Jerry - has been a champion for us, probably wise at this stage of his career

Macqueen - has been an excellent recruit, most games I saw he was close to be the best player, a fabulous line runner

Peats - very good in his first spell, and having watched him play in Oz, a terrific player

Fages - sadly injured too much

Trout - disappeared this year, disappointing

We continue the trend of losing our best player at the end of the year with McQueen going. Jerry as i have mentioned in another post was the best player we have had for a generation, but the time was right due to the amount of time he was missing with injury. Peats has done the honourable thing, he is not superleague standard anymore, although in his prime he was excellent and in his first stint with us adequate, his boat has sailed and i'm glad he has chosen to retire at this stage and not go another two years (what a ridiculous contract to give out)

Fages will no doubt like the wardles never have another injury in his career after leaving us, but his contribution due to injury has not been enough. Trout i really liked, and i feel he is a casualty of Watson's ridiculous recruitment this year, with so many props of course someone would look elsewhere. He was better than most of the props we have and there was zero reason to sign Rushton and Livett this year.



All eyes now turn to who we recruit for the new year. Clunes is a good start, we REALLY need a hooker with some pace to replace Peats, that is where i would be spending the budget, although i suspect WAtson will no doubt blow it on more forwards and some 32 + hooker who is solid in defence.

We are rumoured to be signing Olly Russell, Any legs in that rumour at all from your side?

Who is we?

I would be surprised as he is highly rated by Watson

Hull FC.

I'll personally drive up from South Wales & deliver him to Hull FC.



Just send me the details of when he's signed & I'll drop him off.

Its just a rumour at this stage so may carry no weight, decent kicking game from what ive seen and a good turn of pace but cant see ive watched him regularly, You seem to be taking a fair few of ours in recent seasons so may be time to repay the favour lol, Although Savelio is very much your loss and our gain

Look at the stats on the superleague site and you will find out all you need to know about Russell, neither scores tries nor makes them, his kicking game is decent, buthe falls waaaay short of what is required of a superleague halfback. Whether Watson talks him up because he genuinely thinks he's good, or to get other teams interested in him so we can get shut i'm not sure. Pretty sure the former as he isn't smart enough for the latter. Lovely lad, but he is not a superleague standard half in anybodies estimation.

We (Hull FC) have enquired about Russell but been knocked back by all accounts.

Good!

We are going no where as a club if Watson thinks Russell is SL quality.

Will be more of the same next year. Watson will continue signing players who make us less and less attractive to watch. I think his only criteria for what makes a good half or dummy half is that they unquestioningly follow his game plan and are good in defence. I heard last night that Leigh are trying to sign Brodie Croft from Salford. We should be throwing everything at a signing like that, but he's far too exciting a player for Watson. I have little doubt that the rumour about us signing Powell from Wigan is true and we will end up with him. Exactly Watson's kind of player, never gets near the Wigan team unless they have a rash of injuries/players out of form, no attacking flair or pace. He also seems to think that experience of playing in big games automatically makes you a better player. Guess what, every team carries deadwood, the fact you are playing in a team alongside great players does not make you a good one. Teams like Wigan and Saints will only let you sign their deadwood, not their decent players. We enquired about Miski last year, and i said at the time that would be a great signing but of course they wouldn't let him go! Powell, they will order the taxi and the champagne send off. Wigan must be loving that they can rely on us to lap up their deadwood, first Bibby and now Powell!