What's your opinion on the situation with our forwards? I know there's a few out of contract at the end of the year but if they all carry on as they are, it would be difficult to let any of them go.

Saying that, I still think we are missing a top class prop, which hopefully Maguire will have seen too

Coley to have another 1-2 year deal
Extended contracts for o'carrol + prescott

Fielden to get a 2 year reduced contract
Feka to not have his contract renewed

Id hate to see feka go anywhere else, although i think we would be better off using his cap space for a hard working no nonsense 'enforcer' prop. id be very happy with someone like Andy Lynch although Graham

id have over anyone. Someone from the NRL is also an option as IL said we are NOT at the limit of our quota

coley a 1 year deal
fielden 2-3 years on a reduced contract
o carroll 3 years, really liking the look of him this year.
feka, 2 years on a lower contract.

I can't see Feka being given a new contract. And I think 1 of Coley or Fielden may leave. I'd like to see Ben Davies playing the 5th prop role next season, with a new marquee prop leading the line.

New Prop
Fielden/Coley
Prescott
O'Carroll

Davies.

I agree about a marque prop signing for next year. Despite the vastly improved performnace of Coley and Fielden, we need some real biff back in the front row.

Not sure if this should be in the rumours/siging thread, but found this two posts down on an Aussie board. (apologies but the backs and forwards are listed together) :www.marathonstadium.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7704.

Players off contract in 2010:
Broncos: Ashton Sims, Josh Hoffman, Ben Hunt, Andrew McCullough, Jharal Yow Yeh, Will Tupou, Lagi Setu.

Raiders: Glen Buttriss, Justin Carney, Danny Galea, Marc Herbert, Brett Kelly, Scott Logan, Josh McCrone, Mick Picker, Troy Thompson, Trevor Thurling.

Bulldogs: Brett Kimmorley, Michael Hodgson, Ben Barba, Heka Nanai, Brad Morrin, Yileen Gordon, Danny Williams.

Sharks: Trent Barrett, John Mannah, Ben Pomeroy, Luke Covell, Reece Williams, Kade Snowden, Stuart Flanagan.

Titans: Josh Graham, Mat Rogers, Sam Tagataese, Shannon Walker, Clinton Toopi.

Sea Eagles: Jason King, Steve Matai, Josh Perry, Terrence Seu Seu, Glenn Stewart, Dean Whare.

Storm: Brett Anderson, Aiden Tolman, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Brett Finch, Dane Neilsen, Kevin Proctor.

Warriors: Jacob Lillyman, Micheal Luck, Ben Matulino, Mataupu Poching, Brett Seymour, Brent Tate.

Knights: Wes Naiqama, Ben Cross, Scott Dureau, Cooper Vuna, Ben Rogers, Steve Simpson.

Cowboys: Mitchell Achurch, Clint Amos, Luke O'Donnell, Anthony Watts, James Tamou, Johnathan Thurston, Carl Webb, John Williams, Willie Mason.

Eels: Krisnan Inu, Kris Keating, Feleti Mateo, Eric Grothe.

Panthers: Frank Pritchard, Nigel Plum, Petero Civoniceva, Joseph Paulo, Maurice Blair, Shane Elford, Frank Puletua, Jarrod Sammut, Michael Gordon, Gavin Cooper, Brad Tighe.

Rabbitohs: Colin Best, Rhys Wesser, Luke Capewell, Kane Cleal, Garret Crossman, Ben Lowe, Matthew Mundine, Shannon McPherson, Chris McQueen, Fetuli Talanoa.

Dragons: Neville Costigan, Michael Greenfield, Ben Hornby, Luke Priddis, Jarrod Saffy.

Roosters: James Aubusson, Anthony Minichiello.

Thought someone posted a while back that Hock was smashing the weights and was a possible prop in the making. Would deffo put some extra aggression back in front row.

Barrett and Logan pls

It depends on so many factors it is difficult to make a decision right here and now. However, if we are going to get a top class forward we need to start making some of these decisions sooner rather than later.

Eamon O'carroll is signed till next season so that's alright.

Paul Prescott will probably get another year to see how he develops. At the moment, he is doing okay. He's not a poor player, but he's not an awesome player either. He fits into the solid category for me. For next season he needs to bulk up a bit more - an area MaGuire has pointed out in the past - and needs to watch some of his loose carries. He doesn't give away silly penalties though and is pretty sound defensively. For next season he will be great as a fourth choice prop IMO. However in future years this might not be good enough with Eamon O'carroll and Ben Davies around the place. So for now I would only give him an extended two year deal.

One of Stuart Fielden, Andy Coley and Feka Paleaasina will leave - maybe even two. At the moment Feka is the one who is most at risk, although that can all quickly change. I still don't think we are strong enough in the forwards. MaGuire has clearly identified this as a weakness before the season started and tried to bulk up a few of our lads & instruct the backs to help take some of the pressure off. It's working, but it would be nice to have forwards who are good enough right from the off. Imagine a big pack backed by the backline we have now. It would be awesome. This wont be popular on here, but I would see all three (possibly) leaving. I know that is a long shot with the Quota coming down, but I can't see us keeping them all. I think there will be some big changes in the playing roster at the club next season, starting with the forwards!

Coley, Feka and Fielden 1 year deals with a second option in our favour. Feka needs time to get back to his destructive best and I am sure he will, would be a shame for him to move to one of our rivals in my opinion.

Bailey to go. O'Carroll to go, tough call but i think we need an enforcer Prop, and I do not see room for 3 young Props in the team.

Frank Pritchard would beef up the pack and would cause teams a lot of problems with his offloading game. He is highly rated in Australia. However the possible return of Gareth Hock has to be considered. Those two players are quite similar IMO.

Ben Cross would be an awesome signing, but I can't see us beating off NRL clubs to get him.

Would rather we keep Bailey then Feka

O'carrol has been far better than prescott this season, why would you let o'carrol go?



yeh hes quality, i dont think he can play prop though, and were not short of second rowers IMO

O'carroll is contracted till 2011.

Prescott, Fielden, Feka and Coley are the props out of contract.

Harrison Hansen and Phil Bailey are also out of contract.

Agreed re Davies - he deserves a shot next season IMO. He looks an excellent prospect.

I disagree they have been pretty similar and Prescott slightly better if anything after getting going after his injury preseason. If you look at the stats thats how it seems aswell.

[urlhttp://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics_player.php?hs1=2010&hp1=2020&hs2=2010&hp2=2304&stat=tries&season=2010[/url

I think people see the effort, commitment and intensity that Eamon puts in for a small prop and they seem to see him in a better light. Prescott always seems to attract a few defenders to put him down and i would image he averages more metres per carry.

If it was upto me i'd let Feka go although i like the guy and he is a decent player aswell as Bailey. Then bring in a top quality enforcer prop Ben Cross would be perfect and then maybe L Bailey.

Cross Riddell Fielden/Coley
Hansen Tomkins
Lockers

Prop - Fielden/Coley, Pescott, O'Carroll, Davies.
Second Row - Mossop, L Farrell, Tuson, Walker, Holland.

I'd liek to keep both Coley (1 year) and Fielden (2years reduced) if poss it would then give us options next year to be able to rest our top props against most opposition in the league whereas this year i dont think we can risk it very often.

Harrison Hansen - 2 year deal with a 3rd in favour of us
Paul Prescott - 2 year deal with a 3rd in favour of us
Andy Coley - 1 year deal with a 2nd based on appearances
Phil Bailey - 1 year deal with a second in favour of us (will combine playing,though not a lot, and assistant u'16s coach)
Iafeta Palea'aesina - Harlequins/Hull FC/1 year deal with 2nd in favour of us*
Stuart Fielden - Wakefield/1 year deal with 2nd option in favour of us*
George Carmont - Current deal will trigger 2nd year option
Michael McIllorum - 2 year deal with a 3rd in favour of us
Karl Pryce - Salford
*Whoever performs most consistent from now untill the end of July gets the contract

Signings :-

Josh Perry - 2 year deal with 3rd option in favour of us
Michael Shenton - 4 year deal
Brett Finch - 1 year deal with 2nd in favour of us

After looking into my crystal ball I foreseen the above, bookmark it and see what happens eh?

Them stats show that Prescott is doing much more work in defence.

It also shows that its a myth that Prescott drops the ball so much. Yes he could do with tightening up his carry but he's no worse then any of our other props.

All of our props seem to drop the ball much more than they should.
I think Prescott used to lose the ball a lot more than he has done this season.

If we play our cards right I think we have a big chance to upgrade the squad this offseason. We have a lot of money tied up in people like Fielden and Pryce, which could be used elsewhere (not that Fielden hasn't been very good for us this year, but he's got little time left and he's earning a packet).

I imagine Maguire has an idea of who he wants to keep and who he wants to bring in already. I shudder to think how good this team will be when he gets his own squad.

Pryce is not on big money. Fielden and Feka are, and at least one of those two will certainly go. If Pryce does go then I would expect his money to be used to upgrade some of the contracts of the younger players.

An open question - Would you release Harrison Hansen & Phil Bailey for Jamie Langley?

No

No way.

I'd not swap him for hansen never mind the two