Of those three, I’d rather it was Jesus...

Sutcliffe FFS for mine he shouldn't make the 17 next year unless there is injuries.

Absolutely. God forbid us having to scrape more excuses from the bottom of the barrel for having to pick him.

Here’s the thing though, we all aren’t the coaches, and all our coaches have consistently picked Liam Sutcliffe, which is my reasoning to say it.

Love it. He's gonna be on marquee money so would need Merrin to go

I’d probably give it to one of our overseas players Rhyse Martin, Rob Lui or Ava Seumanufagai. Stevie Ward needs to focus on his own fitness and health.

Might bring his mate Glen (Lazarus) with him.

Don’t think it’s that important leader will lead regardless of the title given. Giving capt to Kev improves him but we had lots of leaders and voices in that team, who weren’t captain but people followed. The greater problem is I don’t see many of them in the current team.

He’d count on the overseas quota though.

Be partially cap exempt as new talent allowance though

One hilarious thread.

Some of the suggestions have hurt my ribs ive been laughing that much.

Captain Sutcliffe, Captain Hurrell. FFS.

He'd be telling Stevie Ward to get off his sick bed and walk every other week.

He'll be useful if we ever have to play at the swimming pool in Cas

The worrying thing is, to me we don’t have a single candidate to be our main leader. Ward yes, but he’s rarely on the field.

Successful teams have many leaders where a number of them could be captain.

If Merrin goes, we need to sign one. If gale comes in, he is our only option.

When you're in the Championship he'd only need 5 loaves & 2 fish to feed you.

There in lies what has been one of our biggest issues over the last few years.

As much as we jest, we're very short on any real candidates for the job.

If Myler is still here, he gets the gig I think. If he isn't probably go for Martin or Walker. Martin has settled in very well last year and will hopefully get better next year. Walker is very young and still has plenty of improvement in him but his way of playing the game and throwing himself into everything feet first can't be denied.

A lot could depend on what we do with recruitment of a hooker. If we go to look to spend the marquee money there then we might be light in the front row but really a hooker would probably be our most influential signing right now.

Another tough off season coming up trying to get all the pieces to fit.

Here’s one especially for Marty & Gotcha and more likely than the trinity of Hurrell, Sutcliffe or Jesus.

Brett Ferres.....

Ward for me.

But if we go for Jesus, it would be better for him to play a few games for Carnegie first then we could sign him as exempt from cap for first year. With 12 disciples to follow him it would fill the leadership void. He would nearly have as many parables to tell as JJB.

I do worry that if Ferres stays he will get it. To me that is an awful decision.

I'm not onboard with walker either. Someone earlier compared him to Iestyn which was appalling. Iestyn in his day is head and shoulders above anyone in our current squad. Walker has enough on his plate learning how to pass so don't see him as captain material at this point.

I know people will say "Kevin Sinfield" but it really is hard to captain any SL side, let alone Leeds, when you're so young.

Ward is the standout candidate for me. I worry about the cultural impact if bringing in yet another highly-paid Aussie who will then captain the side. They'd have to be top drawer.

As a devout athiest I'd have to rescind my support if Jesus gets the job.

Ava is the only one who seems to consistently lead by example and play decent minutes.

I totally agree and as per my previous comments around top class Aussies, they don't stick around often.

We need to appoint a caption who understand the club, the culture and will in theory be around for more than two years. Some will rightly question wards injury record and his ability to even be a RL player in two years but he is the only real candidate for me.

I forgot about Ferres. Assumed he was a goner but I think that will change now- that's if he was ever going anywhere.

Given he's been named as captain a few times, it wouldnt surprise me to see him get it.

As a fellow atheist I have similar reservations but believe Jesus existed, but probably under another name. I think this is a Hebrew version of A.N.Other or S.O.Else used in amateur circles. He's probably an Aussie with Lebanese parentage.

Looks like Gale is coming after all, so another candidate there along with Ward. Would assume whoever does replace Merrin might be in that bracket too.

One name which hasn’t been mentioned is Ava. He seems quite considered but he is Mr Consistent. Respected professional, it’s just whether he has the man management skills etc.

Anyway; Ward, Gale as vice captain.

I'd mentioned him earlier as an alternative to Jesus... As captain I mean.