[url=http://www.thereddevils.net/news/post/hood-and-menzies-releasedBoth Released[/url

Interesting.

I'm presuming that we may have another hooker lined-up?

Would seem strange if we didn't. Losing a forward and a hooker when we are light in these areas to start with.

Seen this earlier on Twitter, I really hope this is because we've got two higher calibre players coming in to replace them.

As I and most others have said I would've preferred to see Hood stay, but maybe Sheens sees Lee's versatility as a bonus, I couldn't see any other reason.

Interesting to see Hoods going to Aus to further his career, wonder if this has been Sheens doing for his development with a possibility of coming back in a couple of years.....who knows.

To quote Butcher, interesting and strange.

I would have assumed that the squad must be close to completion if not completed: the time left to input a player is shortening : unless we get someone already training with a club, there must be a delay in getting that person to the expected level of fitness and acumen expected to fit into the squad.

I am perplexed but, as usual, the Chinese saying fits Salford: "May you live in interesting times."

really rated Hood, gave us something different when he came on always made great little scooting runs. Cant imagine he's on mega money so its a really odd decision. Im still worried about our prop and hooker positions I think one injury in either position and were in deep do do.

In agreement with you all gents, really can't see Sheen's (surely he would have been in his ear saying give it another year here then go) agreeing this without backup on its way. It would be nice if they gave a little more info if that turns out to be the case. There has to be ways to allow more cap surely (but i ain't no maths genius !) want top 8 not bottom 4 man!

We will really miss Hood's speed at the play the ball giving us go forward, along with his darts from dunny half. I hope it was his decision to leave and wasn't pushed, he was the potential to be a top class hooker and no doubt will be picked up somewhere in Aus.

Does this mean its a shoe in, that they are being replaced by Robbie Farrah and Paul Gallan.
Now that would make sense. I could live with that

Surely a quality hooker and at least one senior prop must be in the pipeline. I'm quite happy with all the other areas of the squad but the front row looks weak to me and every other Salford supporter I've spoken to recently.

Can't understand Hood going, seemed to offer a good deal going forward and was for me much better than Tomkins, can only think if there isn't a replacement that Jospeth will be playing back in his old position, hope not as if anything he is a low minutes high impact forward.

If we don't have this front row problem covered, I predict we'll be frantically searching for a few loan players after 3-4 weeks of the season starting.

Nobody else thinking Tommy Lee might be playing 80 minutes next season? He's more than capable of it, but you just wont get the high speed spells from dummy half that Hood provided. We don't know what game plan Sheens and Watson have in mind next season, but it is seemingly looking like one which means we'll be solid and difficult to beat.

Matty Wilkinson was the best player in the U19's last season, no doubt he's ready to make the step-up and assume the coaching staff think the same as he has now signed a full-time contract and joined the first team.

Do we think with the significantly reduced cap that the team we have or are putting together (i'm not sure at this late stage if we still are) is capable of improvement on last year, because that's what we want? Well i'm not at all sure tbh and am concerned by the gaps we have in certain areas and as mentioned by others, unless these are covered gambles may take place and that is concerning. (wonder if TS new he was facing a vastly reduced cap?)

I've been thinking regarding this hooker situation and i reckon it will be a shared role between Lee, Lui and O'brien. alternating whilst bringing through the U19's kid.

But FS is it going to be enough to see us in to the top 8 or struggle down the bottom again, personally I can't take the stress of that again it was a nightmare i'm sure for all. really annoyed about the salary cap situation this season and fed up of struggling even with a full cap last year for other reasons. I hope we have a flying start and do really well, but the restrictions are in place already.
Anyone know if the cap can be increased during a season?

Kopczak's a decent signing and we have a few with potential to improve but it resembles a Championship level front row to me. I can't see Phil Joseph setting the world on fire, can you? Marwan may well be saving a few quid but we can all kiss goodbye any hope of a top 8 finish.

8. Kopczak
9. Lee
10. G.Griffin
11. Murdoch-Masila
12. Flanagan
13. Hauraki

I think that's a pretty solid and hard working pack. One thing you'll get from each of those players is 100% commitment, something we lacked last season. On paper it's worse than the 2015 pack, but if anyone knows RL isn't played on paper it's Salford fans. All of those players also have the capability of playing 80 minutes, my only concern is with Murdoch-Masila who needs a big pre-season to get himself back in shape and full fitness.

Where we appear to be lacking is the interchanges, Krasniqi I am more than happy with but then Joseph, Forster, A.Walne and J.Walne are not top 8 quality. I am sure we've got a couple more additions to make hence the release of Hood and Menzies.

Yeah. The forward line-up, to me, is 'competent' but thin.

I think there's a number of young lads and established forwards at the Club who could move on to the next level, but that's up to them. You're only as good as your last performance so I'm hoping that a number of lads get the bit between their teeth and prove a lot of us wrong. I'd feel a bit happier if we could bring in a couple more established forwards to strengthen the ability of the pack. I don't have the same feelings with our backs, who on paper (There's that pesky paper again...) are more than capable of holding their own against anyone if they gel properly.

If we could get someone like Ferres, it would significantly bolster us up front and make me feel a bit better. Scott Taylor's departure will be a hard void to fill this season coming.

I think the forwards will line up like;

8. Kopczak
9. Lee
10. A Walne
11. Flanaghan
12. Hauraki
13. G.Griffin

14. Masila
15. OBrien
16. Krasniqi
17. Forster

I'm also hoping we don't play George at prop not big enough for me so ideally he will be suited to play at loose forward. Still feel were 3 players short back rower, prop and hooker! If Lee gets injured what happens then another loan signing!

The pack is poor, it's very workman like, but there is very little quality in there. The depth of the pack is also a concern, if we get 2 or 3 injuries this year then we're going to struggle. I dread to think what will happen if we have anything like last years crisis. I still think we need a prop, a second rower and hooker.

For me having Gareth O'Brien on the bench is a waste of bench spot as he's 150% not a hooker. I know the game has changed, but I'm concerned that we're going into the season without a recognised 9. Tommy Lee started off as a halfback, then his arms got massive so they put him in the pack. I like his work rate, but he offers 0, zilch, nothing in attack.

On a more positive note the backline looks strong and we have two huge wingers. I'm just concerned they will be drawn into doing the job of our props getting us out of yardage because the props we have whilst workhorses won't be busting tackles or making massive meters forward. In an ideal world we need the pack to take us forward then give it our massive wingers in good ball and let them do the damage near the opposition try line.

As has been commented it resembles a championship/competent line up that will give its all but whether its enough to compete against top eight sides i doubt it. There's a few in there but not enough experience.
I thought we were building especially after last years disaster. Not with these players and it seems on this basis we are never going to.

If we can get them working together like the 2006 side then who knows, although the 2006 side did have some go forward with the likes of Rutcho , Coley and Haggerty from the bench. Also Sibbit (when fit) used to hit good lines as did Finnigan.

Only time will tell I suppose

I really hope they prove me wrong but I can't see anything other than our pack being dominated. Too many average joe castoff's for me that aren't physically capable of getting over the advantage line. Every team needs forward momentum but I can't see where it's going to come from?

On Phil Joseph's Wikipedia page it says he can play and has played hooker so maybe the plan is for him to spell Tommy Lee at times during the game now Hood has gone?

On another point though, I've been thinking about Big Phil's role a lot and although more recently he's been an out-and-out prop I'm starting to wonder if it might be worth us playing him off the bench as an impact back-rower? He's not just the biggest player in our squad but also one of the biggest in Super League and if he is running in wider channels at typically smaller men his impact on the game could be devastating!

Off the bench I could see him as an impact player. As a back-rower? I'm not so sure. I don't think he has the pace to punch holes, break and put someone away. I can definitely see him as impact off the bench. Trouble is, with reduced interchanges, I think this kind of tactic needs to be applied with care from the backroom staff.