So none of the stronger teams we wish to emulate? This is my point.

PS - Not sure we can call Wigan a "lesser club" either when comparing against us. We do not compare favourably in either recent league final positions, support base or recent honours.

Thing is though, would Mike Bennett have got into our team when he was still playing? I doubt it. Just because there isn't a clamour by a club with a better team to sign one of our players it doesn't automatically follow that they aren't good enough to play for them.

I meant lesser club as in this years league positions but no i don't think the lights of Leeds and Saints would ever want him.

Here's the myth that the 'stronger' teams have players beyond the bench that are playing for country also?

you have to have players like Wood in your 'squad'.

I personally think he's a talented player, grafts hard, doesnt give too many cheap penalties away and can offload and has a good burst of speed. Im glad he's regaining some form.

Don't see anything wrong in giving him a 1 year deal, with the option of a further 12 months depending on injuries. He's certainly been impressive this season.

We don't want to lose 2 quality props at the end of the season. I would retain Woody, and get a prop in from the NRL. Looking at the players coming off contract, I like the look of Jeff Lima but I'm sure the oracle of Inside Knowledge will let us know who we will be signing. *

* Please do this on the correct thread to avoid the possibility of a ban.

#

Honestly ? I think all would be mildly interested, they'd look at what wage he'd command etc. I could see him ending up at Wigan or Hull KR etc.

I'd give him a contract, no question.

I'd then, not bother looking to the NRL for a prop, I'd try and sign someone like Ferriol or Elima or somebody like that. I'd look to the NRL for a ball playing back rower to replace Louis, like a Puletua.

One more year....

Wood would comfortably hold his own within the top four props of any SL side given the chance to bed in.

But he's well and truly bedded in at Wire and that's why he should stay here - the value of having a player that knows the club inside-out far exceeds that of a player of similar ability brought in from elsewhere.

Woody's always been one of my favourite players - he's honest, consistent, makes 22 tackles a game at 96% and makes 12.6 carries a game, average 7.5m. One tackle-bust a match.

A handful of players with those sort of stats is the bedrock of any successful team, but Tony Smith will know this.

JWP, what if we could get Solomona?

He can't be happy at the Bulls and, although his work-rate is below what you'd like, I was looking at him on Friday night and thinking "only one bloke in white is causing us any problems here, and it's him".

Thinking about the foundation of our back-row, it's Westwood and Harrison with - I would imagine - Mitchell, Blythe and McCarthy working their way into consistent first-team reckoning as this season goes on. So we're fine there.

As you say, then, we need a more explosive player to give us 25 minutes of quality and I see a consistent SL performer like, say, Solomona or Manu as that man. Hull Fc wouldn't let us near Manu though - they're too busy slogging him for 80 minutes each week.

Wouldn't mind a Ali Lauitiiti or a Solomona type player which are handful for the opposition ie good at keeping the ball alive, tough to bring down, great handling skills. However, they are both around the 30 mark and don't have a good history of injuries.

Erm, not sure really. Strange one Solomona isn't he, whether it's him or not, it's that sort of individual that I think we now need. We've got the grafters, but just lack that backrower who can do something a bit special with an offload or a show'n'go etc. The only reason I'd say i'm not sure on him is because he's had a couple of nasty injuries in the past couple of years, add that to his age, you'd be a little worried I think.

Agree completely with your post though, exactly how I see it.

Hock?

3 more years for sure.......

This may sound a bit of a generalisation but, for every good thing he does, he seems to do something really dumb.

PS

I hate generalisations.

I think he probably does 3 good things for every bad one, but yes I know. How old is he?

26/27? Thinking on, I'm not sure his lifestlye suits that of a Smith type signing.

Bit older than I thought. Think Sam Burgess looks like he needs a change.

Definitely. As explosive as Rauhihi, but added endurance. Not the first time we have had a nibble at Burgess either.

Problem with Hock for me is that his work rate is very low. Comparable to Solomona's, and fo me as a 2nd rower that doesn't seem right. His average tackles per match for 2008 was really low, and his average carries was pretty average too.

His errors per carry stat is poor. He made a similar number of errors to Westwood, despite carrying the ball half as many times as him.

Looking at some stats from 2008, based on the 2nd rowers from the top 8, he was by far the most error prone player. He made an error every 9.6 carries, whereas the average for these players was 17.6. When you consider the fact that he doesn't at least make up for this with hard graft in the defensive department, then I don't think he is worth the risk.

We have had a good spell under Cullen where we played a risky style with plenty of mistakes, I am starting to feel more comfortable with more calculated risks, which I am not sure Hock is capable of.

Can't really think of an obvious candidate. I suppose Louis might come good. With Westwood, Harrison, Mitchell you've got a good four there, plus McCarthy seeminlgy almost ready.

I personally think Louis gets unfair stick.

He runs hard, works hard in defence and is happy to get stuck in when it gets physical. It does surprise me that he is so under-rated.

Harrison is getting better, and depending on next year's signings, Johnson could play 2nd row too.

Johnson would give us that bit of explosion/athleticism I think we are currently missing. I am not criticising our current guys, but they are cut from a similiar cloth, grafters. Someone with a bit of footwork and pace would be a welcome addition for mine.

It's a big might. Hopefully he can develop into a good asset under the guidance of Smith, depends what his brother does. As i feel they are most likely to jump ship at the end of the season.

But we could do with something abit creative from the backrow, we have the donkey workers (Westwood,Harrison,Mitchell) saying that Westwood and Harrison are partial to the odd offload. I dunno just something different with good hands, Sinfield would be most ideal.

Would be about 7th choice prop at Saints etc A reserve Grader week in week out. Was good about 4 seasons ago, still does a decent job in a mediocre dire side.

I don't think you can really say that.