Come on, do you think Frawley is going to become a MoS candidate even if he changes a position? My point is not comparing directly because they're different players/positions, my point is there is an obvious gulf in class.

The question of youth development is again very arguable isn't it?

Maybe Newman just isn't that good. He looks great athletically, but maybe he isn't as good as his swag implies? Is it the club's fault (so many on here just love blaming the club), or has the player just got limits? He is still learning and improving I'm sure.

Holroyd can't get and stay fit. Is that the club's fault? I don't know.

We have had a few false dawns with players like Walker, Broadbent, Edwards and some others. That happens. Apart from Dupree, I can't think of any other academy lads who have gone elsewhere and torn up trees. Most (like Lilley) become solid Champ players or lower-level (Cas/Hull) SL players.

I see a clutch of players coming through the system now who I believe have better potential; better size than we've had for a while plus ability. I am expecting 4-5 new additions to first grade over the next few years. So in that regard I'd say the problem is partly fixed.

It needs to be appreciated that your reap what you sow with youth - we are still paying the price now for a system which wasn't working well 5 years ago. It could be the best academy in the universe right now but we wouldn't see the real benefits in first grade for a few years.

I also happen to think that we're all expecting a whole golden generation to come through at once, and if you look at the actual facts that didn't even happen with the golden generation. The hardcore of young players took several years to emerge, and they were supplemented with signings like Senior, McDermott, Fleary, Harris, Ellis, Briscoe etc over time. Plus some real high quality OS signings of course.

Clearly in today's world it's harder to sign players like Lauitiiti or Webb, we all get that. Nevertheless other competitor clubs have out-signed us consistently for a long time and I hope Blease stops that. I'm sure he'll make a professional, thorough review and make some changes to the whole setup, and let's all hope it's effective. I'll be interested to see whether he thinks it's a tweaking job, or root-and-branch like some of you think.

I was more commenting on Croft and Miller who were mentioned.

A good appointment in my view and a very long time overdue.

Arthur C made a good point , he needs to get more out of our homegrown players.

It’s a real pity this did not happen a year ago when he could have dealt with the 11 coming off contract. The timing of this gives a way the lie that this is a strategic move.

The disappointing bit is on the face of it Blease had little room to change the squad for 18 months. Olpherts, Fusitua, Donaldson and Corey Johnson leaving will Hall already coming in, might leave space for 1 decent quota signing.

However, if we lose Martin it’s a pretty big hole to fill as he is a good character, reliable , durable, attacks well when we get on front foot and a great goal kicker.

We will need a quality second row , I wonder if Kallum Watkins may be on the radar.

Regardless , I’m glad he is here but I think his hands are tied in terms of players for nearly 2 years due to the unrelenting incompetence of our recruitment and GH in particular.

Blease coming in might give players like Johnson some new hope actually, we'll see.

I think Martin will end up going, someone out there is going to offer enough money for him to go (maybe Leigh already have). Olpherts + Donaldson might be enough for a project signing, Fus + Martin should be enough for the kind of prop we need. Blease might yet move one or two other players on to make room.

Don't we have potentially a third marquee available for next year anyway?

Good post.

TBF we havent helped ourselves with the playing style being dictated largely by the coach and then were getting rid of the coach every other year and starting again. At least with Blease, he will set the clubs tone and the coach (if we get rid of Rohan) will have to fit that brief. Everything else should fall into place within that framework in an ideal situation.

Anyway until he does the root and branch which I really hope is honest and forthright it will probably be the end of the year before changes start happening I cant see major changes happening until the off season unless the wheels completely fall off.

He may be able to make a bit more room , don’t know what the marquee rule is for next year. We already have Hudson as a project prop wearing shirt 22 who has never played a SL game, I’d hope we are done with projects unless Blease can spot a diamond. We need players who can really impact a SL game.

Martin is our best Forward , we should have had him signed up by now

We should have huge cap space and a QS or two and a new marquee spot too for next so if we can't sign players we need then that's a huge issue.

We should already have a top 3 list for prop and back row.

With Martin it's not that simple. He will be closer to 32 by seasons end and this will be his last contract. If an NRL team comes in or big offers from other teams do we want to match that ?. What if it means missing out on big quality elsewhere?.

I don't want to lose him but given how much s%/t we got in with silly contracts I don't want us to go stupid for him

Great post

would be a great quote if it was factually correct about RS not having an input on the coaches below him? he got a new guy in to run the academy, he chose him nobody else and we can argue all day about how good a signing that has been,from GF winners to not even getting into the play offs last year and being bottom of the academy league until 3 weeks ago ?? RS has a massive input which players and which coaches were allowed to stay. as for an aligned playing structure i for one agree but what does it look like as i cannot see it when we play so how can that reach the clubs players at the bottom end of the scale, i love watching our kids but can tell you now theres only 1 team worth watching at the moment and thats our under 16s that programs been strong for years now it aint broken@ that level!! don't know the workings of it behind the scenes matts your man for that but i sure like going and watching these boys play

Sacking Smith in 40 minutes time would be a fantastic way to get everyone on board with him.

yup. only time so get shut, write the season off and get set for next season

At won't point does it become clear he's los the players?.

it's clear now. it's obvious

Need to get rid of Smith now, a temp coach can just concentrate on the basics for the rest of the year and start to get the Smith out of the system ahead of a new coach at season end.

Need to get rid of Smith now, a temp coach can just concentrate on the basics for the rest of the year and start to get the Smith out of the system ahead of a new coach at season end.

Smith seems to have lost most of the fans, but I'm not sure about the players. As bad as Hull have been, the Leeds players were still putting effort in and hadn't given up in this game. I think most of the players are frustrated with themselves more than anything - take Oledski's behaviour for example.

So, Blease officially starts tomorrow morning. What would we like, and what are we expecting, in his first week/month/hundred days?

Blease has said he will take his time on any decisions he has to made so I doubt he'll be sacking Smith this coming week.

Blease has said he will take his time on any decisions he has to made so I doubt he'll be sacking Smith this coming week.

So he should, a good 30 minutes of stern thought should be enough to make that decision.

Suspect he gas already made the decision but it now maybe just down to timing.

I suspect that is correct but i doubt it will be as quick as most fans including me want unless Smith decides to walk which I doubt very much.

imo the decision has been made. its just when.
blease first job will be a new coach

Smith is too arrogant to walk.