With Gleeson not likely to be replaced this season and the possible departure of Hoffman (and I fear Richards) we must have a large amount of salary cap available for next year. Assuming Hock plays the back end of the year only 50% of his salary for next year will be in addition to what we are already going to be paying. I for one am happy with the quality of the youngsters and would only look to bring in top quality from down under. However we must have plenty of £££ to offer??

Richards will stay imo and hopefully so will Carmont, Deacon and Coley as we need that experience around the place to give Wane a helping hand.

IMO i think we'll see Hoffman leave and obviously Gleeson has gone already. To come in their place i'd like to see us target a top class right centre and i'd love to see us make a move for an out of contract Steffan Ratchford to come in and add utility value to the squad. He could play centre, stand off, scrum half or even fullback for us and would give us rafts of options.

Signing up Richards is our number one priority now imo and something Leneghan needs to sort sooner than later.

We've already lost Gleeson & Madge this year, and if we were to lose Richards as well we'd be looking at going into next season with the change of a new coach and losing all continuity in the backs (don't forget this could also be carmonts last season).

We need Richards to stop more than ever next year and i'd be prepared to make him our highest earner to keep him. We're already looking at needing to sign a new centre and a FB for next season so lets not end up trying to replace a winger and one of our best players as well. We should ensure Richards finishes his career here IMO as we did with BD.

It's going to be tough to recruit anyone from the NRL to be honest. Certainly players of the caliber Wigan should be looking at. With there salary cap due to go through the roof and the Aussie players know it.

While I agree that Richards is a very important part of the team and a player that we should try to keep, let's not forget that he's just coming back from quite a serious injury. Trying to keep him is one thing, but making him the biggest earner, I'm not so sure, with all due respect to him he's a winger. Look at Goulding last year, if you put a decent winger outside a very good centre then your winger will score tries. That said Pat scored tries last year that I don't think any other winger in the league would have, but does that make him the most important player? More so than O'Loughlin and Sam? The other thing is his kicking, he's the best goal kicker we have, but I don't think he's as good as some would make out.

I'm glad it is to be fair. Rugby League is a great sport - at least one country in the world truly appreciates it.

The sooner it becomes unacceptable to pay s £90k a week to kick a ball the better for every other sport.

Hock will count the same because the cap says that you have to be able to cover him under cap all year even if we are only paying him for 6 months.

We need paaat to sign

surely they will sew up another contract or extension for pat if we have a good season, he is so important to our current team no matter what anyone says.

also, i agree with the above poster, ratchford is a young and talented player, nothing super special but offers great utility value and is going really well at salford this season, as he did do last year. althouhg, is it one of those instances where a player looks better in a poor crowd perhaps? i think not anyway



yep, the issue with hock will not add to next years' cap amount either way as he has to be covered this year so that means he is already covered next year so won't need to use up anyone else's cap space next year, for example gleesons or any other leavers.

we certainly have plenty room even if we just use up gleesons' anyway!

I'd definitely try to get Ratchford. He's a Wigan lad which is a bonus but I think he'd be quality addition and would step into Deacon's shoes nicely assuming that he retires. Think we also need to look at replacing Coley as he as due to retire after last years Grand Final but was persuaded out of it so I reckon he'll be gone too. Not sure if Davies or Crosby will be ready to step in by then

What about Todd carney?NRL career in doubt. Worth a shot?

I think Ratchford is very over rated, and I don't think Todd Carney would get a visa/work permit.

Great player but he was refused a visa a couple of seasons ago.

Mark Gasnier was superb in the St. George v Souths game this morning, he would be a brilliant acquisition. (I can't see it happening though)

Cooper would be more of a realistic target. But he's odd's on to sign a new 1 or 2 year deal to be a one club man.

Anyone want to resign Riddel? He did only sign a one year deal with the Roosters. But it would depend upon the health of his mother and whether she's recovering.

Yes, yes and yes.

In regards to Carney I guess it could be a case of nothing tried nothing gained.

You also run the risk of what he'll get up to off the pitch.

Can't see IL being too keen on the idea of him at Wigan personally, irrespective of his obvious ability.

No thanks.

[urlhttp://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/carneys-career-on-the-line-as-watts-is-charged-with-assault-20110417-1djun.html[/url

Quote ="Lippy" Quote ="LFC warrior"What about Todd carney?NRL career in doubt. Worth a shot?'" No thanks. [urlhttp://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/carneys-career-on-the-line-as-watts-is-charged-with-assault-<a%20href="tel:20110417-1">20110417-1</a>djun.html[/url'" Yes please [urlhttp://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/todd-carney-wins-dally-m-medal/story-e6frexni-1225915576909[/url Top draw player and let's face it we pay players to play and play well. I honestly couldn't care less what they do off the pitch if they turn Daily M level performances out week in week out.

Quote ="Lippy" Quote ="LFC warrior"What about Todd carney?NRL career in doubt. Worth a shot?'" No thanks. [urlhttp://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/carneys-career-on-the-line-as-watts-is-charged-with-assault-<a%20href="tel:20110417-1">20110417-1</a>djun.html[/url'" Yes please [urlhttp://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/todd-carney-wins-dally-m-medal/story-e6frexni-1225915576909[/url Top draw player and let's face it we pay players to play and play well. I honestly couldn't care less what they do off the pitch if they turn Daily M level performances out week in week out.

Good player. But with him addmiting that he has a drink problem, I hope we stay clear.

He will probably interest Kath Hetherington though.

Carney's already had a UK visa application turned down when he signed for Huddersfield.

I would go and pick Ridell up myself if we could get him back. His experience makes a big difference.

Most definately. Hope his mum gets better obviously for reasons other than rugby, but if she was in a better state of health to allow Riddell to give us another year or two it would be amazing. I think if approached he would probably be only to keen to give us another year or two as well given he had to cut his contract short last time out.