... released by Hull. He'd be a decent addition?

Not for me. We have enough outside backs for starters. I'd rather we looked at half or another prop.

Crookesy was OK for us, and I was disappointed when he left to be honest but if we have any cap and finance available, I don't feel a threequarter is a priority. The one area where we are light on numbers for me is halfback, with Siejka and Gaskell as the only specialist halves it's possible we could be undone by injury or loss of form without some more cover. How's the Sammutt rumour going..?

Crookes only ever got 1 year extensions on his contract. He only really excelled in his final year when he was outside Lulia. He hardly torn up trees at Hull and it's not a surprise Hull have released him given the signings they've made for next year.

As roofaldo2 stated, stick him outside a decent centre and he looks like a world beater. I remember Crookes and Lulia tearing Hull KR apart a couple of seasons ago. Didn't he spend some time at Fev last year?

Not for me. He always looked on verge of breaking through without ever really doing it, apart from last year outside lulia. We've enough outside backs IMO. Any cap space left should to on a half or a prop where we need more depth.

Funny you mention that, i went to the NFL game on remembrance day and was stood next to Sammut in the food queue - Had the weird moment where i recognized him from somewhere but couldn't pin point where struck me after we ordered - just said i hoped he would have stayed at Bradford and he just said "if things had been different i wouldn't have left".

He said he was still at wakey but his tone didn't seem non plussed by it

I am trying to make my way through all the double negatives there. I'm still not sure...

Crookes had some good moments for us (Fev) this year but his defence is very hit and miss (tends to jump pout of the line looking for the big hit, with mixed results). Think the general view of Fev fans was that he'd be useful to have back but only at the right price, seems he was on a fair whack at Hull and he's probably going to have to be realistic about his current market value.

Exactly. I'm not sure why more than one has made the point that Crookes was at his best for us in his last season, well - duh! isn't that what you want, players who improve, and get to quite a high standard? The only counter-argument would have been "so he's been oustanding this year ... but next year he might be crap". A pure pessimist argument based on no evidence, if ever there was one.

Crookes was very good outside Lulia. He is being damned with faint praise unfairly. Yes his centre created chances and half chances - but Crookes finished them off, rarely failing, and crashing through for some great scores that belied his size. Of course, he was also out that season for ages with a bad injury.

We would certainly have kept him, but it was precisely because he had put in such a good season that his stock rose and his agent was able to negotiate a deal with Hull that we couldn't match. That works both ways, he's not on any quota, and if the price was right now I think he'd be very dangerous at Championship level.

I agree prop and halfback cover would be a priority but there's no guarantee anything we can afford and want will come along. I'm not going overboard on Crookes btw, there are significant risks, which would have to be reflected in the wage (he got a payoff from Hull so isn't skint) - I just suggested him as an interesting option. But as someone once said, he's not the messiah - he's a naughty boy.