i dont think Lawrence has moved down the pecking order as such i just think he will now be used in the second row and will get plenty of game time over the season

He will,as unfortunately injuries are inevitable.

However there is form, with Andy R having signed a 3 year deal last year...

No No No No

we need a proper class 6 or may as well keep Brown there

Not good enough for top 8 IMO, every other club has got stronger not sure we have

why be so negative. Which teams have significantly strengthened. i would say only Wakefield and they were so far behind anyway that they are not really a threat.

The only major loss to the side is Griffin while we have brought in two quality players and some other who have potentail and will give the squad depth. When you have your 1,6,7,9,13 all tied up to long term contracts then you are not going to see massive changes to the side.

^ this.

Warrington have lost King,Clarke and Anderson while in the likes of Hodgson Briers and Morley they have a lot of long in the tooth players in key positions
Saints have lost Graham who will be a massive loss and Pryce and brought in a couple of decent overseas players but i would not say they are stronger.

Wigan have lost Coley, O Carroll, Deacon and Hoffman and Joel Tomkins is rumoured to be going to union

Leeds have lost Buderus and Lautiti

Hull have signed a few but have also lost a lot of quality Fitzgibbon long ect

i could go on. i fail to see any side who are making significant improvements to their squad.

Murphy did start out at Leeds but moved to wakey academy where he was developed from academy to a SL regular. So even though io agree he started at Leeds academy I believe we had a big hand to play in his transition from academy to regular SL. Because of this I will follow his progress.

As for hudds 2011 season it's a similar season to our playoff birth a few years ago. I hope you kick on better than wakey did. Hopefully we will be more of a challenge for you this year and won't roll over

.

As for your enthusiasm it's something as a wakey fan that 2011 has knocked out of me but it's slowly returning

There will be players that exceed expectations and players that don't quite live up to them in every squad in the league. Tonks could turn out to be a cracking signing. Doof may stay fit all year and tear up trees. LO'D could get back and smash it up every week. I think injury wise we're due a bit more luck next season, for whatever reason we suffered as the year went on.

The squad we have IMO is easily top 6.

decent team that, although id like to see murphy ahead of grix at full back. and george on the wing

but more likely is the scenario you say with him doing what lawrence was doing.

Is Scott Grix your new David Hodgson

nah ... just think we can improve in the full back area!

good player grix but not the best in defence...murphy is supposed to be rock solid

Yes and Murphy is supposed to have a lot of improving to do in attack.
Grix is no worse a defender than Brett Hodgson was. He offers us a major threat in attack and for me i would say there are only a couple of fullbacks in super league i would swap for Grix.

yes murphy says he needs to improve in attack

disagree grix is a major threat in attack, compared to brett hodgson when he came in to the line that was a major attack threat.

compared with the teams that finished above us and the grand final winners i think we can improve at full back

Webb
tomkins
hodgson
wellens

grix not in the same bracket for me, was good the first half of the season but dropped off the 2nd half just like a few others though! lets hope he improves next season but nathan brown is bringing in his options if he thinks we need a change i.e Murphy & Eden

Webb can be brilliant but is also often a liability. He comes up with the odd moment of brilliance mixed in with a lot of schoolboy mistakes.
Tomkins and Hodgson are the stand out fullbacks and Wellens is not far behind but i am more than happy with Grix.

Thought I'd start out negative next season and get more positive as it progresses rather than the other way round.

I thought we'd do big things this season just gone, not gonna fall for that one again

It says a lot of how badly we were suffering at the end that players have turned down England chances this week. Eorl, fergi, jerry, Patrick, Bruno, - Lunt would have been in there too.

My money is on Saints next year, another year under Royce, their youngsters getting even better and a full preseason with Gaskell and Lomax in the first team will do them good, still have a formidable pack and to say they went the whole year without their first choice 6 & 7 they have been outstanding!

Many a true word...

agree... but are saints replacing graham? will leave a massive hole. puletua was rumoured to be leaving too but he signed a new contract luckily for them!

Not 100% mate to be honest, he is a huuge loss for them, never seen a player with as much desire and commitment. Graham Roby Puletua was the best front row in the league last year in my opinion, dont know who will be the one to try and fill his boots!

Saints have signed Anthonhy Laffranchi (spelling?)
to replace Graham and will also have Josh Perry back.
They have also signed Lance Hohaia and Mark Flanagan so will be strong

Yeah i didnt know if Laffranchi was prop or second row..... either way they look good!