Absolutely !! world class scrum half, a centre, a full back and two big go-forward forwards (not necessarily internationals just better than what we have)

I think with the right man in charge, we could do that. There's also Byrne's money and whatever little is currently left.

People seem to think we can strip the team down and replace the utility players with specialists in any specific area, we can't!! If we did have specialists in each position we would only have enough cap for a squad of 19 - 20 which given our injury record is not viable!

A world class scrum half would cost the wages of probably 4 of the players you mentioned. That leaves 3 "average players" wages to cover a new centre and 2 new props better than we currently have? I agree with the sentiment in principle but those players mentioned would not free up enough space and IMO its the higher earners that are the problem and not the cheap squad cover players.

I understand that but we should be able to do a hell of a lot better than what we have. If you compare our squad to the top squads in SL, there is just no comparison in overall quality.

All of the top SL squads have bigger packs than ours, proper quality halfbacks and pacey strike 3/4 players.

Where are we going wrong ???

We have lost only two utility back-up 3/4's in Briscoe and Byrne, since the season started (we already knew about Tony and Raynors long term injuries) and our acadamy is so wonderful, so JR keeps saying anyway, that we now have to go cap-in-hand to Leeds again.

Who are these higher earners that you see as the problem ??

I'm not going to pick on individual players but certain players are earning far more than they are actually worth IMO, they certainly wouldn't be able to get the wages they are on here at any other club IMO.

Players like Lee are cheap and adequate squad cover so I dont see them as a problem in terms of how the cap is spent.

But nobody knows what any of them actually earn ?? I can imagine that we are paying too much for a lot of players but I would only be guessing. I would have thought that the likes of Radford, Cusack and King would certainly fall into that category.

Our last three coaches have given out far too many contract extensions to no better than average players and it will take someone with b0ll0cks to come in and sort it out.

I largely agree, there are at least half a dozen players in the first 20 shirt numbers who I think we could do better than. I've compared our squad to the likes of Leeds before to see where it looks like we've gone wrong. If you try and match up as near to like for like as you can in terms of position and likely ball-park wage seniority, you kind of see where the different attitude to recruitment rears itself.

Although we do have the problem of too many lower earners, therefore some of the cap is wasted. All those little bits could probably be added up to make those upgrades we desperately need.

There is certainly something wrong. It is pretty obvious, when you compare us in the way that you have said, that we just don't match up to a lot of squads in terms of quality.

Some squads seem to be able to have quality right across their squads eg. Leeds, Saints, Warrington and even Catalans, whereas we have a serious lack of quality in three or four crucial positions.

Wire? You're using them as a comparison?

To me, they're an excellent demonstration of how not to do things. They've spent a fortune for years and won fook all. Look at them this season - they're an absolute shambles.

I think when you look at the likes of Hudds and Wakey, they're the ones who have got it right. They have one or two big names, but generally they're made up of decent players who work well together as a unit. Most importantly, they seem to be well coached.

With the players we have, plus Crocker and/or Lauaki and a proper scrum half, we'd have a squad good enough to challenge for a top 3 finish. It would rely on two things though: the right coaching (which we don't seem to have) and a significant improvement in attitude from some/most of the players (which we could have if they gave a s[ih[/iit).

I think that the choice of coach has been poor for a while now probably due to not wanting to spend the money required for a top coach.

As for the players, I would like to see a number of them go because of a) not being good enough b) not giving a $hit or c) both of the above.

Mainly agree about the squad though. The pack wouldn't be a big problem if Crocker and Lauaki were to arrive, although I would still like to see us "swap" a couple of them. A top scrum half and centre are a must though if we want to compete for top three.

Add a centre and a replacement for Tony at FB and I'd say you're bang on.

When you say 'a centre', I assume you mean one to replace Yeaman as the other one will naturally be Whiting.

Whiting is worth his utility alone.

Don`t know about offloading players,personaly I would like Shaun Briscoe back.
(Ducks beneath parapet.)

And on that note,i think we may get a cull at the end of the season with so many players comming out of contract and it cannot come soon enough.

We have wanted a top class scrum half for years,got Dykes who everybody knew was a very big risk and we suffered the consequences.We dithered over Dobson who was soon snapped up by the dobbins who knew what they wanted and paid the going rate to get him.We hung about and got Thorman who i just regard as another utility back.There is just no urgency with this board,and so another season trundles on.

true.. the board wants us to do well but also wants to save the dosh.. and with them making money season after season I guess they find it a pointless thing to do

Simply not true.

agreed completely...this inept board seem to want the glory that comes with a winning team but wont shell out the big bucks to guarentee it...if we do win anything..rule and co will probably treat themselves to a handsome bonus curtesy of our season pass money..

We're spending full cap, or very close to it. The only area the club have scrimped on IMO is the coach.

if thats all we have then for the money theyve spent....why bother.

Well if that's the case then we are paying alot of average players far too much money!

Bingo.

Although TBF, some of those players had folk on here demanding that they be signed/retained 'no matter the cost'...

I wouldn't really say we lack the same quality, it's how it's spread around. When our squad's fully fit, we have a few very good players who won't be in the squad, but not enough top class ones. Whereas the likes of Saints and Leeds have several top-notch players and players capable of doing enough when they come in (and promising youngsters - but we have those as well).



But they don't though. They have the real quality where it counts and the good to average professionals to make up the numbers and do the job. Unfortunately, we have more good to average professionals than we need and not enough cutting edge IMO. As you say, it's the crucial positions we lack.