Would love Gallen as well.



Ratchford will be FB long term.



So that leaves us with replacing Briers which I still think is sort of impossible.

they would be really good acquisitions

































If we have ambitions of finishing mid table.

We often see things the same way. I'd add a quality ball playing LF to that list too.



In other words most of our spine 1, 6/7, 13 needs replacing.



I do worry about 2013/14.

1 = Ratchford

6/7 = Myler/O'Brien - Though bringing in an experienced half may be required to replace Briers. Both players will have had a further experience/tutelage.

13 - Harrison/Grix



I don't think it is that desperate a situation, it could be a lot worse.



Obviously, Briers' replacement, be it internal or external is the biggest consideration.

I think we already have that in Grix.



If Briers weren't to be here next season (and I would sob myself to sleep at night if that happened) I think a nice marquee NRL signing would be good to bring on the Myler/O'briens of this world, someone in the mould of Thurston would be nice

i think we are now in a position where we don't need massive changes just tweeks so if gallen came in then an aussie would have to go so i will pressume hodgson.



fb - ratch 1st choice riley backup



wings - j monas, riley 1st choice evans, williams and helewell back up



centre - atkins, bridge 1st choice blythe, evans and shaw backup



halfbacks - briers, myler 1st choice o'brien, ratch back up



props - carvell, hill 1st choice wood, cooper, harrison, gallen back up



hooker - m monas 1st choice higham, dwyer backup



2nd row - westwood, waterhouse 1st choice harrison, tyke, blythe, currie, grix, laithewaite backup



loose - gallen 1st choice grix, harrison, cooper, currie back up



plus the acadamy products out on dual registration i think we are more than covered for next season

Thought we still had a spare spot as we didn't replace King on the Quota? As Waterhouse replaced Anderson.

thought quota went down

Dave Taylor.

I'd forget trying to get any NRL players - salary cap increases there will see anyone decent enough to improve our squad staying firmly put. The NRL teams are sorting there squads already for 2013 & shuffling players around looking beyond that. Given that they are also looking to improve squad depth the players left over after that i'd be reluctant to go after.



You'd need to be looking closer to home at the like os Dureau, etc

...is an absolute monster with a good pair of hands, can't see him leaving Souths though, they're building something there.

I thought he'd already signed for Gold Coast for next season and beyond. Ben T'eo in to replace him.

No point wasting your money on him when Gareth Hock is a better player.







Rock 'n' Roll

He did, for four years. I think there is still ongoing concerns about the Titans finacial viability.

True, but i'm thinking they'll be a long queue of NRL clubs ahead of any clubs here if he becomes available, especially with the increased cap.



Simple fact is he's too good a player to be wasting his time over here.

This. I can't see any decent half backs leaving Aus anytime soon but I maybe wrong. Say if Carney goes out and gets bladdered again for example... And why would Gallen leave Aus? NSW captain and shoe-in for a test jersey? Only Matt King comes to mind who give up those to come over here and the SC increase will kill that prospect.



Dureau has just signed a 3 year deal at the Dragons hasn't he? So that's him out. In terms of half backs, who else from SL is there? Smith snapped up by Wigan. McGuire and Lomax won't leave. Chase? Brough? Hence why I said Luke Gale. Only 24 and he's improving year on year. Yet still a good back up for Myler & O'Brien who really should be our future.



In terms of a 9, Roby won't leave Saints. McIlorum nailed in a pie shirt. Henderson has extended his contract too I think? Hence probably why we wanted Daryl Clarke, but I really rate McShane since I saw him tear strips off our U20s last year. Higham must be nearing his sell by date too, maybe one more year so Dwyer takes that spot eventually.



There isn't enough top quality players for 14 teams IMO, especially in the key positions 1, 6, 7 & 9. Hence why I'd be happy with the players I picked. It's a tough one, especially when you rule out anyone currently in the NRL.

Regardless, it has never been Tony Smiths style to ever bring in more than 2-3 players and he has taken of late to looking around the English game.



Maybe we should have faith in the Academy system. However, I don't fancy us playing with both Myler and O'Brien in tandem partnership.





( what about Dobson? To me he is the nearest thing to Briers in SL..)

Agreed, I'd take Dureau too.

there's diet coke all over my work's computer keyboard! your a bad man PY!



ROCK N ROLL indeed!

Sam Tomkins and Gareth Hock. We could erode the power of our immediate rivals for our own benefit, just like we did when we took Nat Wood and Westwood off Wakey when we were fighting them for relegation.







Violin Concerto

Well as we move towards a hybrid RL/RU game Tomkins will be doubly useful with his Barbarian's experience.



I am not sure about Hock though, surely we will need someone taller for the line outs ?

That's it Chaz, it just makes you realise how forward thinking Salford have been getting a full squad of Sharks in.



We must act now as a matter of some urgency less we get left behind in the race for the 8 man scrum-fest

Wire should get in quick with a fast 'prawn sandwich' food stall under the North stand. Plenty of money to be made there.

Lee Briers on a two year deal to finish his career. He's still the best player on he pitch every time he plays. He's got two more years in him easily. This would be the biggest signing of the Winter if we could get it done.

Why would anyone like that come and take a step down in rugby standards and money to play in Super League? Unless of course he wasn't taking a step down in money!