[Isa staying put]

Its fair to say he's been outstanding the last few weeks in the backrow not just good. His minutes, hit ups and tackle percentage show that.

I do think people got hung up on his errors more so than the other backs too.

A quite expected Denis re-signing really. Carries on the continuity of the squad and gives us a pretty wide coverage of positions in reserve.

The only real issue is that he takes our final non-fed spot. A short deal until Cahill loses his exemption at the end of the year and needs either Willie or Galea's non-fed spot is probably more the reason.

[Widnes Vikings]

Yeah, well done Widnes for getting over the 2500 attendance threshold for SL without cheating (4500 to take Fax over in their last home game V. Batley, less than 2000 in their elimination playoff v. the Eagles) .

Well done for bringing so many young players through to the first team (how many have Featherstone, in a winning side ? Manning, Smeaton, Hardacre . . shall I carry on ?).

Well done for losing the NRC final against a team with far fewer resources, and well done for finishing fifth in the league before getting hammered (to nil) by a coachless Barrow.

I'm astonished how Rover's didn't get it, and how achievments on the field seem to have been ignored.

But I do (seriously) congratulate Widnes for jumping through the right hoops and getting the almost inevitable SL licence.

It was club of the year though which suggests more than just what goes on, one the field.

Some of the stuff written about Widnes by some of the Championship fans is getting laughable now.

[Mark Smith released by Widnes]

Hope we sign Smith .....great at this level.

Lost his way somewhat from being the standout hooker at this level alongside the likes of Ben Fisher and Andrew Henderson a couple of years back.

Good luck to him wherever he ends up as what MD said he has given the club some great service in the Championship.

[Super League]

I am reliably informed that Barrow are on course to post another profit for 2010, as they did in 2009.

Only Widnes have a chance of meeting the criteria, and even they will struggle with the

[Widnes sign up]

Are they any good?

Heard Bobby Goulding Jnr is gonna be a cracker!

Well they went unbeaten through the 16's games but I dont suppose that proves a lot really. Weve certainly signed the most players from scholarship that I have seen of any club to date this season.

Eleven of them have come from the Halton Farnworth Hornets side at U16's and the other two, Alex Teague from Westy Bank and Nathan Fernyhough from Burtonwood Bulldogs / Lymm RUFC.

There should be more England players from that squad but only Tom Gilmore the stand off and Lewis Whitty the prop made the team for the England Youth squad.

Jon Rigby was in the England squad having played for Warrington 16's but signed on at Widnes after coming to his senses.

Gilmore, Butterworth, Owens and Rigby playing 18's at the moment and did quite well in the last outing against Leeds.

[Kirk Netherton]

Just to add to the first poster that Netherton is here initially for a months loan deal not on a dual reg which I dont think he would qualify for given his age.

May get extended but in the first instance he's here to cover for the injured Smith and Coyle and give us a bit of breathing space in not playing a 19 year old LF or 18 year old half back at hooker.