I don't blame people being skeptical when he was brought in. Given the circumstances at the time I think the concerns about nepotism were valid, and it was a huge challenge for him to take on. However, 9 months on (or however long it's been) I think he has hardly put a foot wrong. Sure a couple of his signings will likely go down as duds, but there's no club in the world who gets it right every time. The Cartwright appointment looks like a brilliant one. He's put together a much deeper and more professional looking back room team. Working with Cartwright they've managed to put together a pretty good squad given the constraints and how hard a sell the club was. Most importantly it feels like the club and the fans are connected again. 

So is signing the likes of Baily and Hill not pathway blockers like when we signed Ruan, or is it different rules ??

It is to a degree. However for Hull, Gardiner and Laidlaw have both been given multiple chances and enough has been seen of them to see they're not good enough to kick Hull on to where they want to be, therefore a hole needs to be plugged.Likewise Jebson has played a few games now, along with Kirby. Both don't quite look ready yet, so we have signed second rowers to fill the gaps until they are. But rest assured they will get their chances again next year when Cartwright/Batchelor get injured.
Martin, Barron, Moy all took their chances and are now regular first team players.
Rovers barely pick up any injuries so you can argue there is never any need to play an academy player, and that is fair enough. However putting an academy player into an already stacked team is arguably the best way to introduce them as they have a lot more protection around them. Hull where for ed into last season, and seeing now how Martin, Barron, Moy have stood up to the challenge then it has set them up for a brilliant future, wether it came about the right way or not.


The difference with somebody like Ryan is that Rovers have just gone out and signed him before even given a player a chance. Hull have shown they are willing to give the youth a shot and if you're good enough you will stick in the first team. Rovers just dont even want to give them a shot, hence signing Ryan, Brown, Doro, Richardson, etc.


That's how I see it and you may very well disagree.

Hill is an excellent signing.  Maybe a replacement for fash?

Wow. Absolutely delighted with this. An outstanding young player.

Cartwright is the Gem
Myler getting better in his player judgement but having Cartwright there probably helps a lot
Top marks though for the signings of Batchelor and Hill
If we keep that level of quality when we sign a halfback and at least one centre then ill be happy