Will be Paul Sykes.

Not a bad thing I don't reckon. I think he's fairly creative and a good kicker. I'm quite pleased.

Sykes isn't a very good defender in my books, but it's not because of his tackling, more his positioning, at stand off he won't be found wanting as much I believe.

It will also give Crookes the chance to establish himself.

IF true.

A first choice halfback combo of Sykes & Deacon. We'll all have to find some wet paint to get our kicks.

theres no way deacs will be first choice next year if we do make sykes the permanent standoff ( which I wouldnt have a massive problem with btw). With the amount of cap and quota space we have available we'll be bringing someone in for sure. Its unfortunate that deacon is under contract for next year because based on this years performances he wouldnt be offered a new one, but just because we do have him doesnt automatically mean we're going to use him as first choice. we had no problem using an expensive robbie paul as backup in similar circumstances a few years back.

On the other hand, we've had Sykes & Jeffries fit most of this year and he's yet to actually drop Deacon. When I see Deacon left out, I'll believe it. Until that time, it looks more and more like he's guaranteed his spot.

if that turns out to be the case then we can write next year off as well and expect a further drop in attendances to boot.

I wouldn't be that sure he won't. He seems to be undropable as this season shows.

Just the point I've made. When Deacon has been fit he's played.

I think Sykes has done reasonably well for us at stand off and has performed better there than at centre. If this is the plan then it is absolutely crucial we sign a top quality organising scrum half with an excellent kicking game. If we go around again with Deacon then we can forget any play off hopes for next year. And I dread to think how low our crowds would plummet, hopefully that isn't the plan though.

1.Halley
2.Sheriffe/Crookes/Rudd
3.Quality centre.. Brent Tate or similar


4. Nero
5. Tadulala
6. Sykes
7. Quality halfback Orford/Brough

We look a little more likely to be challenging for the top 8 but probably still not strong enough to win a trophy. It would be a decent improvement on this years squad though.

I called this a few weeks ago, not a half-back solution that will capture the imagination and the centre I believe we are signing from our dear neighbours in LS6 won't raise anyone's excitement either.

Who?

Ash Gibson.

Not sure what he will offer us that one of our own young lads couldn't. We need quality, not more average players.

Deacs will be playing 7 again next year, no doubts about it. McNamara will not drop the captain. I wouldn't have a problem with playing Sykes at 6 though, is he a left footer? A least he would give us a left and right kick option with Deacs.

I can't see why we would sign Ash Gibson, he's not very good and lacks size for mine. Jason Crookes isn't very big either but I believe we'd be better off going with one of our own than signing a injury prone lad that can't make it at Leeds. He's not exactly proven quality.

thought he was off to cas, hardly a signing to write home about

your assuming that deacs will remain the captain next year. Wouldnt be at all surprised to see the captaincy go elsewhere next year.

Might be nothing in it, but I've heard it from a few people now.

Why.

I doubt it, but if he does I'll buy you a beer for calling it correctly.

total lack of any leadership qualities springs to mind. morrison and newton are our on field leaders at the moment and cover fact that deacon doesnt do anything. with them gone we'll need to put a captain in place that actually does the job imo.
plus the captaincy could be an extra carrot to dangle in luring a big name signing from NRL. worked for hudds with hodgson.

Deacs is the captain. I doubt Macca would offer it to somebody else whilst Deacs is here. Last season though, so it's not all doom and gloom.

we took captaincy off robbie whilst he was still here, plenty of precedent. Deacs isnt doing enough to warrant a starting spot next year irrespective of how much we're paying him.

It's all a bit moot isn't it? The reality is that unless we sign up a new scrum half we are stuck with Deacon next year. It looks likely that we won't retain Jeffries to at least provide an option and there doesn't seem to be anyone in Reserve Grade knocking on the door.

What the club does over the next weeks and months will display what we do or don't intend to do with Deacon. If we sign someone with real class - whether Brough or the like - then it will signal that we seriously do not see Deacs as more than backup. Alternatively, if we sign some nobody from National League, then obviously we're hoping to go with Deacs as starting scrum half.

We're surely going to sign [isomebody[/i - because it would be stupid to go into a season with only one No 7, especially one that is too slow to get out the way of heavy traffic, and is highly likely to cop for various injuries

As for Sykes being our Stand Off of choice. My question is : Why? Maybe I wasn't paying attention (quite possible) but I don't recall him playing at 6 much before, while he was at London / Quins. I remember him mainly at centre or full back. Why is he suddenly been seen as the answer to all our problem is the key pivotal role of Stand Off? A good back up when injuries force it, Yes - but starting Stand Off shirt????

Brian Noble did, completley different situation though as we needed somebody on the field to be captain from the start when we started using Robbie Paul from the bench.

Hey, I completley agree with you about Deacs, and I'd pay him off if I won the lottery. But Macca rates ahim highly and will continue to play him there regardless of his form, he will also remain the captain.

I completely agree. Sykes is a good backup half. He's ok to have in your squad as he covers a few positions adequately, and I'd say 6 is probably the best of those.

However he still isn't very good. If he's going to be considered our best stand off, then we are going to win absolutely f*** all, even if a much better scrum half comes in.

he was broncos standoff for at least a couple of years round about 2001-2002 iirc

think it tells a tale that we switched Sykes to standoff as soon as Wing signed for japan RU. imo we were counting on Wing coming next year and have been left in position where we need to start looking again. in the meantime we're having a good look at sSkes in the position in case we cant find anyone.