Taukeiaho confirmed now for catalan. We've known since the off season we need a prop I really hope we're not bargain basement middles territory again.

I think we've found though that it's a risk paying big money for an overseas prop - Tetevano and Merrin case in point.

Is it better to rely on Rohan's knowledge of the Gld Cup to bring over to big-bodied diamond in the rough types. Mik is the superstar prop at the club, we just need some decent sized props to share the workload round.

Peter Smith has gone through a list of 11 OOC players. I only hope nobody at the club agrees re Briscoe, who Smith seems to think should be kept because he's 'experienced'. Its that sort of thinking and lack of ruthlessness that's got us into the state we're in. We shouldn't care about experience but ability. Other nonsense to be avoided at all costs is keeping someone because 'they can do a job' in some role or other. Just hack phrases that basically mean accepting mediocrity.

Oh, and the term 'middles' should be banned from the club....

Retaining Briscoe would go down like a lead balloon with swathes of season ticket holders. Surely we have enough cover at centre (now his preferred position) in Newman, Hardaker, Sutcliffe, Edwards and Simpson. We haven't got as many wingers - Fus, Handley, Tindall - but do we really want a 4th choice? Surely this is his last go round.

Every year the likes of Briscoe and Sutcliffe get contracts, delay the transition for another year.

Appears to be confirmed on twitter that Bodene is returning home at the end of the season.

That’s good news. Obviously depends on desperation and injuries etc but I’d like to see O’Connor and Walters picked over him every week to see what we’ve got in them.

Yes, and we need to decide what O'connor's position is and take 25% of what we've been feeding Bentley and transfer it to Walters!

I think O`Connor might be a decent back up hooker as the jury is still out on Johnson for me.

Me too but the club think he is worth it. As Johnson 2 year extension, I also think o connor is the best 13 at the club or could be, hard worker and has skill without the brain farts abd bad discipline.

Given Johnson has signed, that confirms Dwyer is on the way out. With Broadbent, Mellor, Dwyer, Thompson all but confirmed as leaving, that leaves Hardaker, Briscoe, Austin, O’Connor, Martin, Mustapha out of contract. I’m expecting Briscoe and Mustapha to leave from that list.

Leeds looking to complete a few deals this week. Told they currently won’t be big signings for next season unless something extravagant happens, but one player who Leeds are looking at is Jack Ashworth

Hardaker signing up has to be one, then a good prop or two surely..

Hardaker and Martin should be signed up IMO

If we get Martin on a 1-2 year deal, Hardaker 1-2 year deal ( I'd love him to get a 3-4 year deal but if it's he stays grounded). I'd take Jack Ashworth as well he looked handy when he was at Saints and he hasn't cemented a spot in the Huddersfield team he can be that British prop we need to help rotate our pack. I'd be letting Bodene Thompson go and try get a big overseas prop and I'd be happy with how our 2023 squad is shaping up.

Is Ashworth an out and out prop?

Deffo

He's a middle....

That all sounds pretty uninspiring.

Matt Whitley OOC at Catalans would be a good pickup.

Signed a new deal with Catalan recently

1. Hardaker
2. Fusitua - OQ
3. Newman
4. Sutcliffe
5. Handley
6. Austin - OQ
7. Sezer - OQ
8. Oledzki
9. Leeming
10. Tetevano - OQ
11. Bentley
12. Martin
13. Smith
14. ?
15. ?
16. Myler
17. Holroyd
18. ?
19. Gannon
20. Walker
21. O’Connor
22. Walters
23. ?
24. ?
25. Donaldson
26. Johnson
27. ?
28. Simpson
29. Tindall
30. Edwards
31. Field
32. Sinfield

Outs - Prior, Dwyer, Mellor, Briscoe, Broadbent, Mustapha, Thompson

Just a guess mind.

Presumably Prior is on a fairly lucrative contract so I doubt he'll walk away from this twelve months early.

Missus being pregnant might have a massive factor in that though, given family support is quite minimal whilst over here.

I’d have liked Casiano at Leeds, big impact prop. Just what we need..