I agree.

We need a decent kicking game to emerge from somewhere.

I'm also hoping that across myler, lolohea and mcClelleand we will have some competition in the halves and also some diversity.

Yes agreed mate. McLelland has a lot of development in him, but I like the video clips I’ve seen. He has some skills and a bit of whack in defence too. It won’t do Myler any harm to be one of three rather than one of one in any case.

I think he’s a different player to what he was at Warrington. He’s now the player he should have been when Briers retired.

I spent most of last season thinking that he’s too good for us tbh. He had a huge task on his hands last year and I’d imagine had many thoughts of “why have I come here?”. No structure, woeful pack, woeful half back partner etc. I’d love to have seen a McGuire / Myler partnership, it’d have been very dangerous.

I'm hoping that in McClelland we have someone with a decent kicking game. If he's been playing 10 in Union he should be able to kick a ball well enough.

I've thought for a while watching both games that any reasonable Union 10 would kick 40-20s all day long

TBH I think the lad has a very solid all-round game. Not sure he is Nikorima-quick, but he can defend hard and I like that in a half. Quite aggressive.

Junior Sa'u available i think,thoughts.

Centre isn’t a position we need

Castleford have been admirers for a while

Re Myler, hopefully Furner will have the sort of influence on him that he did on Adam Reynolds at Souths. Reynolds was always a super kicker, but played like a robot in attack and had no running game at all. Last year he flourished as part of a completely revamped attack, and started to look like a proper halfback.

In terms of kicking, isn't a lot down to practice and getting proper training? Myler may never have a massive boot on him, but with proper instruction and the sort of extra hours the best put in, surely he can get up to a decent standard?

So Merrin on his way this time.

Yes looks that way. Actually a very good signing in theory. Three concerns: can we get him and keep him fit? Isn’t a 4 year Marquee deal highly risky? And what position will we play him in (do we need a second Ferres..?)

Id have thought we'd have announced the England player you mentioned by now plus we still have another quota spot.

Trent Merrin confirmed, 4 year deal https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2018/11/15/ ... e-signing/

Trent Merrin confirmed, 4 year deal https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2018/11/15/ ... e-signing/

I think most of us would be happy if the first Ferres turned up every now and then, instead of his obese twin.

I didn’t think we had a chance of this signing. I’m quite sure he’ll be our new captain too

Really? I had Watkins pencilled in as long term skipper and thought he was shaping up well in the role. Would it not have a detrimental effect on Watkins, particularly considering Merrin will probably be off in 3 years and we'll then need to find a new captain.

I hadn’t thought of it like that and Watkins’s performances seemed to lift whilst having the role. Depends if Watkins wants the captaincy too I suppose

I am not convinced any of the signings made are what I was told. There might well be the correct number and positions, but I have a feeling they have been turned down/missed out on the signings they actually thought they had. Maybe not all, but certainly in a couple of instances.

Ilahihifo in part-ex for Mullally

Johnstone in from Wakey part-ex with Handley and Walters

Job done.

If only Carlsberg did SL transfers

Just think we need to off-load some wages and players too.

Johnstone's parents are Leeds seasons ticket holders. Surely that has some sway?

He may have signed a new contract at Wakey - but realistically that just ensures a transfer fee.

Johnstone would require a transfer fee and a high wage - which can be better spent elsewhere.

I think we need to find out if Handley or L Briscoe can make 1st grade standard this year. Playing outside Hurrell, if you can't score tries... We do need a solid defensive player though I think, Hurrell can put a hit on but get caught out positionally. Having said all that, I do think this Leeds side lacks a bit of pace. I mean, the scary pace of Sterling, or the all-day-long pace of Calderwood or Donald. I'd like to see a winger who can really gallop - Johstone does fit that bill.

I’d like to see another winger and forward in, but I doubt we will get another winger in. I also reckon that Golding will stay but Mullally, Walters and Ormondroyd will leave.

1. Jack Walker
2. Tom Briscoe
3. Kallum Watkins
4. Konrad Hurrell
5. Luke Briscoe
6. Tuimoala Lolohea
7. Richie Myler
8. Adam Cuthbertson
9. Matt Parcell
10. Brad Singleton
11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan
12. Carl Ablett
13. Stevie Ward
14. Brad Dwyer
15. Trent Merrin
16. Dom Crosby
17. Liam Sutcliffe
18. Brett Ferres
19. ????
20. Nathaniel Peteru
21. Mikolaj Oledzki
22. Ash Handley
23. Cameron Smith
24. Ashton Golding
25. Callum Mclelland
26. Harry Newman
27. Alex Sutcliffe
28. Owen Trout
29. Tom Holroyd
30. Corey Johnson
31. Tyler Dupree
32. Muizz Mustapha
33. Loui McConnell
34. Daniel Waite-Pullan

Not too far off the mark IMO Frosties. Some very exciting talent coming through the ranks there. Agree about Golding: although if another club makes a serious play for him I can see him leaving. Be interesting to see how that back line gets organised, with 2 right centres and Ryan Hall leaving. Might be temped to switch Watkins to the left actually. Watkins was put to the right because we had Senior, and Briscoe to the right to accommodate Hall. Anyway, I'm sure Furner will make the right call. If we do snag Ikahihifo in exchange for some squad players or whatever, and if he stays fit, I quite fancy us to do something.