Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Apr 21, 2024 9:22 am  

Jack Burton wrote:

He's better than an injured Fus, and a bang average Luis Roberts, so fair enough.

Agree with that. My ‘issue’ though is if we didn’t consider him good enough to sign when he came back from the NRL…..why are we now? If we have aspirations to become a top 4 team (on the field) and get back to the top, is signing a 37 year old with his best days behind him the way to go?

Granted, yes he still offers some go forward out of yardage and he can still finish, but his edge defence, which let’s face it was always a bit of a weakness of his has now become more of a ‘turn style’ issue in defence as he’s simply too large/slow to turn quick enough and that’s only going to be worse next season as he’s a year older

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Apr 21, 2024 9:24 am  

ArthurClues wrote:

[fimg=][/fimg]First bit of good news for ages. Still plays like a man in his late twenties and would allow more scope for recruitment in the pack.

We might have signed him to be in the pack! Nothing would surprise me at the moment.

He's better than what we have apart from Handley so assuming not a massive salary and maybe cap help due to being academy trained (does it still count if you've left and come back??) it might not be a bad idea.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Apr 21, 2024 9:34 am  

Good to see Rohan's planning for the future

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Apr 21, 2024 9:56 am  

I called this a few weeks ago and I’m pleased to see it. I actually think Hall has plenty to offer after his playing days are done. He lives in Leeds still and we need a bridging signing until our younger players are ready for first grade still - the talent we have including Lumb, Frater, Webster are too lightweight still for first grade frankly.

People underestimate the business side of RL squad building too. Hall makes a ton of sense, especially with wingers doing yardage carries.

Implications:

1) looks like Fus is on the way out
2) that means an OS quota spot (unlikely to be used for a winger)
3) Either Handley or Hall will have to switch sides
4) Roberts will revert to centre or back row mostly
5) just swapping Fus for Hall may give us quota and salary to go for a good overseas pack player
6) we are definitely positioning ourselves for more signings with cap space for 2025

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Apr 21, 2024 9:57 am  

cheekydiddles wrote:

Agree with that. My ‘issue’ though is if we didn’t consider him good enough to sign when he came back from the NRL…..why are we now? If we have aspirations to become a top 4 team (on the field) and get back to the top, is signing a 37 year old with his best days behind him the way to go?

Granted, yes he still offers some go forward out of yardage and he can still finish, but his edge defence, which let’s face it was always a bit of a weakness of his has now become more of a ‘turn style’ issue in defence as he’s simply too large/slow to turn quick enough and that’s only going to be worse next season as he’s a year older

Different coaches were in charge then, and he was probably more expensive too, who knows. Hull KR were probably willing to pay more at the time.

He's definitely not as good as when he left, but he is an upgrade on what we have, so let's hope he has a similar impact to what someone likes Bai did.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:14 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

I called this a few weeks ago and I’m pleased to see it. I actually think Hall has plenty to offer after his playing days are done. He lives in Leeds still and we need a bridging signing until our younger players are ready for first grade still -

Thought he bought a house or possibly rents a house in Hull?
The house he had in Thorpe he sold over a year ago now.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:50 am  

We really are scraping the barrel for positivity if it's hall returning at 37 next year. Yes he may be an upgrade which doesn't say much but a signing like tom Johnstone would be more in the right direction. It's all meaningless anyway til we get the right coaching team.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:59 am  

chapylad wrote:

Thought he bought a house or possibly rents a house in Hull?
The house he had in Thorpe he sold over a year ago now.

I was told he’s in Leeds and I’ve seen him at The Springs but I don’t know for sure.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Apr 21, 2024 11:06 am  

Seth wrote:

We really are scraping the barrel for positivity if it's hall returning at 37 next year. Yes he may be an upgrade which doesn't say much but a signing like tom Johnstone would be more in the right direction. It's all meaningless anyway til we get the right coaching team.

You can’t just choose whoever you want and have them - sounds like Johnstone is done to Wakey and I’ve always got the impression he has a chip about Leeds anyway.

As a player for what we need, 100% but moot point if he’s signed elsewhere again.

This is where we lost the initiative - when you fall out the success tree you have to pay more than the top sides for the same player, because you can’t offer likely success to them. Things being equal, players will go to the more winning side.

Virtuous circles and all that. We need to continue to invest heavily in that team to leapfrog some other sides and become credible contenders again.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Apr 21, 2024 12:43 pm  

If Hall's coming back, who next from the Golden Generation? Imagine if it was Kirke, this place really would go into meltdown.

I can see the point in bringing Hall in NOW but not for next season. What's the point in having an academy? If Hall is looking for a job beyond playing why not simply give him a non-playing role?