Regardless of what the Pie Fans might say, I believe the NRL is stronger than Super League. Super League is stronger than QLD and NSW cups and they in turn are stronger than the Championship. There is obviously a lot of overlap in these statements and plenty of players have bridged the gap when moving up, and everyone remembers the NRL players who flop in Super League.

Without knowing anything about Ethan O'Neill (still not achieved enough to warrant a Wiki page) he does appear to run the edge in the style of Kai O'Donnell. I guess we might not have been so keen if he appeared on the overseas quota. Honestly, I believe he will probably be close to a starting spot and Lammy can use Ben Condon as a Prop instead of second rower.

Moylan's salary can be re-distributed to bring in a half of some quality, and if worthwhile you can see Deggsy dipping into his pockets for a marquee signing.

Hats off to Chezzy for spotting an opportunity of breaking the overseas quota, especially when it will take several years for the academy to bear any fruit.

Have we signed player from Burleigh Bears previous

No

I still think we should use the quota spot and cap space created by the retirement of Matt Moylan to bring in a prop particularly with the retirement of Dan Norman. Gaz O’Brien is reliable in the halves and Ben McNamara who put in some excellent performances last season before his injury will be challenging for a starting spot. I’d much rather see either of them than Milford.

If you think Lokie & Gaz O’Brien in the halves will reap rewards, you're living in cloud cuckoo land pal. That right edge was starved at the end of last season. I agree that Milford isn't the answer, but we definitely need a quality smart half along side Lokie with hopefully a good kicking game as well.

I’m not convinced that O’Brien or McNamara are the ultimate answer at halves with Lokie and either, but both are strong back-up and can do a job if needed.
Another twist on the overseas prop required angle is the Dan Norman retirement. He was maybe not a shoe in for prop in the 17 based on previous performance, but now appear to have an even bigger need for a big starting 8-10.
What we will do next, I don’t know, but I lean towards an overseas halfback, ahead of an overseas big’un, but the Norman wrinkle has made it a closer call.

A half back is more of a priority for me. Norman was a squad player more than a definite in the starting seventeen, so I think he could be replaced by a uk based player.

Have to say I’m more in line with that thinking NZ and Cokey.

A half back for me too.

On a completely different matter, I bumped into Davey Armstrong and his partner the other night and said hello to them both and welcomed them to the town. I was struck on first impressions by what an extremely pleasant and genuine young man that he appears be. Great things are anticipated from him next season and probably needed because I just get the feeling that next season will be more difficult for us than the last two.

This is why, for me, we have to get the next signing - or two - absolutely spot on. There's no reason why we cannot do so, so I am really taking an interest in the speculation - nothing at the moment - that will surround who we make a move for. The next signing announcement could just be one of the most important that the club makes and will determine whether we hold our position in the league's top 4-5 teams

Marc Sneyd, anyone?...

I'd be much more interesting in Joe Shorrocks personally than someone who will be 34 in Feb

Sneyd is only a few months older than the player he would be replacing, and would give us pretty much what we're missing at the moment, a kicking game. If the wages were right, it would be a no brainer. But judging by DB's comments on X, we won't be in for any Salford players anyway.

Sneyd's not what he was but maybe what we need for a couple of seasons....and if it helped out the Devils ...

Do we still have a quota spot to fill?

Two if the rumours of Ben Condon are true.

What's to do with Ben Condon, Sep?

Car trouble in oz

I think we need to extend Edwin now also. With the changes to the date you can approach players for 2026, he will certainly be one other clubs will be targeting.

Issue getting insurance, is all that I know.

I'm sure if the Condon thing was anything more than stuff still needing to be worked through, then it would've been covered by the RL press either in Aus or here.

More worrying is the multiple suggestions that I'm seeing that Nakubuwai is back, which would be a dreadful waste of a quota spot

Ben Nakubuwai, is off contract despite what the click-bait site might say. I assume he lives in the area and is merely training in an attempt to win a contract somewhere. A pay-to-play contract would not be the end of the world for Leigh, and would buy some extra time if needed.

As Ben Nakubuwai is off contract with Leigh I can’t imagine the club would extend and take up a valuable quota spot bearing mind the stick the club gave Hull FC for the quality of their signings last season.

With Matt Moylan’s cap space and quota spot the club should be targeting a marquee signing.

I am merely offering a temporary solution, not taking up an overseas slot for the season. It takes months to get these contracts signed off and then the player needs to make arrangements to leave the southern hemisphere and to find accommodation in Leigh. This is why they use Holiday Inn to give them time to settle. Nobody knows for sure when Moylan finally made the decision but Derek was fairly certain he was not coming back before the announcement of his retirement.

Absolutely, this is priority for me, in a recent podcast Derek mentioned negotiations had started with Edwin over a long term deal, hopefully this is already done.

Let’s hope so Binosh.