I suspect that is true sadly.

The simple reason you have no halfbacks? Impatience, and throwing them in early and expecting them to be the same player they were when they were unknown to the rest of the league. That, and the unfortunate situation of the one you actually stuck with being turned by a code that can pay more.



Halves and props, they take a long time to mature into the players they can be.

Yet Hohaia is one of the fastest players we have, and was quite an elusive runner...

Elusive runner? When, its his usual show & go or nothing & his blistering pace of yester year is long gone. He is ponderous & so slow decision making any pace he still has is ineffective. I accept he still has some pace but hes been burned on the outside a few times this season in defence....

If only he could defend, pass (at the standard expected of a halfback) and organise.

We took a punt on lance and it failed, a few of us (most) were worried about the length of contract and now that's come to bite us. But without spending real money on a transfer fee we're going to be stuffed. The extra 12k Wigan offered Matty smith looks like small change now doesn't it??

Loan a 7, I say.

I wonder if we could get Trent Hodkinson ... not a regular for the Bulldogs at the moment

If he's not needed for their first grade, surely the experience of playing first team Superleague would be seen as a positive for him (or someone like him)?

Ryan Brierley played well for Leigh on Friday at Wigan.

Dont know him but if he's available , cheap and has potential he's a better option than the we are currently playing in the halves

That's the thing. If we REALLY don't have any halfbacks in the academy, there surely must be a couple knocking about in the Championship that would be willing to step up to Super League on loan. Their clubs would take a few crates of beer in exchange, or possibly the loan of some surpless to requirement players, say A Laffranchi or L Hohaia.