with new signings and rumours of more signings in the future for next season there will be a very big fight for starting positions. My example would be on the wings, currently Kev penny and Geno are looking to find good form, obviously they both have things to work on but i would like to see atleast one get a starting number next season. with joel apparently moving to the centres will that leave a tom lineham and a rhys evans on the wings? also russel? i cant see him staying with gidley coming to either fullback or halfback or maybe even loose. however if ratchford leaves us then russel staying may be an option. also if our marquee player is a halfback then dec patton, myler or GOB will probably go. There is alot to think about with who stays or goes.

The lesson from this season ,with new format ,is we need a bigger squad with top class cover in all positions ,we need ability to rest players without losing competiveness

totally agree with you there, 100%

Asotasi, Bridge, Wheeler looked nailed on to leave...... possibly Myler.

I haven't hear about Wheels going. He is barely costing us anything presently. He was on a small contract with play bonus like Penny is/was.

contract up at the end of the season though.... really cant see him getting another year

If Monaghan wasn't captain he wouldn't be getting in our team even if he was fit at present because his performances this season and defence for two seasons has been poor.

For me next year I think we'd be stronger playing Russell FB, Ratchford RCentre, with Gidley and Sandow in the halves; or Gidley FB, keep Bridge and play him RC, with Ratchford and Sandow in the halves.

I don't see what Joel will bring to us at Centre.

I've heard wheeler is staying too. Smith rates him just unfortunate with injuries this year.( and other years too)

He's a weird one. There has got to be a medical reason for it. I don't think he's had a serious injury in his career, yet has been available for about 30% of games. Even if he were on minimum wage, you've got to think there would be more value in giving it to a Wire academy player rather than him?

Bridge Myler Harrison Atkins OBrien Laithwaite Asotasi and England can all go for me.

That won't happen though. Too much disruption and not enough good players (available) in this league to replace them.

Wirefan I don't think we will be seeing Laithwaite for a while unfortunately, I thought he was progressing quite well, but he joins another player on the very long term injured list Grix, who had he been fit would have been a good mentor for the likes of Laithwaite.

Jack Hughes from Wigan signed but not released.

Ben Evans could be released, a little more time is being allowed on him before a decision.

Yes I heard Jack Hughes following the injury to Leithwaite last week. Hudds have been shopping for forwards recently. I think he is surplus to requirement in 2016.

It certainly looks like the time to give the younger players a chance...King, Wilde, Livett etc..... That means the likes of the Evans brothers are probably on shaky ground, as they have had a decent period with the first team now. Granted they haven't had much luck with injuries, but you cant keep using that as an excuse... Laithwaite may also have been under some pressure had it not been for that bad injury.

If were being brutal, we could well look at the following players as being potential victims of a rebuild over the next 12 months

Bridge, Asotasi, Atkins, Monaghan, Myler, Evans brothers, Ratchford (off to Wigan), GOB, Harrison, Westwood

Looking at Smith recruitment for next season, we have

Gidley - Fullback/standoff
Lineham - Winger
Sandow - Stand off (if he has signed)
Hughes - Second Row/centre

We obviously need another prop MINIMUM.. we could really do with 2 more, unless Westwood is going to move up to prop next season, in which case we probably need an experienced backrower... if we are tight on cap space and SMith thinks we need more heads, I would expect to see the big earners gone... We already know Asotasi is a goner.. wouldn't be surprised to see Monaghan move on a year earlier than expected as well.

Its deffo going to be interesting... i get the feeling we are going to see a few more players coming in and out before next season starts.

1. Gidley
2. Lineham
3. Joel
4. Atkins
5. Gene
6. Ratchford
7. Sandow

9.Clark
13. Grix

totally agree throw in wheeler as well

Hill & Simms?

A slight scuooifff off topic.
I just went with the backs and pivot forwards. The forwards kind of pick themselves.
Sandow although a hb doesn't posses enough structure as a classic stand off. He is an out and out 7, he is lazy sometimes too, so I wouldn't want to give him a S/O duties.

I hope some of the players don't read these armchair coaches writing off their careers even when they are injured and not playing. Wow.

1. Gidley
2. Lineham
3. Joel
4. Atkins
5. Russell
6. Ratchford
7. Sandow

8. Hill
9. Clark
10. Sims
11. Currie
12. Grix
13. Westwood

14. Dwyer
15. Harrison
16. NEW PROP
17. B. Evans/NEW BACK ROWER

Although until I see Gidley play I'm unsure as to who will be at full back.

Unfortunately ,this is another drawback of the great idea of reducing the number of reserve teams within clubs....decent players still learning the game,but having to move on because clubs can no longer accommodate them.

Ben Evans could be moved out. Joe Philbin could step up to bench prop.

Remember Laithwaite was ever present this season before injury and is still a young player ,I hope he will not be going anywhere

JL is going nowhere but I think it's unlikely he would be match fit at the beginning of next season, hence the move for Jack Hughes.
We have apparently moved in after he had contract talks with Hudds but couldn't agree. Since then they have signed Hansen so that probably seals his exit.

I would guess that Wigan were paying part of Hughes's wages as part of the loan deal, perhaps Hudds were not willing to stump up the difference.