phildog

We're clearly in no hurry....means we're sifting amongst the bottom layer. Definitely need a half-back like Jimmy who takes the defence on, still no pace injection, I know of a few who are considering finding other entertainment on Sunday afternoons if the 'poor tale' continues. We come to the concerts, pay War Chest, pay into BISSA, fill the back beer garden at matches, support Ron's Lounge bar, buy grub, sponsor players in some instances, how much more can fans contribute to the club before we see the board looking upward for players? Has the 10er in worked or not? I'd suggest no, not really if we're signing downward. Are we calling in the offers of sponsors to cover any loss? Have we ANY tricks up our sleeves? Are we planning to go top 6 against odds or planning on avoiding bottom 2? Yeah, I know, here he goes again for another year, but anyone who's not asking questions on the why and what seem deliriously happy.

Now Thunder under, players a plenty, Boafo speed for a start, had hoped we were building for improvement.

Already got Sparky! For sheer enthusiasm and motivation he should persuade JC to do his coaching badges.

Decent start, no backward steps there!!

So are the fans BB but players can't go on forever, we have to have improvement in them as there are lots of teams daily popping out signings to improve and move forward. We know they've all played out of their skins in 21 n 22 and to reach Wembley in 23 but since Wembley it seems that the limits have been reached with some, they've given everything they had.

Would agree, I asked! Meadows, Kear also, same way! Wardy's dad says he expects to be following Batley next year. I think though that players shouldn't feel compelled to re-sign out of a sense of duty, of owing, if deep down they don't think they can bring anything more than what they've given up to now. That should have been an uncomfortable conversation between Mokko and a couple or 3 as I expect him to want to begin his own dynasty and get away from the ageing squad tag.

Somebody should have DD and it's often fans from other clubs who give us them!! YES, I go on like this every year because it happens every year. Every year we see good candidates go elsewhere, even to lower clubs, so being a successful side clearly has no attraction, so we're then left, more often than not, we have had gems, scratching around to bring in players who'll 'do', or players to develop who then move on instead of benefitting us with their improvement. There's those on here who question us having the right to be a good side year on year but why not? We can't afford to become a struggling outfit as what happens is you start to rely on there being 2 teams worse than you, if not you're down amongst the dead men and even down there there are teams beating us in the finance stakes.

Ideally we'd be bringing in players who've had experience of SL but young enough to kick us on and a bit of older head or players who have stood out in other championship sides. But be quick! We get beaten to everything and we know about leavers, one's all over fb....

Big news on leavers....

Clearly Cleary wouldn't!

Fev v Broncos. Toulouse v Bradford (please, no....).

Well I hope we're getting some with pedigree in, most seasons are over, it's past playing the gentlemen's card, I mean NRL Grand Final's over so we're obviously not signing Cleary, or any from Pies, Cats, Saints or KR!

Lowest placed winner plays Fev highest placed plays Toulouse; up The Knights I say, couldn't do with Bulls fans laying it on!

Eagles 0-42 thumping!

That's not been my impression when I've seen him but....

Big lad Lawton left Widnes, bit of a beast, I would!!

A few decent players already on the move and we're deadly silent as usual....

Very funny BB, love the optimism, even I'm not that daft! Absolutely no reason why the information tap can't be turned on at a trickle though!

Rourke was in my mind in case we don't get Aiden back, it's filling one gap left open last season. Agree with Burton now getting a regular spot. Also Bennion or Brogan from Swinton. We need another prop along the lines of Alex Rowe, a line buster. Doubt there's any argument about Reilly going but can't see any other club getting more out of him. Tubbs obviously thought the same when he let him come! When Kear brought Gledhill back from Oz as a goal-kicking 2nd rower can't believe he was young enough to only be 29 now! Thing is, injuries are starting to worry a few regardless of age. Wing....Boafo? Any Cas lads needing a home? Langtree fine 2nd rower....let's see (quickly) who have been on Mokko's back to come here and who's coming in. Woods; watched an old game v Thunder when he ran at us and made stuff happen, hasn't done anything other than drop off passes, no regular 40/20 efforts on his own pitch, never nipped through a line. Maybe a new game plan required?

Ah, on both counts!

What? Wardy where? Hooley? Joining up at Cas with Josh. Other Hodson could be Hodgson....

POR...I saw the bit about Div 1 teams' proposal after the first post saying that the RFL were conducting it. Long and short is, something has to be done, I'd favour SL and Championship at 12 teams and Div 1 11 teams which WILL upset 2 teams but otherwise it's an unworkable situation re that lower division without reorganising the NCL and putting their 3 strongest teams in there.

Often!

And another thing; this will cause havoc with clubs', not just Batley's, recruitment and clear-outs, teams who thought they might cherry pick from relegated teams, relegated teams who have let players go due to the expected reduced funding etc

Already seen it suggested that the RFL is considering combining Championship and Division 1. Biggest upshot out of that, just as IMG wanted will be the death of Summer Bash and a complete reorganisation of the Challenge Cup. This will probably still lead to divisions within a division as one would still able to pick a bottom 4 or 5, a middle 4 or 5 and a top tier. What with the incompetence and total lack of Rugby League people within the RFL and the clear intention of IMG to feed SL with the teams THEY want, we're on a greasy pole to extinction. There needs to be the threat of a breakaway from Championship and NCL downward.