I agree with your "outs" but think we can't fill all the positions with youngsters. We are world champions and I want us to remain at the top. We need 2/3 quality, experienced signings and hopefully Gary is going to deliver?

He is delivering. Senior will be announced as a Signing Soon

I wouldn't let Griffin go. He looked good early doors, but has since had no game time, being selected behind a clearly knackered Peacock. Moore maybe, but he has looked to be one of our most effective forwards this year, and the nearest to a Lauititi replacement we've got.

If McShane is truly unhappy, then his departure would be for the best. As for siginings, the OOCs within SL (Millard & Elima) do solve some of our problems, but we really need to strengthen in the front row asap. TBH I think we'd need a sizable influx of players (my picks Kopczak, Moa, Elima, Bateman, Millard & Lunt) in order to be competitve at the top of SL again. Unfortunately, our policy of making minimal signings each close season has now badly backfired. Still, I think we have a strong core of youngsters in Hardaker, BJB, Watkins, Hall, Ward, Hood, Ablett & Delaney.

Still, the releasing of Luke Burgess is starting to look more and more like a bad decision.

I agree with the the players you would bring in but how realistic are they to sign? For example very strong rumours that Bateman is going to Warrington and Frosties has said that Moa is going back to NRL and Millard staying at Catalan?

How very positively underwhelming is that



We should sign Steve Menzies and be done with it.

Well seen as Senior will play better than any of the current "Centres" at the Rhinos, Overwhelming.....I might have to sit down.



And as for Menzies! He is playing better than most of our Forwards at present

Can't argue with the Menzies retort......Muddleton_boner (for Senior)

So if we think the pack needs refreshing then who goes out of Peacock, Kylie, Griffin, Moore, Bailey, Kirke. I would suggest of those listed 2 have to go for any refreshing to be effective. My selection would be Kirke and Kylie both of which would cost.
If we are bringing on players then Elima and Kopczak and Amor would be good. I would also aggressively go after Tim Smith who I think is OOC at Wakefield and would release Sinfield back into LF. Stevie Ward would get another year or so to develop to become a regular at either LF or SO.
Luke Burgess was only released early. He always intended going to Australia so there was nothing we could do to keep him so there was no decision to make that could be construed as being bad.

You are joking about going after Tim Smith,surely we can do better than that?

The last thing we need is another half back. We already have 3 and don't know what to do with them.
I'd love to see Elima at Leeds, yes he gives penalties away but he runs hard and provides aggression to the backrow, something we are lacking. The only other move in the forwrds I think we need to make is to bring Amor back. He can take over some of Peacock & Leuluai's workload, both of whom I still think have something to offer just in shorter game time and not as the clubs primary props anymore.
In the backs, the best move would probably be a centre. I'd be fairly happy with Millard if he's available. Then Hardaker to full back would be my choice.
In the halves I'd go with Ward & McGuire, Sinfield back to LF but able to cover stand off to allow for Ward's development. Burrow off the bench at hooker.

As for hooker, it depends what the plan is for McShane. If he's not in the plans then I think Lunt is a perfectly adequate hooker.

As for players to leave, well I wouldn't be too upset to see Smith leave, although I'd happily keep him if he's happy to be a backup. Same goes for Kirke.
Obviously Webb is off anyway so should free up a decent salary cap chunk.
Unsure about Hauraki, sometimes he looks good, others I barely know he's on the pitch. Would be tempted to let him go, cap/contract permitting.

I don't think we need too much of a clearout, more a re-defining of players importance in the squad and their roles.

NantwichEjaculate (over the Kids)

He's playing a hell of a sight better than our current SO!

Surely we can do better than that!!

I agree with your suggested "ins" and "outs". I think all the players are OOC and hopefully GH agrees!

Out: Head-Coach and his acolytes.

In: An outsider who can instill some discipline, pride and a game-plan.

That's the starting point, IMO. Without doing that first the rest is akin to rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.

I concur....but are the acolytes not headed up by the CEO ?

I don't think the CEO will be going anywhere unless he decides to. I just accept that situation as a non-negotiable point of fact.

He provides the coach with a squad and the squad with a coach. Getting the correct blend is the all important part.

Smith at Leeds (2004) took over more or less the same squad as Powell had, Maguire at Wigan (2010) got more or less the same squad as Noble.

The results and performance levels achieved were markedly improved by having the right coach in place. A coach the players listened to because they could see he had a plan, he knew where he wanted to go and he knew how to get there.

For me:

Outs: L. Smith, B. Webb, L. Ambler, W. Hauraki, I. Kirke, R. Moore, S. Lunt, B. Jones-Bishop.

Ins: D. Williams (Manly), E. Whitehead, C. Kopzcak (Bradford), K Amor (Wakefield), A Walmsley (Batley), Dan Sarginson (London Broncos)

I'll say again, I don't see any value in Williams, even if its to allow someone else to move to full back. Waste of a quota space and cap money.

It's interesting you have BJB on your "outs" list. I do have worries about the lad in defence especially at FB and he sometimes appears too fragile (ironic when comparing him to Watkins). I wouldn't be surprised to see him moving on ....although, however, I would much rather see BJB on the wing than the hapless Lee Smith.

More than ever maybe it [uis[/u about time Chisholm was given his chance.

Costings on rugby league players is far from my best area of knowledge, but I'd presume Williams would come at a premium rate. Is the winger the best place to put it? A Furner type player would be far more needed IMO.

As for overseas signings, shame we haven't found the next mid-late 20's Kylie. To keep the wheels of evolution turning. When we signed Kylie he was far from a world beater in the NRL, played for a few clubs. His aggressive style and well known strength were qualities that we needed and need now. He didn't break the bank, just clever scouting. Maybe we need to work harder in this area.

Richie Fa'aoso? 28yo Newcastle Knights. Out of Contract End of 2012.

I agree about signing a prop like Kylie from the NRL. I remember at the time some fans not been overwhelmed because he was not a "big name" He's proved them wrong and has been a good signing. If we see the neeed surely Gary H also does and hopefully has something lined up. Posssiblly Moa?

Well what you see is what you get. Man mountain.

Gets up to speed for a big man quite quickly, his lines of runs are quite clever, likes getting to the side of the line of defence.

Having said that, soft-cock, gets banged far too easily.



Oh and nice to see a post from you that wasn't declaring all your juice to Keith Senior.

That's in the NRL though. Not as intense over here.....Right?



Only because Big Keith isn't a Prop

Should bear in mind that in some respects Ben Cross was similar to Leuluai.....

Chances are if someone is available relatively cheap nowadays, there's a reason for it.