's well hard.

176cm to be precise and 85kg in weight that will do nicely

just watched this guy on the tube, hurry over you look like what we have been missing for ages my one fear is he a david watkins

1.New Full Back / Sherrif
2.Salter
3.Welham
4.Gleeson
5.Caro
6.Hall
7.Dobson
8.Lovegrove
9.Hodgson
10.Tuimavave
11.Mika
12.Paterson
13.Burns

14.Paea
15.O Hara
16. Withers
17.Griffin
18.Horne
19.Peterson
20.Green
21.Cox
22.Hodgson
23.Ollet
24. Hiel
25.Carlile
26.Hepi

Another full back a winger and another forward on top of these players and i think we will be ok good blend of experience and youth.

My guess:

Fullbacks - Hall and Sheriff
Wings - Hodgson, Caro (?), Latus
Centres - Welham, Gleeson, Salter
Halfs - Dobson and Burns - need some cover, though Hall could go into 6.
Hookers - Hodgson, Withers (and Carlile?)
Props - Taylor (or a replacement), Paea, O'Hara, ET, Green, Netherton (and Beaumont?)
Second row - Paterson, Cox, Mika, Horne
Loose forward - Lovegrove, Griffin.

with uncertainties that's ~25 players. I'd expect Peterson to be retained, Ollet, Heil and Johnson would depend on who's coming from behind, in the 20s and 18s.
We could do with somebody who can cover 7 and a wing (Dave Scott, perhaps)