They could again this year as well with the loss of 3 players from all hearts of the team.

They have recruited already. Bowen, Pettybourne, Hopkins from Leigh who comes with a reputation of the Championship's best. They may yet sign a winger to replace Richards. They've blended in Flower, Dudson and Taylor this year and maybe even Powell could do a job for them when he learns the game. Squad members and injury cover in Clubb and Sargison, who might also kick on with decent coaching. They might not be as strong as they were a couple of years ago but that goes for the whole league. They'll be alright.

St.Helens have done their recruitment in the areas they're weakest in. A kicking half and two frontline props. They should be better than they were this year.

So far we've signed Yates from Hunslet.

Although we've already missed out over the last 12 months on several of the players who could have improved our squad, the ones I'd now prefer us to go for are Clark from Cas and, unless a major prop becomes available, Adam Walker from Hull KR. And then, as well as with Singleton and Sutcliffe, play them if they deserve to be played.

I can only think those advocating Sinfield moving to hooker permanently haven't been watching the disorganised shambles that gets left behind when you ask McGuire or Burrow to sort the attacking line out.

Spot on. And the fact that if he is called on at dummy half from the 4th tackle and beyond, there is absolutely nothing left for kicking duties long range. Burrow on Friday was awful with the kicking.

Saints for a start - we are not as good as Wigan or Warrington as has been quite clearly demonstrated in recent weeks. We may not be losing players but our key players are getting older and slower which suggests we are getting weaker not staying the same.

I agree but would you say Sinfield has organised the attack that well this season?

This year I have been a bit un-nerved by the inability to score within the opposition 20m zone. I have always felt much more comfortable when we are attacking from further out. Also having the best back line in the league is nothing unless we give them ball to work from, which has been few and far between. For me a lot of this comes down to the slow and often poor distribution from acting half, slowing up the speed of the ball down the line. Hooker has to be a priority, along with a strong running forward of the right age.

Could easily be Sinfields worst season for Leeds

Re Craigizzard's view of Wigan's recruitment.
Richards may be replaced by either Joe Burgess or Dominic Manfredi, both academy wingmen who are worth a SL place. Unlikely a wingman will be signed.
Powell, although very good, could be overtaken by Hampshire.
Forwards mentioned have done well but Crosby is only 22 and Farrell 23.
From the squad named in November, Hock never played, and was loaned, Prescott played one game, Lauaki seven games. Three senior players who hardly played if at all. No wonder we are left with such a young team.

Recruitment will be vital for the lower clubs next year and there could be great alarm if larger clubs like Wigan and Leeds rest players then lose against a relegation threatened team giving them a lift up the league.
Should be interesting next year for any number of reasons

Agreed. Saints will overtake us next year, the playoff game this year should warn us. A younger, more vibrant team with signings in the right areas against an ageing team with no tangible improvement.

The problem is that no matter how kev plays we all think he will deliver at the end of the season. knowledge,experience, knows how to win games.Unfortunately it hasn't worked out this season and won't again next season .The coach can not keep making allowances for him putting him in positions he can't play as well as our other players for the next 2 seasons.When it's over its over sorry
Make him play 13 or get him off the park or better still assistant coach

Bit harsh. You also have to look at the poor players around him too. Previously he has had much stronger around him.

That said, as if our CEO arrogance hasn't been bad enough last few years, the announcement that Sinfield has a playing contact for as long as he wants to play, smacks of ridiculous PR. What message does that send to potential successors, or indeed the player himself. He could have said, position at the club, but no he said playing contract.

If we'd have had a decent 9, he may have been able to have more of an influence on the main games. As he was hopping in and out of DH, it was a lot harder to take the game by the scruff of the neck

Ok lets say we had a decent 9 who would drop out of the golden triangle of Rob Danny & kev . It has nothing to do with 9 he doesn't want to play 13

On this year's form, McGuire. If you're going to leave out one of those three, then it's him every time IMO.

I've said before, at some point McDermott is going to have to be ruthless when it comes to moving veteran players on. He'll also need the support of his CEO, which might represent more of a problem, and a realisation amongst this group of players that they can't stay together forever and things will have to change - not necessarily on their terms.

That will be the major challenge.
cf Smith's treatment of Hodgson at the Wolves.

Completely agree with this but will it even get as far as the CEO because imo Mc has bottled dropping out of form/still injured "stars" and even the Ordinary ones at times this year!
The worse thing that can happen in some cases is waiting for the players to call it themselves or keep picking/retaining them until they cant even walk let alone play RL.

The thing about those who say "Sinfield should go back to 13". Loose has changed a lot since he was last regularly there. Not just at Leeds but most clubs they go for the extra forward and loose is no longer a role that is suitable for Sinfield.

So we build a team around an ageing player when we have better options ?
If he can't play his position he shouldn't be in the team.
Make him assistant coach with a view to the head coach eventually.might as well he's already picking the team.

Who is the better option? Sutcliffe?
He's the future yes but you rarely find a player of his age charged with the starting 6 shirt every week.

I am talking about the future,And before people think it's a anti sinfield rant it's not.kev has been proved to be one of our best players.suttcliffe and ward our the future of our team and we need to start phasing in/out next season or would you have them on the bench until kev is 35 and hope they are happy to have limited game time.
The way we are trying to fit all three playing without rotation is ridiculous and imo damage their legacy

McD didn't seem to have a problem moving Webb on. I think this idea that he won't drop/move established stars seems a bit of a misnomer.

Really?
Did you happen to catch any games this season .

Nope I do think Sutcliffe should get some game time there against the correct opposition next year but you were on about retiring Sinfield to a coaching role.
As far the 'trio' goes, I said earlier this season that what we've learnt from this year is that one needs to go. As Sinfield IMO is no longer suitable for Loose and neither he or Burrow are long term the answer at hooker. That leaves all 3 best suited to being in the halves (even Sinfield when he's had a proper hooker in the side) and 3 into 2 doesn't go. I along with most others think McGuire is the one that should probably make way.

Fair enough
I think we want the same thing which is a strong team with a good future .
It was not my intention to retire kev just yet but the clock ticks one way and I do not think playing people out of position regardless of past glories is good for the team