Gale is an interesting one. He obviously needs to deliver quickly, but sounds like Hodgson is concerned he'll overdo it - said this earlier in the week: “He’s excited. The important thing for Luke is to not play the game too many times in his head before he gets to it.

“Five weeks out has been a long time for him and he wants to contribute to our performance as well as everyone so he needs to make sure he’s ready to go on Thursday and not today.”

I honestly think Lovodua offers way too much energy and work rate to be left on the bench has to be our starting Hooker eventually.

Would love to see a ball playing 13 to compliment Cator when he's back, someone like Tyrone Peachey

I still think Griffin will end up in the pack.

Had alot of potentially good centres in Wynne, Mitch, Scott, Walker and Ferreira.

That could be an option to replace Ma'u.

I also prefer Lane out wide than through the middle, suits his running game, his best game this year was Salford when he was playing wide.

I'd forgotten about Ferreira. Anyone know how he's doing at London? I can't find their match reports so I don't even know if he's playing.

We should be making a play for Jack Broadbent if he can't agree a deal with Leeds

Think we need a Fullback, halfback and Hooker.

Release Shaul, Reynolds, Gale, Ma'u and Houghton.

If Trueman rumours are true he plays halfback with Connor.

Overseas fullback and hooker.

Replace Johnstone and Bowden internally with academy players.

1 New FB
2 Swift
3 Mitch/Wynne/Scott
4 Carlos
5 Mcintosh
6 Connor
7 Truman
8 Evans
9 Lovodua
10 Satae
11 Griffin
12 Savelio
13 Sao

14 Brown/Fash/Taylor
15 as above
16 Lane/Cator
17 New hooker

Go with quality over quantity and start using the academy players, this is the Saints model.

AP was quoted as saying he'd told BH there will be no new players next year, I posted the link but it (my post) was deleted for some unknown reason.
I haven't found the original.

Personally I'd keep Ma'u, I think playing Griffin in the back row to replace him is a downgrade.

John Davidson pushing the Trueman rumour.

Id doubt that very much, probably be reduction.

If so might as well start blooding young players now and build for 2/3 years.

We have 3/4 underperforming high paid players.

Wonder how many matchs Gale needs to get a new deal, not sure extending it is in the clubs best interest?

He hasn't exactly set the world alight so far but I'm willing to give him a run of 5 or 6 games before making a judgement.

I think that's fair enough, only play 3 and a bit games, need to impress soon though as don't want to be stuck with him.

Not 100% on Truman, the question has to be, is he an improvment on Reynolds and I think he us, looking at thecstats, Truman is superior in attack and particularly defence.

Younger, quicker and probably on less money.

Gives us a quota spot to play with.

I like Ma'u,but think it could be a season too long (We kept Manu and Mini a season too long) think we are OK in the bavkrow with Lane, Cator, Savelio, Severs, Griffin and even Sao, his salary and cap could be used a more pivotal position.

He'll be here next season as will Lovodua too.
Time to say goodbye to Shaul,Bowden, Reynolds and Johnstone.

Wynne, Scott and Mitch t to stay too hopefully.

Tough one on Ma'u as really do like him and he's been outstanding since coming back as well as the last half of last season. i know he's very highly thought of by both the players and coaching staff. 100% professional on and off the pitch.

Torn on Houghton and Gale but wouldn't be surprised to see them both here next season.

Gale automatically gets a new deal if he reaches a set number of appearances doesn't he?

For me it would be disappointing if we did sign Truman as despite all his early promise he's done very little since and had major back concerns. Is Truman the type of signing that will improve us enough to seriously challenge, would St's, Wigan or Catalans sign him for example? In my mind no.
I know there are no guarantees when it comes to players look at Leeds with Austin and Sezer (mind you neither for me have done that much in SL).
Cas fans don't seem to have been overly impressed with him for a while either.

One thing we have to find though Chris is players with real pace.
ball handling is one part of game but todays players need to have have speed especially at full back.
Connor at full back with his one good game in four is not good enough and his lack of pace has been really shown up lately.
Maybe we have to give him a run at 6 and bring back Shaul or Wynne/Litten at full back.

Have you watched Trueman this season he's been very impressive for Cas, I've watched a few of there games and his support play is brilliant, nits things together well and solid in defence, I wouldnt say he's done very little so far this season after his pre season back operation. His stats are far more impressive than Reynolds and be cheaper wage as well as freeing a quota spot. He d bring the support play we've missed since Kelly left.

Id be happy signing Trueman and also using Reynolds quota spot to sign an organiser/kicker to play alongside him. I've not seen Gale bring any structure or organisation yet, although that could change.

Mau and Houghton will be knocking on 35 come start of next season, I'd let both go and reinvest the wages especially Houghtons, if Balmforths seriously thought of fair enough we have a ready made bench Hooker. We could use the cap for an over seas loose forward in the Peachey mould or a second row.

I agree we are missing genuine pace, in fairness to BH he has tried to rectify that as quickly and as much as possible given the limited options/movement due to the previous coaches signings.

I just find it strange that we don't seem to utilise the forwards and get them to do more in terms of carries, instead we still seem to have the same ideology from the Radford days of getting the backs to do a lot of the work only they are half the size compared to Fonua & Faraimo. As for Gale & Reynolds I think need a run of games together which they haven't had yet and had little time together in pre season.

We aren't going to challenge for the GF o present form but we should be able to at least compete, yet we still seem to suffer the same issues of inconsistency, mental readiness/attitude and shooting ourselves in the foot by indiscipline, lack intensity and lazy or slow line speed.

I watched a little bit of Truman but can't really say he's been that good even in a very poorly performing Cas, I'm not saying he's a poor or bad player but just not sure he's a player that will significantly improve us enough and would the St's, Wigan or Catalans sign him. If we do indeed sign him I hope he does turn out to be a great signing but the jurys out for me.

Yes, if he hits a certain figure the deal renews. He mentions ten here but it's not clear if that's the actual number.

[urlhttps://www.totalrl.com/luke-gale-explains-contract-clause-and-why-he-could-finish-career-at-hull-fc/[/url

Can't disagree with much of that.

As you've mentioned Shaul,Bowden, Reynolds and Johnstone should be released. Ma'u too for me. Mini and Sika went 1 season too long, Manu would probably fall into that category if we extended.

I'd release Houghton and try and sign a hooker/half from aus. Someone in the Nikorima mould and probably keep Gale.

We should be keeping an eye on Jack Broadbent and Tee Ritson too.