Given GH's usual impeccable timing of announcing "New deals/players" after a dip in form or poor performance does anyone get the impression that the squad could be in for a "over-haul" given the lack of announcements re-player retention?
Iirc O.O.C are..
Disko.
Senior.
Bailey.
Ali.
Donald.
Buderus.
And most notably imo our coach Bluey.
I may be wrong but other than Smithy returning the contract announcements are normally more forthcoming than they are at present any thoughts?

I should imagine GH has been having a very close look at the composition of our squad, and there may well be some surprise announcements in the not too distant future.

I'd add JJB to your list, although I would hope for at least another season from Ali, and possibly Buderus.

Is Jjb O.O.C?
Didn't realise that,in terms of age and long termism(not sure that's a word) i'd be surprised if they retained Buderus and not Disko unless they re-signed both and gave Mcshane a guaranteed year on loan!
Plenty for the power brokers at HQ to contemplate.

In a word - No

Jones-Buchanan secured at Leeds until the end of 2012.

I'd be highly dissapointed if we gave Senior another year, as I have posted before.

Would be dissapointed with a couple of others, but certainly Senior.

All the above are indeed out of contract + Ambler, Worrall, Manning.

who would you replace him with?

I don't need to go through that again. But regardless of who it is, I think we need to move on.

He's been a great servent and deserving of the status he will have for years to come. But the club need to realize when players reach their limit. They went a season too far with Barrie and I fear the same with Senior.

Let's move on with a new chapter.

is senior still a better player than the person who would replace him? also who is better than him in sl? maybe matt king? But still nobody is a stand out player who is a better centre IMO. If Leeds could get a marque nrl 4 perhaps let Keith go or start his transition as a squad player into the backroom staff like deacs. If Leeds are to get shenton if the rumours are true then he needs to fight Keith for the 4 shirt.

I'm not sure who will go but if we lose beds, Ali, donald, bailey and if Keith is on reduced terms that should free up a fair bit of cap space to bring in some special talent, a marque centre, a marque prop, a marque backrower?

just a thought

It's irrelevant. Shenton would be a better bet than Senior is now. But regardless we are better off planning for the future. If it's a kid, it's a kid. We don't need a 35 year old holding back that spot now. Let's move on and start a new chapter.

14 games into the season now, and Senior has produced 1 good game to warrant a new contract. That tell's me all I need to know as far as the future goes. That good game played to number of games ratio will only reduce as another year passes.

Ambler needs to hit the gym. A gut that size on one so young is disgraceful.

I would have hoped that Watkins would be ready to take over from Senior in 2011 but that ones on hold now.

It wasn't that long ago that Senior pulled Shenton's pants down in a big way.

I can understand your sentiment and succession planning is important but you play the best player, regardless of age and Shenton remains unfit to lace Senior's boots, even at the opposite ends of the age spectrum.

if we are handing out contracts on the first 14 games then I would think half the squad would be having a few sleepless nights! I disagree it is relevant. senior is still as good as any centre in the comp. maybe bring in a player to fight him for his shirt like shenton or go for a marque nrl centre like Jennings, lawerence, cooper, matai(nz), idris, morris bros, tait. but those players are hard to get due to rep footie. but If folau, hodges, inglis and hayne are fit none of those lads get a look in so are signable but very unrealistic.

Also toopie played well today at 4 as the titans over turned manly!

My opinions on the above contracts and recruitment, for what it's worth:

Bailey:

Easy decision, new contract. Retain.

JJB:

Ditto.

Lauititi:

Obviously try to keep Ali at the club as long as possible. He's still our main threat. Whether he wants another contract is up to him. If not no doubt another ball-playing second row will be signed from New Zealand.

Donald:

Again, it's more up to the player (family circumstances). He's still one of SLs best wingers.

Senior:

Time's got to be up at some stage, and we have to work the payroll so we precede that event. Shenton's coming in anyway it appears, right or wrong.

Diskin/Buderus:

Interesting which one is retained (or neither). Buderus is the superior player, but if he's let go then there's Diskin/McShane for hooker and cap and quota space for what we really need: a top class leading prop (Blair?) as Peacock's playing time lessens (if Lauititi or Donald are replaced cheap and English then there still may be space retaining Buderus and ditching Diskin. There are some interesting decisions for GH this off-season.)

like you I share your understanding of gotchas semtiment. But completely agree with you. senior is still one of if not the best sl centre, if it's up for debate then I'm sure a few would disagree but there is nobody in sl who obviously better.

Donald, Buderus, Bailey and Ali for me.

Senior and Diskin have been great servants to Leeds but both especially the latter are regressing far too quickly.

Salford are calling.

Keep Diskin and McShane

Let Buderus go and use the £££ wisely on the squad.

what about letting both hookers go and signing Lunt who has turned down a new contract?

Or keep loyal Diskin.

Cut ties with Buderus.

Let Burrow be bench number 9. Where he can pick up and run and be most effective and maybe sign a new 7. To assist keeping the halves and the team fresh.

The only person mentioned by the OP and not commented upon (on this thread anyway...as far as I can see) and could be just about the most important decision is.....Bluey

I appreciate GH does things on the quiet behind the scenes as opposed to creating/commenting on gossip and speculation but half way through the season and no public announcement on whether Bluey will be here next season or not?

I would have thought,ideally sorting out your coach is something that needs to take place before player recruitment/retention can take place given his role in some/all of those player decisions.

My thoughts exactly, surely if we were to get a new coach it would be up to them who to retain and who to let go. There's no point in building a squad that Bluey wants if his future is uncertain. Until we know who the coach is for next year, I don't see a point in making these decisions just yet.

Ohh I wouldnt say Senior is out of contract

1. Brent Webb (2011)
2. Scott Donald (2010)
3. Brett Delaney (2012)
4. Keith Senior (2010) for now


5. Ryan Hall (2013)
6. Danny McGuire (2013)
7. Rob Burrow (2013)
8. Kylie Leuluai (2011)
9. Danny Buderus (2010)
10. Jamie Peacock (2011)
11. Jamie Jones Buchanan (2012)
12. Ali Lauitiiti (2010)
13. Kevin Sinfield (2011)
14. Matt Diskin (2010)
15. Greg Eastwood (2012)
16. Ian Kirke (2011)
17. Luke Burgess (2011)
18. Carl Ablett (2014)
19. Ryan Bailey (2010)
20. Jay Pitts (2012)
21. Kyle Amor (2012)
22. Mike Coady (2012)
23. Kallum Watkins (2012)
24. Luke Ambler (2010)
25. Paul McShane (2012)
26. Thomas Bush (PT)
27. Chris Clarkson (PT)
28. Lee Smith (2013)

-----------

Simon Worrall (Toulouse Loan) (2010)
Dane Manning (Featherstone Loan) (2011)
Ben Jones Bishop (Harlequins RL Loan) (2012)

Or keep loyal Diskin.

Cut ties with Buderus.

Let Burrow be bench number 9. Where he can pick up and run and be most effective and maybe sign a new 7. To assist keeping the halves and the team fresh.

"Loyalty" is too sentimental to be part of the decision....GH is running a business. Diskin has been a great servant, but we should aim to keep Buderus for another season if possible (obviously the 'cap' will have some influence but surely the wage demands will be lower for a player of his age). I like the imagination of using Burrow as impact hooker from the bench. McShane still has to be the priority though....will he be happy loaned out for another year ??

Not sure about Senior: he still looks the best by far in SL at times, but as others have said maybe next season will be one too far for the club. I'd still be tempted to give him another year depending on the situation with Watkins' injury. If Shenton does join the club maybe Senior could make the belated move to/cover for the second row.

As others have pointed out though it depends on the decision on the coach..doesn't look too good for Bluey (at the moment).

Is this a season too far for another Grand Final victory ??? Should we now not focus on the CC and build for a crack at championship in 2012 ? It might be asking too much of the players to achieve both this season. I'd be happy with another Wembley victory....I still have fond memories of 1978 (my first ever experience of RL).