Well I was joking r.e. Webb/Smith. Clearly Webb will be 1. Unfortunately.

Genuinely intrigued to see what Smith is though. He's clearly out of favour.

Lee Smith will probably get the lucky number 15, play in some of the trial games looking refreshed and having regained his appetite for the game and then get sacked just before the season properly gets under way.

Frosties,
I assume that as you think the number 4 shirt will go to either a new signing or Hardaker, Gary H has not yet signed anybody? I thought George Riley,a few weeks ago, on twitter had suggested that Gary had made a marquee signing to replace Senior although he may have only been speculating. If someone has already been signed how will they be fitted into the team apart from covering for injuries etc as the backline is playing so well?

The experienced international marquee signing Riley referred to as replacing Keith Senior may well have been... George Riley's pal Keith Senior, back at the time talks were happening to set that up. I doubt they're happening any more.

I've genuinely heard rob burrows leaving, whether that had changed with his upturn in form I don't know.

For the love of god his name is BURROW not Burrows FFS

No, really?! Calm down, it was meant as in Burrow is leaving (as this is a chat forum CBA with grammar TBF) hence why I didn't put burrowS IS leaving, I HOPE THIS HELPS AND THAT I DIDN'T UPSET YOU. FFS!

After the publication of Senior's autobiography I agree he's "burnt his boats" as far as playing for the Rhinos again although he might come back as a coach later on.
If talks were going on with Senior does that mean Gary H did not have any other "irons in the fire"? Although we have some great young backs I think the signing of a quality centre would improve the squad.

Calm down Seth old love! I was myself having a bit of Tongue in cheek fun with regards to our diminutive super sub's sirname!

Shouldn't "sirname" be used only for Sinfield ?

Ah you spotted my deliberate mistake!!!

Well eddie and stevo call him burrows.

Tonga? Did someone mention Tonga?

Hei Kone Rä

Does that mean 'goodbye'?

I wouldn't be looking to sign any backs. We have Webb, BJB, Watkins, Hardaker and Hall as 1-5, with Smith as backup. We also have Ablett and Delaney as third and fourth choice centres, and plenty of capability amongst those named to swap positions if required. Halfbacks we're as well covered as anybody, particularly since we seem to have backed Briscoe jnr. absolutely no point in blocking Hardaker/Watkins for the sake of it - there are no class Aussies available.

The club has already shown its hand in the hooking role, and BM obviously sees Burrow as impact sub/backup halfback.

The only role I don't think we're covered for is an impact forward to replace Ali - but there again Hauraki may still be seen as the saviour. I do think we could offload a couple of forwards if someone with real quality came along.

As ever If Leeds can keep their first choice 1 to 17 as it currently stands fit, in-form and available for selection I expect they'll be somewhere in and around the mid group of the top 8. Don't see the squad as it looks going forward at the minute being in contention for top three, especially given the International involvement still to come, leading to a lack of a full pre-season, WCC to accomodate and focus on early in to the campaign.

It's the quality of the remainder of the likely squad that would be a concern without adequate replacements for the leaving bodies (out - Senior, Buderus, Lauitiiti, Cross, Burgess In - Moore) can be found whether that be internally or from elsewhere.

You can guarantee at least one 'marque' signing given the CEO's pledge to only release Buderus from the final year of his contract once one is secured.

Given lack of availability its hardly likely to be an NRL outside back. Halfback I just don't see the need (or again likely candidates). Hooker I think the club has shown its hand - that leaves a prop or second row.

ATM we've got - Ablett, Ambler, Bailey, Clarkson, Delaney, Hauraki, JJB, Kirke, Leuluai, Moore, Peacock, Pitts plus Amor with an option (ignoring really untried players like Singletyon). That's at least 12 players for 5 starting positions plus 3 subs. If we did sign a 'marque' player, they'd want a staring spot so you'd have to think the requirement for the likes of Ambler/Amor/Pitts would come under scrutiny.

Look at the squad as it stands, if we were not to renew the contracts of our "foreigners" by 2014 we could have a british squad, that sounds rather interesting. Could we win a grand final with a british coach and a full british squad? And when i say british i dont mean Aussies with a UK passport

You still think we should follow the recruitment policies of Hull and Huddersfield?

With Buderus going... what about that Diskin lad from Bradford? I've only seen him the matches we've played against the Bulls obviously but he seems a better player than a team that doesn't qualify for the play offs if you ask me. Perhaps somebody could do some research on him. See if he has the necessary skills to cut it at a "big" club?

Agree with all of that. TBH i think that's that as far a recruitment goes.. i am a bit suprised though as they were leaning towards bringing in a top drawer replacement for Buderus but then offered Mcshane a 4 year deal.. also i'd preferably like to see either another top prop or second rower coming in..

I'd expect Amor to be kept at wakefield and a better replacement brought in

Out of interest when`s Garreth Ellis`s contract up in Oz?

We've covered this one a while back.

Think it's end of '13/'14. A while yet. He's always expressed a desire to return to England as he would like his little lad educated here, but he's also expressed a desire to play for Cas (his home town) before he retires.

I imagine that's exactly what will happen when his Wests contract is up.


Edit - End of 2013 (Aged 32). Article [url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/10/05/12/RUGBYL_Ellis.htmlhere[/url.

Personally I'd still expect a hooker to be signed, with Hood going out on loan for SL development.

Other than that, what would anyone say to a fit Shontayne Hape? His England RU options look limited with the emergence of Tuilagi and defection of Tomkins. Would have plenty to teach Watkins and Hardaker.