I think that for 2004, McRae had assembled a very, very good squad. In fact, iirc, we were 2nd for alot of it until injuries hit towards the end. Wasnt the team something like:

Briscoe
Best
Barnett
Yeaman
Raynor
Cooke
Horne
Dowes
Swain
King
McMenemey
McNicholas
Smith

Carvell
Chester
Lupton
Scruton

The only problem was keeping the likes of Barnett and Smith fit. Remember McNicholas been very good that season (considering how the latter was awful in 2005), and Lupton was cracking when coming into the side for Smith. We recorded some right hammerings that season as well

I would be stunned if we couldnt offer Orford more money than Manly could.

That was one of the problems as well. Last years squad was on paper and not very often on the pitch!

I think we have had a number of plodders over the years in the squad at the KC but the class in the team was probably higher due to players like Tony Smith and Jason.

It really does seem like I'm the one agreeing with what Agar actually says and your not. Youre going on about signing whoever is available, and I'm the one who is saying we shouldn't sign anyone unless they are the right player which is also what Agars message is also
I'm not complaining we haven't signed anyone as such, I'm complaing that we signed someone who, imo, isn't good enough to take us back to where we belong. I'm not necessarily saying we should have signed a stack of others (although I've already mentioned Carney, Ryles, Bell and Talau so I don't know why you now asking for more names). I've already said I would have had Washy and Horne in the halves until the right man came along also.
Just becaue I will back Thorman, hope he plays great and hope he proves me very wrong, it doesn't mean I can't be negative about his signing and think we shouldn't have signed him looking at how things are at the moment

i think the problem last year was that we didnt have any halfbacks linking together hopefully this season we can keep horne fit and have thorman and horne linking ifso its got to be a lot better then last season

BINGO.

But despite Crocker signing, our pack is going to be dominated by more teams than it isn't, so personally don't think it will be much better. The only reason why Thorman is been so hotly debated is because its an issue which splits the fans down the middle, whereas I think most would agree our props look weak

Yer not wrong!

How I dream we had a backline like that again. Barnett was awesome. Think the problems began to occur when McRae went back home 6 games before the end of the regular season due to (I think) the death of his father. We were 2nd at that point, with 6 "easy" fixtures (as it was then), which people were saying would give us 2nd undeservedly (even though we were already there!). As it happened, we lost 3 of the 6 easy games and ended up 3rd, then lost to Wakefield! Talk about a change in fortunes!

And the hammerings, ah yes. Won me a lot of money that year! 82-6 Salford, 70-4 Widnes and 34-6 Saints IIRC

Didn't McRae go back when we had Leeds away and Kear took over? Could have been Washbrooks first game as well but can't remember

Edit: it wasnt his first game. I'm sure someone made their debut that night though. Probs wrong though