Chris Houston being told to look elsewhere by the Knights. 30 years old, if Achurch is being released to go back to Australia a decent, experienced replacement?

Erm, no.

Hardaker
Briscoe Watkins Moon Hall
Sutcliffe McGuire
Galloway Falloon Singleton
Ward Ablett
Cuthbertson

Burrow Garbutt Mullally Delaney

SR: JJB, Keinhorst, Minchella, Walters, Achurch (if doesn't leave).
FR: Baldwinson, Mulhern (possible loan to Hull KR).

We're certainly pretty close to 25 even without Handley/Golding/Lilley. If the squad stays as above we'd have to look at a few more loans for next year.

We'll certainly be lacking the big game nous that's helped us to thrive when things are tight.

We'll probably end up playing without that restraint.

It could be a lean year.

Alternately, we might blow everyone off the park and play some scintillating stuff to boot.

Bring it on.

I make it 27 with Mulhern and Achurch included.

1 Hardaker, 2 Briscoe, 3 Watkins, 4 Moon, 5 Hall, 6 McGuire, 7 Burrow, 8 Galloway, 9 Falloon, 10 Singleton, 11 JJB, 12 Ablett, 13 Sutcliffe, 14 Ward, 15 Delaney, 16 Garbutt, 17 Cuthbertson, 18 Keinhorst, 19 Mullally, 20 Walters, 21 Minchella, 22 Handley, 23 Baldwinson, 24 Lilley, 25 Golding.

That would be my guess if Mulhern is to go to Hull KR on loan and Achurch is to leave.

I thought Minchella had gone/is leaving??

Not certain yet, apparently.

Yes it is

1. Hardaker
2. Briscoe
3. Watkins
4. Moon
5. Hall
6. Sutcliffe
7.McGuire
8. Galloway
9. Falloon
10. Garbutt
11. Ward
12. Ablett
13. Delaney

14. Burrow
15. Singleton
16. Cuthbertson
17. Achurch

That leaves Golding, Handley, Keinhorst, Walters, Lilley, Mulhern, Mullally, Baldwinson and JJB. 26 in total, although I can see Mulhern going on loan somewhere.

It'll also be interesting to see how Stevie Ward kicks on. When he first came on the scene he was talked of in a traditional loose forward way - very much Sir Kev's successor. Since then he's been utilised as a (very good) second row. Be interesting to see if the ball-playing side of his game can kick on and give us a fifth pivot along with Hardaker, Sutcliffe, McGuire and Falloon

You want a fifth ball handler? I'd say you want everyone to be able to pass, but too many cooks and all that.