The whole half back conundrum will be interesting but I think they'll probably name Austin at 13 a fair amount and basically give him a roaming role and just let him run/do what he does best. It's a crude comparison but similar to what they've asked L Briscoe to do a couple of times- go out play in the middle and make a nuisance of yourself and make your tackles.

That said, I can't think of any game this year we've had our first choice 1,6,7 available for whatever reason so chances are he'll end up playing half more than he does anywhere else.

Retention wise, I have a feeling it'll be Martin that departs. Can't be a lot of wriggle room on the cap which might see King stay and I suspect Hurrell will be offered reduced terms for a couple of years. Suppose it depends what other offers they both have on the table- both would likely get a first team spot in SL and I think Hurrell played RU at the start of his career so maybe that's an option for him too.

I think what happens with the SL next year will also have an impact, if it goes to 14 teams there will be a few teams quite happy to throw big contracts at players like Hurrell and Martin (and even maybe King) to try and stay in that top 10 for 2023

Think people are pleased because Austin is still a big name.
If you look at his performances for Wire though he’s been very disappointing. Seemed more interested in his trainer collection than proving himself on the pitch.
But blank canvas now so let’s see, but don’t think it’s wise to get too excited about this signing yet.
Also if it means we loose Martin or Hurrell it may be a double edged sword.
Austin has the ability to come good, but won’t be easy after his spell at Wire....

We do have a habit of signing names rather than form I have to say.

Probably boils down to our confidence/over-confidence that the Leeds infrastructure magically transforms all players from other clubs into better players. The truth is that other clubs also have good, professional set-ups and good coaching - even if Leeds is probably the gold standard in some things.

You see the quote time and again "... in our environment..". Anyway, I still quite like this signing on balance because Austin brings in something we lack. I'd like a bit more scorchio pace out wide and enough cover in the front row, and then I'm a relatively happy bunny.

you'll need someone else to do his tackling then, cos he doesn't like getting stuck in, despite being a pretty big guy for a halfback, he shirks the work.

Hurrell has been dire this season.He has had only one good game against a very poor Cas side.Martin if he isnt retained may count himself unlucky but we have loads of back rowers.

Hurrell is still our best attacking option......

Hurrell is marmite isn't he - rocks and diamonds, hot and cold, all that. Some fans will love him for the good stuff, others hate him for the errors.

Going forward he's probably the most damaging runner through contact of any player in the competition. He's solid one-on-one in D too as long as he doesn't get too lateral.

Positioning, skills, not so great. To be brutal there is an argument to replace all three with one star quality prop and winger, so an upgrade on King if you like and a Donald-esque player meaning we could also let Luke Briscoe go, with thanks, and also put some pressure on Tom with his contract coming to an end next season.

One game in 5 he is.He's our worst defender every game and probably has the most errors.

Toaty agree with your last paragraph.

If our best attacking option is to just hope that Hurrell can smash his way through the defence all the time, then no wonder we’ve gone out and bought 2 new half backs!!!

He’s poor in defence and has too many errors.
And I don’t think he is the attacking threat he was when he first came.

Difficult choice to make between releasing Martin or Hurrell.
But we’re pretty well stocked in both centre and back row, so could easily be either one.

Hurrell would still walk into any other team in SL

That’s my thinking re King

Hurrell gets lots of stick, and sometimes not without reason. But in his defense, I'd say he he is now fitter than he has ever looked whilst at the club and doesn't drop nearly as much ball as in the early days. He is also playing down our right hand side, when all our key attacking links play down the left. If he had been playing on the left this year he'd got ten tries, no bother at all. It's sad that in the three years he has been at the club we have yet to devise a plan to get the best out of him. Maybe Sezer/Austin would make a difference to that. Agnostic on whether he stays or goes, but I don't think he is the no hoper some make him out to be.

Not so sure about that

He probably would.

By name only not on form

Hurrell has had a dreadful season. Truly dreadful. I was hoping to see a Broadbent and Newman playing centre this year, but unfortunately Jack got injured

Broadbent and Newman is certainly our starting centre combo going forward.

Newman is a great player, but has made loads of errors since he’s been back. Does he kop the same stick as Hurrell?

In defence of Hurrell he's had no decent ball from the halves. Sezer will massively help with that. For most of this season we've had no half backs.. but he's also been very very ordinary, mainly in defence.

No because he's been out injured for such a long time and he's much much much less experienced. He was quality v Wire too.

Think we all need to remember until recently we’ve had very poor go forward. Hurrell has stuck his hand up and played more like a prop most games. Then he gets tired, then the errors come.
If we can work to his strengths bit more, he’s a force of nature
And other teams are very aware of this.
Just listen to what Sneyd said recently, and that comes from a guy who plays alongside some absolute monsters.....

Hurrell is consistently in our top metres makers per game, and we do tend to use him as a one-out battering ram rather than trying to get him into space running lines etc.

Personally I would seek to retain him another season or two but on the right money. We have boxed ourselves into a corner a little with the Austin signing, unless we can negotiate an early release for Thompson. Hurrell is such a difficult one - on the one hand he strikes the fear of god into defenders when he runs at them and takes some effort to bring down. On the other hand he regularly does something which releases pressure on the opposition, and I'm a big fan of Leeds becoming a pressure-applying side again.

He has put his hand up but he has been poor. Everytime he takes the ball up Im waiting for the mistake. His ball retention is awful

Hurrell should get better with better halves around him.