Not saying it is. But I am confident in saying there have been plenty of teams won very little or nothing at all, with better players individually than we had during that period. But it was the leadership of Sinfield that brought the best out of it, and that was the important factor.

Leadership groups are a fantastic idea and essential to the modern game where players hold all the bargaining power.

Just look at us now, merrin, a guy who has been here a year is our only viable captain alternative. Why? Because we have no leadership group, just one player, and as we all know and are seeing, players can leave at any time.

We need a strong group of players overall but within that a number who are leaders so if a player leaves or suffers a serious injury the team on the pitch is not left rudderless exactly like we have been since sinny, JP, Mags etc.. left.

To think that we just need one guy who is fit to wear the armband is naive.

Merrin was here last season, and wasn't made captain until near the end of the season. Had our natural player not been injured, he would probably have been made captain. We have also signed the PNG captain, and the Castleford Captain, and have a further natural leader if he got a starting role in Smith. Merrin is captain because he is also a natural leader with a wealth of know how. It has nothing to do with no one else available.

But you appoint one man and one man only, otherwise you get division and not all following the same path. Leadership groups are a fad of nonsense.

So has Merrin left ? Nothing announced ,but I've heard he's already flown out

Club being shabby with the communication again here. If there’s something to say they should say it rather than wait for something positive to put a bow on the bad news...

Quote ="lionarmour87"So has Merrin left ? Nothing announced ,but I've heard he's already flown out'" Prior in, Merrin out - https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2019/11/29/ ... 3qkfG7HRJ0

Quote ="lionarmour87"So has Merrin left ? Nothing announced ,but I've heard he's already flown out'" Prior in, Merrin out - https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2019/11/29/ ... 3qkfG7HRJ0

Gale

Sutcliffe for me.

Choke

Must be Gale or Ward really, I don’t see anyone else commanding the dressing room.

Can’t see it going anywhere other than Gale. Ward needs to focus on his own sustained return to action. Outsiders being Ava, maybe Martin.

As mentioned to many others, we aren’t the coaches. The coaches pick him on a weekly basis for a number of years and he’s consistently there, that includes Agar. We’ve released 15 players in the last 12 months and he’s still here. He’s captained England academy and our academy too. They see much more than we do in him and there must be a reason for it.

Oh, you were serious. It’s one thing being a utility picked to supplement a successful team in different positions when needed then in a struggling side but it’s another to be chosen as the captain.

Martin, gale or ward for me

Where will he play?

It can’t be Sutcliffe. Having a Captain who is injured is one thing, but one who doesn’t get picked is quite another.

It’s Gale or Ward, probably in that order.

Suttcliffe shouldn't make the 17 if we have a healthy squad especially if we sign another backrower.

Expect one of those two to get it but regardless I expect to see gale dictating the plays and ward leading by example in the pack. Not dissimilar to the way that sinny and JP worked.

Sutcliffe surely isn't in the top 17 is he? He has utility value but would be behind specialists anywhere he can play, especially since Martin is the goalkicker.

Whilst I don’t think he should be near the first 17, he always is, can’t explain it. However, looking at options, people putting far too much on Mellor, and might be a bit dissapointed. With Merrin gone, it rests on whether Ward can stay injury free. Smith for me the best option to utilise playing and giving a proper shot, but doesn’t happen. You can see again Sutcliffe picked each week.

You’ve signed Michael Shenton?

Good god I hope not.

I wouldn’t worry. He won’t leave Cas when he’s got a deal until he is almost 40 in his back pocket!
And minus the sarcasm, I don’t think Gale has captained Cas since 2016. When Shenton doesn’t play, its McShane.

Rhyse Martin new Captain for me

Has anyone held the title of club captain for a shorter period of time than Trent Merrin?

Unlikely to be Sutcliffe given he doesn’t even have a squad number in the first 13. Not that I thought he had a chance anyway.