Although I like Atoni, picking Walmesley is more about the ease to replace him.

A lot more English wingers available than props.

I thought Lino’s contract ends this season.

I recall that Atoni improved greatly when the work was shared with DF and good props are hard to come by.

Were Wire really after him though?



I’m not saying they weren’t but it seems unlikely given they have full quota for 2025.



I see Faatili as a shot to nothing really a big like Boothroyd and Bain. Totally unproven and will see how he settles in into a full time environment. If it doesn’t work out nothing lost.



If we are doing business now we must be making decisions on quota players though so I’m guessing it’s most likely Atoni or Walmsley, most likely the latter, would be strange to make a decision on Faatili with him being with the club less than a week.

They don't have to make any decision now though.

In fact better not to.

Those three are effectively playing for a contract in 2026

Lino signed 3 years around the time the take over happened till the end of 2026.

Actually I'd forgotten about him. That's 4 overseas players on their last year of contract this year.

Lino is not ooc this season

I stand corrected my memory playing tricks on me.

Yep, just means we have players playing for something and a point to prove, will only help us further.



Makes a change we are doing business early rather than waiting for the scraps when everyone has already done their business

Correct - Atoni improved massively when DF joined him.

He has all the ability and I'm confident he will do tbe business now there are quality props in depth.

He did improve for last 1/3 of season and I’m hoping to see that continue.

The situation regarding Walmsley is a bit puzzling to me. If he stayed fit last season he'd have smashed the tries in a season record. I'm confident he would have scored all those tries that Olpherts scored when he lost his place to him through injury. That's taking nothing away from Olpherts who I thought was unlucky not to get another contract.

I think Walmsley may be the one to go, especially as we have Russell and the young kid from HKR- but it will be through no fault of his own - he's done everything asked of him and I rate him quite highly. For me he's starting winger with Tom but we'll see how it goes I reckon.