i cant tell if this post is a wind up!!!!



we should be aiming to Use Sykes' best attribute only once in a match. The more kicking off he does is because he and some of those around him are conceding tries by not being able to tackle!



He is at best a squad player. he is also a full back. We need news on a coach now! because if this signing has not been sanctioned by the new coach, it is a joke. if the new person sees a role for PAul, then good luck.

the amount of information coming from the BUlls is laughable. i remember the days when the club used the media to attract fans!

After all the bad news, bad luck and bad performances this is hardly the news that will get the stay aways flocking back is it? The next good news will be Worrincey, Sheriffe and Reardon have all been given an extra 3 years. Followed by Macca staying on as Coach!

I think Peter Hood's comments about Sykes versatility give an indication why he's been re-signed. I'm a little surprised it's for 3 years but am not unhappy to see him stay. It also adds stability to the squad which has been non existent for about 4 years.

If we follow it with Langley (and if Sykes gets 3 years I'd expect Langley gets longer) it gives us a good base for the new coach to add his own touches.

Sykes may have signed for peanuts for the security of a three year deal - not saying he has - but this might explain the length of the deal to a degree.

If people are annoyed at Sykes re-signing they need to wake up. Who else can the club recruit? Are their better backs out there that are free agents at the end of the year? You can forget about us paying a big transfer fee as we don't have the money.



Fact is there are precious few players available. Those that are can ask the earth because they know this.



The cut in the overseas quota and the home grown rule means clubs have to develop their own which takes time.



All SL clubs are fighting over the same youngsters too. Take one kid who signed up recently was being chased by 6 other SL clubs all offering great deals. We're not always going to be successful in getting them either.



As a result we have little option but to re-sign the likes of Sykes.

Well it isn't exactly the big news we were all hoping for but I do think it's a sensible bit of business. He ticks the box for homegrown whilst covering several positions and probably won't be costing us the earth either. I don't see his long term future at 6 though, so I hope his signature is as a good value utility rather than our 1st choice stand off for the next 3 years.

Who [ido[/i you see as our first choice stand off for the next three years?



I think Sykes will be there for next year at least unless we pull off a coup in signing a stand off who's a free agent, who's available though?



Consider also the dilemma the club have in whether they re-sign Menzies. If they do it means they can't go down under for a stand off or a centre or anyone else.



That'll mean we re-sign Nero (that should get some flak on here!). Or we try and get a free agent centre.



Some have mentioned Hall and Goulding. I'm not even sure if they're free agents. Hall is ok going forward but defensively suspect, especially if you paired him with either of our wingers. Goulding is steadier but probably more costly, and that's taking for granted he would come.



I can't see too much room for manouvre in terms of recruitment this year unfortunately. Just hope the kids are ready next year.

It's a real shame we haven't managed to keep hold of some of our homegrown players who are now at other clubs. If we'd known the rules as they are now and how important these players would become I reckon we might have tried a little harder to keep a few of the following:



1.

2.

3. Chris Bridge

4. Ryan Atkins

5. Karl Pryce

6. Leon Pryce

7. Paul Deacon

8. Stuart Fielden

9.

10. Jamie Peacock

11. Lee Radford

12. Sam Burgess

13. Mark Flanaghan



14. Rob Parker

15. Richard Moore

16.

17.



I'm sure there are others but can't think of them at the minute to fill up the team!



I appreciate some of the players who left did so before they were established ala Bridge and Atkins, but we may have perservered a little longer had we known of the dark times that laid ahead.



Personally I don't think we've done too bad really when you add in the lads who still play for us on a regular basis as well who are homegrown:



Dave Halley

Paul Sykes

Stuart Reardon

Jamie Langley

Craig Kopczak

Bridge was obliquely described by Noble as "cancer in the club" when he was let go, so I think he'd passed the point of no return. He does seem to have matured a bit now though.



I'd happily have kept the others (apart from Iron Karl) but I guess events led to them being let go. If only it was so simple to have just kept them.



We have plenty of home grown players in the squad now, and the quality is improving when you consider Whitehead's progress and Donaldson to a lesser degree.



Think we could probably do better than Reardon and Kopczak, unless they have a much better end to the season.

I guess we're all hoping that Southernwood may come good! Sykes can cover stand off but I don't think he is good enough against the better defences in SL.

I think this is a good signing for us i would not like to see him go to another club.

I agree, but only just .......Worrincy and Reardon for starters





I`m sorry but this is laughable. Anyway, who gave him the new contract as i didn`t think you had a new coach in place yet for next season ?