why arnt you using any of them? to be honest lima is rocks or diamonds, finch is a ham and eggs NRL half back good but not spectacular. not good enough the make the origin shirt his own. hoffman is as good as any backrower in the world so fair do's on that signing. but a new contract for carmont? with phelps roberts, richards, tommy,finch? cant you produce any backs?

Each to their own and all that....but I think he definitely strengthens our back row options and for me would be in our 1st choice 17 for next season.



Effectively (although I know not like for like position wise) we've replaced Diskin and Eastwood with Cross and Hauraki which IMO makes our pack 'look' stronger/better balanced for next season.



The two hooker thing never worked and although it wasn't his fault, Diskin was wasted as a sub whereas now we can go back to having another prop/impact forward on he bench which IMO will serve us much better than having Disko on the bench.



Whilst Eastwood when fit looked the business, especially as an impact prop with an offload game to boot the fact is he didn't settle here.



In Hauraki we have someone of a similar age who will be hungry to impress as he wants to get into the full Kiwi squad as opposed to Eastwood whose main motivation in some of his early interviews seemed to be about ££££ and given he's already had a season in the UK then hopefully he/his family are settled so we'll get full use out of him.



Hauraki is clearly not a 'big name' signing but who says your overseas players have to be. We've had plenty of 'lesser known' imports pre and post SL era who have given great service and proved to be effective signings.



'bigger names' might put bums on seats but they no doubt cost more and some have egos or off field problems to match.



Lets give this guy a chance I say

Hello mates



We alls very pleases here that Mr Sleeves has given the Weller chances with your marvellous clubs. He will do wells for yous.

I expect Hauraki to turn out to be a good signing for you. He's very hard working, an excellent defender and seems to be more of an attacking threat over here than he was in the NRL.



Do you know if any fee has been paid? I seem to recall him being under contract at Crusaders.

Rather ironic this pic.

www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010 Looks very similar to JJB with more tries, missed tackles and errors (but fewer penalities).

www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010 Looks very similar to JJB with more tries, missed tackles and errors (but fewer penalities).

It is the last overseas signing this season, but we are looking at someone who can cover McGuire, and would be classed as home grown fwir.

So which of Kyle Briggs or Luke Gale is that then?

So how would you have your pack next year? Oh, I think it's a good signing fwiw.



Bailey

Buderus

Peacock

Ablett

JJB

Sinfield



Leuluai

Cross

Lauitiiti

Hauraki



Burgess

Kirke

Clarkson

Pitts

Ambler

Amor

Stewart



IMO that's a pretty good pack, bench and set of reserves.

So who gets the nod to start the season ahead of Peacock out of that lot - Burgess, Ambler, Kirke or Amor?



Personally I'd go Ambler - doesn't have the upside of some of the others but neither does he have the glaring deficiencies.

Isn't Ambler on loan with Harlequins this year?



Burgess will probably be given a "last chance".

Ambler at Quins for the season so don't count him, Cross to cover Peacock until his return. Kirke or Burgess for the last spot on the bench.

That's a massive bench.

Actually it's just dawned on me. Amblers gone to Quins this year hasn't he. In that case I'd take Burgess. Also it Ablett to loose and Hauraki staring while Sinny covers 6. Clarkson on the bench.

I will be shocked if Leeds are not at least giving a trial in preseason to Paul Cooke. He's certainly proved himself to be a dipstick, but the talent is there. A preseason trial would not be a bad thing.

He's not been able to deliver that talent on the field on anything like a consistent basis since he left Hull FC though Gotcha.



If he had, then that idea might have legs. I'm struggling to see how a move to Leeds would suddenly turn around a career that is in terminal decline.

Haven't we just!



We have a mobile starting pack to tire out the opposition forwards and a strong set on the bench to punch holes in the 2nd part of the halfs. We also have depth to mix things around if needed.

he will have to become a totally different person for this to happen. cant see him anywhere near leeds even if he was playing for free

Signed for Bradford afaik.

Please dont post such barmy statements again please.





We have a Damo for such matters.

It's fair enough, but that was why I said preseason rather than the actual season. It would then be up to him to prove himself again.



Just to clarify though, I don't like the guy and under different circumstances I would say stay well clear. But Leeds are obviously seeking a short term option and one preferably cheap enough. At the end of the day he's certainly proved himself a match winner before, so can he satisfy that option.

In terms of temperament, he's not the type of player we'd touch with a barge pole these days IMO.

GH is a very clever man!



Just look at it this way, we won the league 3 years in a row without breaking the Salary Cap. We rely on our Rugby knowledge to sign good quality players. Not just signing the "Big Name" at the time we happen to be in the market.



It hasn't done us any harm at all signing what are considered to be "Underwhelming" "No Name" players. We're a squad, so we've signed a squad player. If we were a team built around a star, we'd have signed a star.



As mentioned elsewhere, he's not a "Bums on Seats" singing, but I think he's a great pick-up, and hopefully will be good value for money. I'm willing to put my whole trust and faith in GH & Co. as up to now, they've done nothing at all to suggest I should be doubting their ability to run our club.

Believe in the sleeve!!!