I think Abdul is ready to step up to be a main half and Ellis has been around long enough and is experienced Dobson was only 19 when he led Wigan to safety

Simalar to Cooke IMO, great hands, but better running game, kicking needs work.

Valid points.was this deal done before Sheens arrived?

I know Sheens wanted both Abdul and Ellis so he must have seen something in them I think Abdul spat his dummy out last season I think he thought he would be playing a lot more than he did instead he was shipped off to Fev

What if we make it back up which I hope we do first attempt, we will then need to look for a new halve back pairing due to both Ellis/Abdul on loan spells with us and wanted back at their parent clubs end of season

I have faith Tim will have a plan....

There is a reason they are both in the championship, KR are paying Ellis a massive wedge for a 1 year loan deal after Stone said he was free to go, Abdull was on loan at Fev and Ridyard schooled him in every aspect.



The KR team looks very competitive but I don't think Abdull & Ellis are anywhere near Mellor, Drinkwater, Ridyard, Hampshire or Reynolds.



Leigh were offered Ellis & turned him down.

I forgot we have other options at hb with Blair/Quinlan. Then moss at fb. Just wondered when Kr go to Tenerife warm weather training is it after Leeds game. Cos I have a feeling shillington maybe there with them by then

Hampshire and Reynolds are both average ridyard looks good let's see how him and drinkwater go in SL because Abdul and Ellis have actually played there

For me, Sio is a big if inevitable loss. We'll miss Walker too, and I expect him to go well at Saints.



Despite their talent it was a relief to see the Campese, Kelly and Dixon depart, because of injuries, attitude and unreliability respectively - and budgetary expense it all cases.



The likes of Thornley and Allgood will likely do okay in SL and would have probably have excelled for us in the Championship. But there was a need to move on and to find better value.



I think we've improved our depth, and for the first time in some time have been proactive, rather than waiting to see who is available. I'm still coming to terms with us trying to bridge the gap to other SL packs by signing only Clarkson and Mulhern. Obviously circumstances and needs were different this time around.



With Sheens in charge it feels more coherent and focused on what is important. Chester's innovative pre-season, Webster's interim status and Peacock's long-term focus can be consigned to history.



Ateotd it looks like a superb Championship squad. It should definitely make the middle 8s. With decent depth we should go into those games fresh and with some confidence. To get past even bottom 4 SL teams we'll need to raise our intensity and be more than the sum of our parts. Maybe make a couple more signings, too. A couple of SL teams do look vulnerable though.

IMO:



Ken Sio > Adam Quinlan

Iain Thornley > Jake Butler-Fleming

Kieron Dixon = Kieron Moss

Josh Mantellato > Andrew Heffernan

Terry Campese > Jordan Abdull

Albert Kelly > Jamie Ellis

Adam Walker > Nick Scruton

Dane Tilse < Mitch Clark

John Boubebza v ???

James Green > George Milton

Kevin Larroyer v ???

Mitch Allgood = Danny Addy



James Webster < Tim Sheens



Does look like a very good squad for the Championship though. Crunch time will be at the end of the season, IMO the halves aren't good enough to get us promoted and we'll need more grunt in the pack.

According to '5th Tackle', Sheens has talked Shillington out of retiring, but there have been so many names mentioned by Sheens - Shillington, Hala, Page - I've given up speculating. IMO any one of these three would go well in the Championship.



I believe Rovers fly to warm weather training after Ryan Hall's testimonial.