Interesting to see the number of people whose contract is up at the end of this year and whose isn't.

Talk of 'sweeping clean' etc can be difficult if a contract is in place and the guy doesn't want to go - unless there's work on a mutually beneficial deal.

Apart from Gleeson who may be off to Oz, there's quite a lot of guys regularly in the 17 who still have contracts for next year and beyond.


Head Coach: James Lowes 2009
Assistant Coach: Nigel Wright 2009
2. Paul Johnson 2009
6. Lee Briers home grown 2009
8. Adrian Morley 2009 with option for 2010
10. Paul Rauhihi Overseas Quota 2009
11. Louis Anderson Overseas Trained 2009
13. Vinnie Anderson Overseas Trained 2009
15. Paul Wood home grown 2009
17. Steve Pickersgill home grown 2009
18. Mike Cooper home grown 2009
20. Simon Grix 2009
21. Matty Blythe home grown 2009
23. Chris Hicks Overseas Quota 2009
25. Chris Bridge 2009
TBA. Adam Neal home grown 2009

I would keep Bridge, Neal (no idea if he is any good), Hicks, Cooper, Wood, Morley.

Unsure about the Andersons, I am really dissapointed how poor Vinnie has been compared to his time at St Helens. But that may be because of injuries or because Saints are a lot better and made him look better

i would keep the like of bridge and riley and penny hicks morley and higham and all the reserves but the rest i would get their contract and rip it up infront of their faces

All in bold need to go in my opinion and to be honest, i would be happy if they did

I would take Morley up on his option, maybe give Wood and Grix another year, give Cooper, Blythe and Neal a chance to develop, and bin the rest.

Head Coach: James Lowes 2009
Assistant Coach: Nigel Wright 2009
[i2. Paul Johnson 2009 - not sure [/i
6. Lee Briers home grown 2009
8. Adrian Morley 2009 with option for 2010
10. Paul Rauhihi Overseas Quota 2009
11. Louis Anderson Overseas Trained 2009
13. Vinnie Anderson Overseas Trained 2009
15. Paul Wood home grown 2009
17. Steve Pickersgill home grown 2009
18. Mike Cooper home grown 2009
20. Simon Grix 2009
21. Matty Blythe home grown 2009
23. Chris Hicks Overseas Quota 2009
25. Chris Bridge 2009
TBA. Adam Neal home grown 2009

The ones in bold should go, Johnson maybe.

Rah is retiring, so he is going...

totally agree..man out of my own heart...and i would drive half these buggers to the air port free of charge

Get Rid Of Lee Briers You'll Never Win Anything With Him At The Club...
Saying That He's Probably Celtic Crusaders Bound...

Head Coach: James Lowes 2009
Assistant Coach: Nigel Wright 2009
2. Paul Johnson 2009
6. Lee Briers home grown 2009
8. Adrian Morley 2009 with option for 2010
10. Paul Rauhihi Overseas Quota 2009
11. Louis Anderson Overseas Trained 2009
13. Vinnie Anderson Overseas Trained 2009
15. Paul Wood home grown 2009
17. Steve Pickersgill home grown 2009
18. Mike Cooper home grown 2009
20. Simon Grix 2009
21. Matty Blythe home grown 2009
23. Chris Hicks Overseas Quota 2009
25. Chris Bridge 2009
TBA. Adam Neal home grown 2009

The ones in Bold

as far as i'm concerned...And i'd like to add King and Monaghan to the list if possible..

Vinnie anderson was great in his first season for us, then went down hill, seems he kept on going

Its all a bit reminiscent of Cullen taking over in late 2002 and inheriting a lot of players who he had to find ways to get rid of over time...O'Reilly, Laughton, Crouthers, Sturm etc.

I reckon time will be up for Johnson, Briers, Rauhihi, Vinnie Anderson and Bridge. Jury's out on Louis Anderson. It also seems clear that Gleeson and Monaghan want to be granted releases to the NRL, perhaps King as well. It wouldn't surprise me if Reardon's continuing injuries see some arrangement struck for his departure.

If all those players move on then we've got a lot of salary space freed up for some serious recruitment - and I think Smith will make sure we aren't held to ransom by excessive demands like we have been in the past.

There's a decent core of players with which to move forwards in the pack: Front row: Morley, Carvell, Wood, Cooper, Pickersgill, Neal
Hookers: Clarke, Higham
Back row: Westwood, Harrison, Blythe, Mitchell, Grix

Only one or two experienced additions are needed there.

I think its important that we stand by Riley and Penny as we are short of outside backs for the future and they are important. I also think Hicks is worthy of a new deal. But we need to get some quality threequarters in, three or four.

And two new halfbacks are needed - more than likely we need to look at the NRL.

We are obviously dependent on who is available for 2010 and who isn't....we might have to keep on a couple of players that we don't want to simply because we need to fill a position. It's going to be a difficult task but there could be lots of opportunities, and importantly now we have a respected coach in Tony Smith at the helm, we are going to be able to attract the right kind of player.

Would like to see at least 7 of those go.

I would like to see just one of those sacked and the rest wouldn't be influenced by him anymore.

I agree with much of the post, but the bit in bold is what worries me most.

Our last 2 halves have been from the NRL, and they don't always transfer their game that well to the SL - I'm not gonna get into the debate of whether they are 7's or 9's.

One thing that is clear, just signing players who do well in the NRL isn;t a guarantee that they will do well here. We need to be cleverer in our recruitment and sign players who play in the style we want. They may be lesser names, but suit SL's and ours style better (like Grose for example). I trust Smith on this one though.

Lockyer and Dobson. Sorted.

Matt Orford turns 30 and is out of contract this year.
Just a point to throw in there.

I wouldn't mind us going for Michael Witt at the NZ Warriors. He's one of the players whos not a big name but has been a cult hero at all his clubs because he's a 100%er, and he has the Nat Wood thing about him in that he can suddenly pull something off that lifts the team when its a dead game. Also he would be without a doubt the best goalkicker in Super League. He seems to have been around the NRL for a while but he's only just turned 25.

Brian Smith brought him through the ranks at Parra so Tony can always canvas his opinion. In fact the Brian Smith connection will be good because he's still coaching in the NRL, so Tony can get an up to date opinion on any of the signings he's considering, to see whether they are still the business or starting to go on the decline.

Most of the players who Tony Smith has brought over from the NRL have been pretty successful in SL. He brought Brandon Costin over to Hudds, plus Andrew Frew, David Atkins, Troy Stone they were all good especially Costin. He also brought Graham Appo over here, our last Super League 'Dream Team' stand off! Anthony Colella started pretty well but then had a career ending injury.

At Leeds he signed Lauitiiti, Donald, Webb and Kylie Leuluai, they were all good.

The ones who didn't really make it were Ben Kusto at Hudds, and Clinton Toopi at Leeds. Mark O'Neill had an injury at Leeds but then went ok for Hull KR.

I've subscribed to Setanta this year to follow the NRL, which I haven't done for a few years, so I am looking forward to seeing some of these players.

I'm intrigued as to who Smith is going to look to recruit to solve our problems.

Kevin Sinfield is on his way to us next year so a few of these players would have to be let go so we could fit him under the cap.

Wonder what Matt Rodwell is doing these days.....

Chief Executive of the Rugby League Professionals Association

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