I think we need three, maybe four, really good players to start closing the gap. That probably means two props and one really significant improvement in a spine position. Austin has been good in patches this year, but watching Croft pull us apart last week made clear the gap between goodish and excellent. I'd lose all the off contracts apart from O’Connor, Martin and Johnson.

Same with Dwyer. Who’s better and available to replace both??

If say Johnson replaces dwyer.

I suppose it all depends on what saints have offered dwyer, we can’t force players to stay that are OOC. Id be happy for Deyer to stay but not at any cost or at the hindrance of Johnson’s progression

Yes that’s true. Big big recruitment job ahead for Leeds. Most important in years

Yep. Really got to give Johnson a shot. If he can beef up his defense he does have a selective running game to compliment his excellent distribution. But it really is up to him to prove it to the coaches.

Also rumours Woolf may leave Saints.
If so , what price Tony Smith to replace him?

I don’t think that would be a good fit.

Rumour is Wellens is taking over

Could be told surplus and free to go. He’d get other offers….

Think Dwyer to Saints will shock a few.

The idea that for two years in a row a player could leave us and go to Saints and many on here welcome it seems quite amazing when you think about it.

Johnson looks a long long way off though imo. it's a big call making him the second hooker next year.

I believe it shows the poor quality coaching set up we've had for a number of years now.. we've not been getting the best out of of a number of players

Honestly don't think we've seen enough to know. If he's really a long way off at 21, when will he be close? He needs a chance this season, especially if Dywer is heading for new pastures.

He's not played a lot of high level rugby though that's the trouble, he's not where he should be at 21. But yes i do agree, lets give him good game time this season, I'm sure we would give even more if relegation wasn't in play.

That's the thing with perennial relegation dog fights. The young lads are never given a proper run. Just think we need to clear out the senior players who keep getting into this mess.

Absolutely. This is another reason why i don't agree with promotion and relegation in RL, it doesn't work. But thats a whole other discussion

100% agree

Hmm not sure. Prefer it on the whole. What’s the point of the Lower leagues if not? Also think the bottom club in SL needs to go and good deterrent…..

No P&R doesn't automatically mean clubs in lower leagues can get into SL, it doesn't have to be a closed shop.

At the moment we have a situation where there's clubs that come up for one season then get relegated, anther one comes up, gets relegated, rinse and repeat. It's no good for anyone, look at Toulouse, what's the point if they just go straight back down, it's shortsighted and holds the game back IMO.

Take this season, we have two clubs in the championship just splashing the cash to get into SL, how is that good for the lower leagues?

im sure this answer have been given many times, but P&R doesn't allow teams to build the foundations for long term sustained growth. Instead they make short term signings in the hope of just surviving the short term. Obviously this does no good for the long term future of the club involved or the game as a whole. It's pretty straightforward really and the game should grow the top division based on more than 1 seasons results in a predominantly part time league. Those promoted at the very least should have 2 years grace from relegation.

So if the newly promoted team finishes bottom, is there no relegation or does 2nd bottom go? If the latter, then surely the panic buying, short term survival approach still exists, it just moves.

Sl should go on something like 3/4 year license cycles IMO. Don't match the criteria, you can't come up or if your in SL and don't match the criteria you're gone. Or it could be finish in the bottom 2 for those 3 years you're gone.

Straight one up one down every year is just pointless if we are serious about developing players and expanding or developing existing clubs.

What christopher said. Though at the very least 2nd bottom would be a team with say 3 years development in super league

Correct. There's just not the money in the game here for Promotion and Relegation to work. Its been in place for a long long time and it's not worked.

Get both Leigh and Fev in to SL with maybe another couple at best and keep the league like that for the next 5 years.
Sad for those outside the SL but revenue and crowds at those teams left behind are unlikely to change anytime soon.
Maybe look at Bradford although they have hardly ripped up any trees lately and possibly York or Halifax as the other 2 teams joining Fev/Leigh.