Disagree, but hes definitely fallen down the pecking order.

He was always billed as a cornerstone of our pack and groomed to be a big pack leader for years to come, he looks like he's struggling with the pressure that the entire team has been under for a while now?

Maybe needs a new challenge to rev him up again or there's been something away from the pitch thats taken his focus more I really dont know, but hes not been the same for a while now.

Singleton has the ability and the right attitude, he just has been unable to develop the necessary physicality to take him to the next level

Bailey-esque. Shows glimpses of what he might have been between spells of anonymity with the occasional, niggly, needless penalty thrown in.

Singleton just hasnt kicked on fron his early career promise & he's nowhere near consistent enough we wouldnt miss him or Petaru id happily move both on.

Singleton would be okay if we had three good props but we only have one.So if he leaves we need to bring someone else in of quality but if Merrin stays i'm not sure where we can find a SL based prop?

Agar confirming in league express that club going to go with youth from within.Ferres definitely staying for next season.Prior was only to be a replacement for Merrin who looks likely to come back.So Dwyer and Johnson the 2 hookers

I knew Ferres was staying, it was obvious! I don’t know what to say on it.

I will be very surprised if these are just words though. Especially if Singleton and Merrin are on the way out and Golding already gone. I honestly expect a few changes.

Johnson has played 10 minutes of first team rugby (though granted has bags of potential) Dwyer already shown up for his deficiencies as a starting 9, though good for 10 minutes to confuse the opposition (and his own team). What could possibly go wrong.

Club seems to be tied in knots to me. Only big earner/quota player who wants to move is Merrin, a player who, in an ideal world would stay and who if he does go we'll struggle to replace. Singleton might move, though equally might well not and unless Merrin does go will be replaced by an English player who almost certainly wouldn't be a significant upgrade. Only position where I can potentially see an upgrade coming is hooker and that's if McShane takes Lunt's former spot.

Cant understand this Merrin situation I have sympathy for the man ,but lets face it ,he is going sooner or later. Why not come to some arrangement with him about his contract and move him on? Let's face it even if he returns it wont be for the duration of his deal . That's not an ideal way to build a squad

If Merrin decides to come back for next year cause he can't get a gig in NRL, that will be our 2020 recruitment done i think cause we will be up to our cap space and can only possibly see us bringing in a english hooker on the cheap from SL or championship. If the likes of Singleton and Myler get offloaded we might go for another prop but again it'll be a cheap ish English prop from SL or Championship.

I think if Myler stays he will be given game time at hooker not ideal but I think that is where he'll be used if Gale and Lui stay healthy.

making it up as they go along. most important position on the pitch.
bloody shambles

This is a bit 'out there' as a suggestion - but has Lui ever played hooker before? He seems to have the physicality and potentially the distribution... Would rather have him there than another lightweight like Myler, especially alongside Dwyer.

Agree with comments re Merrin. I think it's good that the club have given him a chance to find a deal, but time should be up now. Either he should agree to being released or come back.

He's a fantastic player, so hope he does stay and commit to the rest of his deal, but if not let's cut our losses and move on. Club needs to take back the reigns on the situation.

I suspect the lack of news re Ferres being retained or released is linked to Merrin. Their probably nervous that if Merrin goes late it could be hard to bring in another back rower and therefore they’re holding fire on Ferres

Agree with the above. Going into the season with only Dwyer/Johnson at 9 would be massively negligent.

However I still think we will bring a hooker, no idea who though.

Can people please stop saying things like "put Myler or Lui to 9" its a vital specialist role and needs sorting out with real quality. Its become a farcical position for us.

I agree we will then be very light in the back row.If Ferres does resign I'm sure it will be on vastly reduced terms.

Having just read that article, I can't see where he says Merrin is likely to come back, however he makes it pretty clear they are going to give McClelland a go at hooker aswell as Johnson.


And it does confirm Ferres will be at the club next year, which rightly or wrongly I always thought would be the case.

I think everyone agrees. Problem is that as things stand, we can't import. Hence the lateral thinking by some and why McShane is being mentioned by others.

Exactly. There's a big difference between saying we *could* explore moving players around to make the best of the contracted squad, and that we *should* do it. It would be great if Myler moved on and we had enough cap space to sign a top hooker, but needs must if there isn't cap space. Agree on the importance of the hooking role, esp. now half back has been sorted (in theory, at least).

Can't believe we'r keeping ferres on, he's absolutley useless. Any gametime he gets infront of Muizz, Trout, Walters or Smith is a complete waste. If he's on a tenner a month its too much.

The coaching team must think Walters,Muizzi and Trout are not ready for SL at this present time.