Let's try lift the mood a bit! Was talking to a mate last having a pint he said at fev last week there was talk we only currently have 8 players signed up for next year, off top of my head I counted

Moss
Clare
Caro
Chisholm
Welham
Sidlow
O'Brien
Ryan

Obviously Leon returning would make 9. Does anyone hope Rohan Smith adds to this from outside or after 2 years of underperforming is there anyone else from the current squad you'd consider keeping? Personally I'd look at kavanagh, Pitts (if he can regain his form of last year) but beyond that I'm struggling

Last count we have 22+ signed up for next year

28 if I remember green saying with a few spots for the right players?

2017 SQUAD

Kieren Moss (Fullback) 2017
Omari Caro (Winger) 2017
James Clare (Utility Back) 2018
Kris Welham (Centre) 2017
Ethan Ryan (Winger / Centre) 2018
[iLeon Pryce (Stand Off) 2017 - New Signing[/i
Dane Chisholm (Scrum Half / Stand Off) 2017
Ben Kavanagh (Prop) 2018
Adam O'Brien (Hooker) 2019
Adam Sidlow (Prop) 2017
Alex Mellor (Second Row / Loose Forward / Centre) 2017
Kurt Haggerty (Second Row) 2018
[iPhil Joseph (Prop / Loose Forward) 2018 - New Signing[/i
Joe Lumb (Hooker) 2019
[iJason Walton (Second Row / Centre) 2018 - New Signing[/i
[iJon Magrin (Prop) 2018 - New Signing[/i
[iAlex Foster (Centre / Second Row) 2018 - New Signing[/i
Joe Keyes (Scrum Half) 2018
[iIliess Macani (Winger) 2018 - New Signing[/i
[iRoss Peltier (Prop) 2018 - New Signing[/i
Vila Halafihi (Hooker) 2017
Johnny Campbell (Fullback / Winger) 2017
James Mendeika (Utility Back) 2017
Oscar Thomas (Stand Off / Fullback) 2017
Ross Oakes (Centre) 2017
James Bentley (Second Row / Loose Forward) 2017
Liam Kirk (Prop) 2017
Brandon Pickersgill (Fullback / Stand Off) 2017
Josh Rickett (Winger) 2017
Brandan Wilkinson (Second Row / Prop) 2017


CONFIRMED LEAVING BEFORE 2017
Jean-Philippe Baile - Released Mid Season
Matty Blythe - Joining Warrington
Lewis Charnock - Loan Ended, Joining Barrow
Steve Crossley - Released
Dan Fleming - Joining Toronto
Stuart Howarth - Loan Ended
Rhys Lovegrove - Retired
Richie Mathers - Released
Joe Philbin - Loan Ended
Jay Pitts - Joining London
Adrian Purtell - Joining London
Etu Uaisele - Released, Going Back Down Under
Lucas Walshaw - Joining Dewsbury
Danny Williams - Released
Danny Addy - Joining Hull K.R.
Mitch Clark - Joining Hull K.R.

OUT OF CONTRACT AFTER 2016, FUTURE UNCONFIRMED
Paul Clough - Rumoured Huddersfield
Dale Ferguson - Rumoured Huddersfield
Lee Gaskell - Rumoured Huddersfield
Epalahame Lauaki
Tom Olbison - Rumoured Batley
Jonny Walker

From that list I'd be trying to offload Lovegrove, Halafihi, Campbell and Mendieka.
Also rumours of Purtell calling it a day but we'll see if he makes an appearance between now and the end of the season.

Hopefully we can retain Pitts and Olbison. Not sure what's happening with Danny Williams?

Rumoured signings so far:

Leon Pryce
Illies Macani
Jon Magrin

Macani, Magrin and Alex Walker from Broncos.

You are not alone in having to add a fair few players as I can see up being very light. Assuming Wes and Thacks to retire, Slyney back to Aus, the three to you boys, rumour of Bussey to Toronto, Soward (who knows), Stapleton (hasnt played a game all season) .........

Is Alex Walker any good? 21 year old Fullback or Winger, so another very young player that Rohan is bringing in.

I didn't realise that London had signed Dalton Grant. I've always been impressed with him when I've seen him play and someone I had hoped we might try to sign at some point - I think he'll go well in a full time team.

Alex Walker is a guy whose had chances, sometimes gone well (semi v Dewsbury last year) but on the whole seems to have reached the glass ceiling. I rate him higher than Macani.

I like the make up of the squad, maybe the Bulls could dual reg with New Northern and share players who aren't getting game time under Rohan? would make sense for both both clubs to work together.

I think that's your best post yet.

I think that is a fantastic idea. How much are tickets to see the New Nothern (was Bulls yesterday)?

Also if we get there early and bring our boots do we get a game

And if you ask what time is the KO they ask what time can you get there!!

Had heard Lovegrove was retiring due to the amount of head knocks taken. Not sure how true but would make sense, not worth risking more than your rugby career

Ha thats put what i got told out the window haha. Joking apart can see a few of the contracted players leaving going to be very intersting over next few months

Today's fluff piece is about Charnock potentially coming to us properly. I'd like to see us take him on and use him as a ball handling 13, especially if Addy is going and Leon is to come in at 6. That would give us a spine of Moss, Pryce, Chisholm, AOB, Charnock.

I'd still like to use him as a 9. Start him with AOB coming off the bench. It gives good cover then as if one of the halves goes down, Charnock can always move there. If Moss goes down, Pryce could go to fullback with Charnock into halves. If nobody goes down, you get two hookers sharing the role as Rohan seems to want.

Then when one of the halves inevitably ends up injured for a few games, you can move Charnock there and bring in Lumb. Lumb gets some game time to see him improve, without him having to play almost every game, barring a few injuries.

Not sure about playing him at 9. Part of me still thinks we'll end up signing Falloon for next year.
I'd take Charnock as a loose forward though, let him and Pitts share the role (hopefully Pitts stays) and Pitts might end up spending more time in the 2nd row where I think he is more effective.

If there is a next season (not for this thread try all the others) then I think we'll need cover for Pryce (if he does actually come) as he isn't getting any younger and Keyes and Thomas can be inconsistent.

I think Haggerty is good enough to play loose forward for us if we want someone with a bit of ball playing ability there. Personally I'd like us to go with 5 props. 2 in the front row, 2 on the bench and a mobile prop sort of player at 13. We've been out muscled far too often this season and we need to inject some size and aggression into the forward pack.

Don't think charnock is good enough, especially if we sign pryce. The reason he's looking to leave saints is due to a lack of first team rugby. I don't see him as a hooker, as we need to start recruiting players for the positions they're suited if we're going to get anywhere, and we need a much stronger pack so loose is out of the question.

IMO we need an experienced hooker. A Micky higham (if only) type player. Someone who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and guide us from the play of the ball. Too many times do we get a quick play of the ball in good position and go the wrong way or get a slow ball out.

The pack needs strengthening that's for certain. Some big, mean, hard hitting forwards. Every other championship team has plenty who run through us! Featherstone kicked us to death, because they knew our forwards couldn't make up the metres. Pitts isn't good enough, no more of these 'ball handling' back rowers. We need a big, mean pack to punch some holes in the opposition. Olbison and mellor just qualify really.

That and another strong, steady centre would be a great start for next season...if there is one.

I agree. I fear Charnock is really just an Addy mk 2. Jack of all trades.

Olbison has gone backwards this year IMO. In 2015 he looked like he was coming good - this year he's struggled to make ground in attack. Mellor has got a lot of developing to do yet so an obvious keeper.

Agree we need a big mean pack. Clark could be a cornerstone of it. We need fearless, slightly mad players like him.

I've come to accept that Clark is gone after this season. The rumours have gone on for far too long and from so many different sources for there to be nothing in it.

Anyone half decent will be off soon.

And who could blame them?

I have a lot of faults, but one of them isn't being bad at my job. If my employers didn't pay me, I wouldn't be turning up to work. I'd be happy to accept the same position elsewhere for someone who wanted to actually pay me.

I agree.