Lets say you were Tony Smith, in an ideal world where contracts were not an issue who would you release ?

These are the players i would let go:

Lee Briers
Michael Monaghan
Matt King
Louis Anderson
Vinnie Anderson
Paul Wood
Paul Rauhihi
Jon Clarke
Steve Pickersgill
Chris Bridge
Chris Hicks
Paul Johnson
Chris Riley
Simon Grix

If we could find takers for both Monaghan and King then in my opinion we would be getting out of a nightmare situation, the money could be far better spent, it will probably be Lee Briers last season so that one speaks for itself and probably the same with Chris Hicks. Both Anderson`s for me need releasing for differing reasons, Paul Wood has been at the club for a long time but he`s never really fulfilled the early promise of turning into something Sam Burgess like, he`s suffered from a lot of problems with his shoulder and i can`t see him really improving as a player at this stage of his career.

Chris Bridge is one of them talents that is an enigma that will probably not fulfil all the promise mainly because of his rumoured attitude problems, he breaks down injured far too often as well and that isn`t good for the cohesian of any squad.

Simon Grix is another that probably won`t kick on and fulfill his potential due to having a very delicate body that seems to break down more often than the Trotters van.

Paul Johnson is another player thats not good for overall squad cohesian, your just waiting for him to break down injured at any moment, at his peak he was a top class 2nd rower, these days he`s just a poor mans Lee Gilmore that lacks lacks pace and is an injury waiting to happen.

Jon Clarke, he`s the enigma that divides fans opinions. Personally i think everything he does is far too slow and predictable, he will never be the type of player that will get the oppositions defence thinking whats he going to do next, he`s a grafter and little else in my opinion.

Steve Pickersgill, i just don`t think he has it to make a difference.

Chris Riley, i like his attitude and the club obviously means a lot to him, i just don`t think he will ever be the calibre of a Lee Smith where he can play in various positions in the backline and look quality and solid, the errors with him seem to be stacking up.

Personally i would let Kevin Penny go out on loan and take it from there, thats just my opinion based on his overall performances for us, you can never be too confident with him as you just feel that their is a blunder waiting around the next corner.

Briers
Monaghan
Pickersgill
Rauhihi
Louis
Vinnie


Wouldn't want to release too many from the core of the team

Agree with most of the players you'd let go except maybe riley and bridge

surely we have to be realistic about this, even in an ideal world we couldn't get rid of 13 players.

Briers.
Monaghan.
King.

Those 3 would do for me.

Briars
Johnson
Vinny & Louie Anderson
Bridge
Clarke

I would keep monaghan if he played in his proper position of hooker.

Monaghan
V.Anderson
Pickersgill

And if any of the following were to get another long-term injury, then I would release them:

Grix
Bridge
L.Anderson

I`m being very realistic, over half this squad are not good enough to turn us into a club that is consistently appearing in finals. Ive added Paul Rauhihi to the list as i had overlooked him and forgot it was his last year.

There will be a massive clear out come the end of this season.

It will be nice to see tonie bringing in his own men including coaching staff and conditioner etc.

I too cant believe that jimmie lowes and that nigel hawthorne bloke are still employed at the club. It is clear that they made a monumental balls up of the pre season just gone.

Monas
V Anderson
two obvious ones for me

With Rau due to his age not his perormances. Hicks Maybe

Everyone apart from Morley & Hicks. (then obviously the youngsters like Penny, Riley, Harrison, Pickers etc I'd keep to.)

not that realistic, who would play for us?

i don't think we could very easily go out and fill those gaps

however, in a non-realistic world i agree with all of your choices bar riley, wood, clarke, bridge (on the proviso that someone figures out what to do with his talent) and grix

I think you're being harsh on Paul Wood.

Isn't there a rule to have a certain amount of academy trained players from our club in the first team? Wood's a very decent prop and despite the injuries, he's still a good player and I wouldn't like to see him leave.

hicks has already gone. signed for union.

George is still talking as much rubbish as usual.

Who would have Hicks at 32?

although i agree with the hicks to union being nonsense

To answer your question, rugby union would

This is true.

I admit talking absolute rubbish after 10 pints of stout but the thing about hicks is 100% true.

paddy (who knows his stuff) got a call from a contact of his last night.

Everyone who wants to stay, stay, everyone who wants to go, go !

What if they want to stay for the wrong reasons

I cant really see Tony SMith hanging around keeping players who are not happy im just sure he is waiting for the right time to do it.. He cant just get rid of half the team without replacments that would be stupid and i dont thin TS is that kind of bloke.. He takes no nonsense and im sure he knows which players will not be having there contracts renewed.. Players that i would release would be ..

Anderson's x2
Monaghan
Clarke
Briers

Welease Woderick

Which Rugby Union club has Hicks signed for then? Just so I know to be impressed/amused when it turns out to be true/garbage.

No club named, no credibility in my view. Christ, even our rumour mongers are crap!