So at this moment in time which players do we really want to watch next season? Players you would be sad to see leaving……

For me-

Oledski
Gannon
Newman (based on potential)
Martin
Hardaker (based on fact can cover all backline and good injury record)
Smith
Handley

Genuinely can’t think of anyone else…..

It's certainly an interesting question, rather than who would you get rid of.

I'd be more tempted to split the options between must keep / should keep / can leave / should leave.

For example, I think we should keep Corey Johnson, but we don't have to keep him to be competitive next year.

On the must keep list, I agree with you. I'm really not sure where Leeming fits in the list though. I know he was in the dream team and has his moments, but I'm still not convinced he's in the top 5 hookers in SL, and even less convinced he should be the captain.

Of the should keep list, I'd include Myler, Sezer, Bentley (without Zane you can accommodate his pens), Holroyd and then the rest of the higher squad numbers (except Donaldson and Mustapha).

Yeah good way of looking at it. Your probably being kinder than me and more optimistic!

I'd keep anyone 21 and under. Of the over 21's I'd keep those like Newman, Holroyd and Broadbent who have recently made a breakthrough. Then of the rest I'd keep Fusitua (I think there's a great player in there if RS can sort his head out), Handley (he's decent but not more) Oledzki (war horse), Martin (decent player, excellent goalkicker) and that's about it.

On the maybe list are Myler, Hardaker, Walker, Sezer (too early to really say and playing injured), Leeming (deffo not captain material), Bentley, Smith, and that's about it. If they get better offers they can leave, the rest should be leaving...

Is also challenge any team to look good in attack with the hooker service we have……

It hard to for us to say who will be leaving with some players under contract etc but I'd be happy if we did this for 2023

Walker (2023 is his last chance for me it's his final year he needs to show he can string a season together he hasn't done that since 2017 for me)

Fusitu'a ( will come good if we get balance of squad right)

Newman ( When fit is best back we have and only 22)

Sutcliffe ( he's contracted til 2024 doubt he'll be going anywhere)

Handley ( Steady winger does his job.)

Sezer ( Same as Fusitu'a I think is a good player but we need balance of squad to be right for him to work)

Oledzki ( Great Prop and still only 23!)

Leeming ( I don't think he's Captain material personally but again I think he could be a very good player to have on books if balance of squad us right)

Bentley ( if he sorts discipline I don't mind him never lacks effort)

Martin ( Been our best this year and is a excellent goal kicker)

Myler ( Is first choice full back when fit)

Smith ( Is a handy player to have in pack)

Holroyd ( needs to stay fit but is only 21!)

Gannon ( only 18 and is already showing great potential)

Donaldson ( again is a handy player to have in pack works hard & is reliable doesn't take up quota and much salary cap and is contracted til 2023).

Walters, Johnson, Simpson, Tindall, Edwards, Field & Sinfield all young and have shown good potential all contracted for 2023 & beyond as well.

Prior- I like him but I think his body is done thanks for his services.

Austin- still has a question mark for me not sure whether I'd keep him at this moment in time.

Tetevano- is contracted til 2023 but if we could offload him to anywhere and get him off Salary cap and open a quota spot I really think we should

Broadbent- is another question mark he's young still but we have other players who are in his position and probably better than him as well.

Dwyer, Mellor, Thompson, Briscoe & Hardaker thanks for services but if any are retained this is why the club is in the shape it is in now.

So I'd potential get rid of 8 or 9 of our current squad. I'd be looking at getting a Halfback, 3 props & a hooker then promote 2 or 3 academy players who are looking close to making it into the First team. For me though that's too many ins & outs to complete in one off season.

I know a lot of changes is difficult, but its a lot like tearing off a plaster - if we do it a few at a time we'll take years to build a squad (remembering that some of the 'keeps' will naturally deteriorate with age). If we keep the core of quality players, get in three real quality players and push youth as hard as we can we surely can't be any worse than having a squad filled with hacks.

Like most, I'd be pulling the trigger on a fair few.
Spine needs better quality. So while individually I wouldn't be averse to retaining Myler, Sezer and Leeming, if we had a big money contract to let then I'd be looking to replace even one of those. Everyone else playing spine could go, Sinfield excepted.
Of the three-quarters, Fusitu'a, Handley and Newman are the ones I'd keep.
Pack - Mik and Gannon yes. Smith would be playing for a contract, possibly Holroyd too. Patience maybe needed with the latter.

We need to get away from persisting with players who are too small, too slow, too soft, too injury prone and who can't master the basics. Far better if these are playing for our rivals if at all possible. At the moment the club's doing a passable imitation of a donkey sanctuary.

I’d agree with this. There’s a fair few players on the maybe list who can be straightened out with strong coaching. I’d like to keep hardaker as a starting fullback as I think he’s quite a bit better than myler, obviously Walker has the potential but not the durability. He might also be needed in the centre depending on what’s available.

For me the two or three big jobs are: sort the balance of the pack, more props is number one priority.

Sort service from dummy half- whether that’s Johnson or someone else.

Get someone to partner Sezer. Fwiw I think Austin’s tried hard but not enough to justify a contract.

Clearwing - you've said what I think very succinctly - we have a lot of players who are too small, too soft, too injury-prone (and could also add weak mentally and just lacking basic skills).

The only caveat I'd have is on skills. Some of our squad might improve a lot if they were forced to work an off-season on core skills, which Tony Smith did pre 2004 and Rohan might be the kind of coach to do the same. Its ridiculous to have to talk about a hooker with a years-long first grade career needing to learn how to pass, but that's the reality. He's not the only one who has basic flaws which shouldn't be seen in the Championship let alone SL.

1. Zak Hardaker
2. David Fusitu’a - OQ
3. Harry Newman
4. Liam Sutcliffe
5. Ash Handley
6. Blake Austin
7. Aidan Sezer
8. Mikolaj Oledzki
9. Kruise Leeming
10. Matt Prior - OQ
11. James Bentley
12. Rhyse Martin - OQ
13. Zane Tetevano - OQ
14. ?
15. ?
16. Richie Myler
17. Cameron Smith
18. Tom Holroyd
19. ?
20. Jack Walker
21. Morgan Gannon
22. Sam Walters
23. Jarrod O’Connor
24. Liam Tindall
25. James Donaldson
26. Corey Johnson
27. Levi Edwards
28. Max Simpson
29. ?
30. ?
31. Oli Field
32. Jack Sinfield

Once Smith has had a chance to really assess players, it might be interesting to put the bulk of the squad on notice. I know they don't have relegation in the NRL, but Gus Gould yesterday said that while they are in a mess the "good news" is that only 5/6 players are contracted for 2024. That sounds a long way away but he's basically told every other player to shape up or ship out. You don't have to do it publicly but I do wonder if some of our squad really understand that if they get the flick from a rubbish Leeds team they will struggle to get decent offers from anywhere else.

St Helens are reportedly in for Dwyer next season

Dwyer might be ok for saints but whichever way you look at it

Roby - Lussick to Lussick - Dwyer is a massive downgrade

It is but lessened by the fact Dwyer will play short minutes, play behind that pack so will have more room to exploit and I expect Lomax, Dodd and Welsby will remove doubt when they want the ball.

But yes Roby is a great player and Dwyer is not.

Dwyer's mate Hurrell is there too for now anyway

must keeps-- newman , gannon oledski , bentley , poss simpson , sinfield , fusi

I'd add O'connor. Really bright future if he wants it and has the right coaching.

Handley might not be the best winger in the comp but he's been right up there as leeds best player this year so far. Smith has also impressed in recent weeks with improved discipline.

but they're not must keeps , one hasn't bulked up nd the other too bulky , i like them but like most a shadow of what we've had , don't see where o'connor fits in

Given the contract situation, Smith's first aim has to be to forge a side greater than the sum of the parts. For whatever reason, we're lumbered with one that is less right now. Once that's done he'll be better placed to assess the essential departures.

The problem being if he doesnt act quick then essential recruitment options will be limited with us picking up scraps

that would be murrayesque although with harris, blackmore, godden, mcdermott, powell, morley glanville , neewton , jackson
did have some better parts to work with before improving st hilaire , sheridan , farrell , fleary , hay --- we were fortunate have settled sides for 2 yrs that could become a unit and play to a plan
which old dogs can he teach new tricks or youngsters take to another level

will he have much say in recruitment ? he should but will he?

Yep, totally. All I'm saying is that his hands will be tied to some extent. Some players have been so p*** poor that moving them on before their contracts run down might not be do-able.