I should imagine any signings will depend on what silverware we win this season. I would love for us to win the grand final from fourth or fifth spot. I know it's a long shot after last year,but you could just imagine the weeping and wailing from some sections of the RL community. There would be calls for the competition to be scrapped.

If we want Ward to play SO long term, or if Briscoe/Olds don't look to be long term prospects in the halves, then John Bateman should be the biggest target.

Additionally to that, Sam Moa (big tackle-busting prop forward) should be a target, and I also like Larne Patrick at Huddersfield, Mickey Paea at Hull KR, or Craig Huby & Jacob Emmitt at Cas.

Seriously?

I would suggest his silence since he first mentioned aXn un-named player speaks volumes.

So are we signing Richie Spedding or not?

fair enough, i was only asking that is all.

the two main variables will be players retirement plans, and the state of the youngsters coming through. General consensus is that Stevie Ward has now got a 1st team spot, that Clarkson needs to improve, and that Hood, Singleton, Daniel Smith & Amor are all at, or will soon be at, SL standard.

On that basis, we have several questions to ask:

1. Is JP retiring at the end of this or next year? I reckon another CC win might see him hang the boots up. If he does go, we need another top-level prop to come into our 'top 4' with Leuluai, Griffin & Bailey

2. Is Ablett moving to centre permanently? If so, we need another second row to join JJB & Delaney as our main second rowers.

3. Given they aren't really first-team regular quality, do we want to keep Hauraki & Moore on, when they could get 1st team rugby elsewhere, and when we have youngsters who could do a good cover job as part of their development? If not, then they'll be leaving, freeing up cap space.

4. Can Lee Smith get back his form of 2009, and can he force his way into the side? Again, if not, on his way.

I reckon the answer to 1) and 2) are yes, so we will need a new prop, and we'll need to look at second rowers, given next year we'll have a squad of:

Props: Leuluai, Griffin, Bailey, Singleton, Amor
Second Row: Jones-Buchanan, Delaney, Clarkson, Kirke, Smith

If we want 4 top rotating props, and 2 cover, we need 1 extra prop, and if we need 4 rotating second rows (one of whom can cover LF) and 2 cover, we need 1 more second row.

I'd suggest that, Given Leuluai will be retiring at the end of next year, it might also be a good idea to sign a second, young, prop this year, so that they can bed in in advance of Kylie's departure.

So, some candidates:

Prop: Sam Moa (Hull FC), Tom Burgess (Bradford)
Second Row: Paul Clough (St Helens)

Burgess wil join his clan down under and Moa will return home.
As for Clough i'd rather make Singletons move to the BR permanent with D.Smith staying at Prop or promote Colton Roche.

i'd rather keep hauraki than sign clough!

That's a bit strong!! I also wouldn't want to see clough at Leeds, but would love to see the back of hauraki!! But don't we have him signed up for next year.

well i agree but you get my drift. i mean clough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The likes of Smith. Moore and Hauraki leaving won't free up much in the way of cap space, as I would imagine they are on relatively low salaries given their status within the squad.

The about-turn by Leuluai will have potentially thrown a spanner in the works, and I wouldn't be surprised if that represented the final straw for Amor. He's been royally messed about by Leeds, and if I was him I'd stay where I am at least in the short term. He's getting regular first team rugby, and when his contract ends in a couple of years he could end up having the pick of SL clubs if he continues to develop.

The backs are fine IMO, if Ablett makes the more or less permanent move into the centres. There is sufficient cover of sufficient quality in the Under 20s to cope with any injury crisis in the outside backs, and the likes of Burrow and Ward can slot in if anything were to happen to Sinfield or McGuire.

The club need to make a decision at the end of the season on whether they see McShane as the solution at nine, otherwise a grafting nine who can fill the kind of role Buderus had in the side will be required.

If Amor doesn't come back I would like to see Moore get the opportunity of a few games on the bounce to show what he can do with longer minutes. His offload game does offer something different to the head down, run straight type of prop we have plenty of. Bailey can stay at loose for me, that roving role seems to suit him nicely and he can always move into the prop rotation should one of them pick up an injury in-game.

The issue then becomes the second row. While JJB and Delaney are nailed on starters when fit, assuming you have an impact nine and Ward on the bench that means you either go with one prop and one second rower as replacements or two props. If it's going to be two props, then any new second rower you get is going to be on the fringes of the squad anyway, so do you use up a chunk of cap space on someone who may not get a game every week?

All fair points AG but imo i'd want Amor back and allow Kylie to leave whilst i'd also target an ALi type BR and let Hauraki ,Smith and Kirke leave.
I know the latter has seen an upturn in form and good on him but like i've posted on a regular basis i think it's time we start getting game-time for Singleton and D.Smith etc on a rotational basis at least because IF JP decides to keep going next year i certainly would'nt have him in the 17 every week.

At least it looks like chase will be nowhere near a Leeds team. Moving to hull thankfully. Hull have a right drinking club in place now with the edition of chase

I think we can safely state that Amor like Ambler before him is not considered good enough to replace 'youngsters' Peacock or Leuluai ...



Can only hope the club treats Singleton and Daniel Smith better... with much more game time next season. Moore is no long term answer. Maybe a new [uyoung[/u, State of Origin standard antipodean is the "big new signing" much speculated about

. No chance.

I too think Ablett has probably done enough now to be given the no.4 shirt next season: he's certainly good enough there at SL level (if a bit embarrassing at antipodean international level). Hardaker has more than done enough to be given the no.1 shirt.

I somehow do not see the return of McShane either......like Amor I'm sure the prospect of coming back to the club that seems to have so little faith in you will be a huge deterrent - in direct contrast to the respect and esteem they're held in at their 'loan' clubs. Guess it depends on the degree of watertight terms and conditions on the lengthy contract agreed with the lad.

That leaves Hood as first choice hooker next season ...depending on the Lunt situation ? Hood too is not so young that he will remain patient for another season if he has any ambition.

I hope the club makes the right decisions for the LONGER TERM good of the club.

For me the younger Ali type second rower is of paramount importance....and it's worth saving the cash and cap space for such an individual perhaps becoming available in the same way. I certainly hope the club doesn't sign another average at best Delaney-at-centre type. Of course he has matured into a decent forward, but let's not forget he wasn't signed for the role he now commands a starting position in.

As stated I too think Bailey's future is better suited to the roaming LF role rather than prop.

Well, as we all suspected, Luke Lewis won't be coming to Leeds or any other SL club, signed for Cronulla. www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/l ... 6430671689

Well, as we all suspected, Luke Lewis won't be coming to Leeds or any other SL club, signed for Cronulla. www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/l ... 6430671689

Leuluai is going nowhere unless the club pay him up, likewise Peacock. So that's two of your four props next season, plus Griffin and one other. Based on those already under contract, that's between Moore, Kirke and Bailey.

So unless you start paying people up to leave and using up cap space to do so, where does Amor fit in? He'll be doing the exact same calculation.

I've never understood what the 'long term good' of the club is. IMO the 'long term good' should be trying to win the League Leaders Shield, Grand Final & Challenge Cup in 2013.

I agree, it's likely Burgess & Moa will want to head to the NRL, but we should certainly be making overtures towards their agents, not accepting from the get-go that they won't be Leeds players next season. That's not the attitude of a champion side, nor is it the attitude of the sleeve.

Next year should see the introduction of Singleton & Smith as the injury/suspension cover prop & second row, which to my mind means 5th/6th choices, given we start with 2 and keep 2 regulars on the bench. While Bailey does well at LF, I don't think he offers as much all round the park as Ward, who gives us some vital pace in moving us around the park, so I'd see Ward starting at LF next year. However, I do reckon JP will quit at the end of this season, leaving us exactly where we were before, but with Kylie instead of JP.

That'll leave Griffin to move into the number 10 shirt, Bailey moving to first rotating prop, and a need for a second rotating prop. Of our current squad, that's Moore. Now, I know some people see a lot in him, but I honestly don't see what. He offloads wildly now and again, makes metres against lesser teams while shutting up shop against the big packs.

In the second row, as well as JJB & Delaney we have Kirke & Clarkson, both of whom are good enough to rotate through when they play at their best. with Hauraki at 5th choice, I'd like to see either someone much better than him brought in, or Smith bumped up to rotating.

So I see our pack for next season as being

Props: Leuluai, Griffin, Bailey, New Signing, Amor, Singleton
Second Rows: JJB, Delaney, Kirke, Clarkson, New Signing, Smith
Loose Forward: Ward

bearing in mind that, in the event of an injury to Sinfield, Ward will move to Stand Off, and one of Clarkson or Bailey will have to cover there, as well as Delaney covering at centre, 13 forwards with two signings should be enough.

As for getting rid of under-contract players:

I'd hope Weller would want to go elsewhere for 1st team rugby, and a chance to end what's not been a great 2 years for him. Especially given it'd be more useful to rotate youngsters instead of him in. Same for Moore, and particularly Smith.

Bear in mind we're also losing Webb. So that's 4 cap spots opened up. You take two new signings, Amor & Ward and we're sorted.

As for the Hooker's role, If McShane's not going to be up to it, we should let him leave. As for who hooks, I'd have thought Burrow would move there permanently, with Hood being our option off the bench.

There were whispers that Leuleui had done a "Donald" and although agreed the deal not actually signed plus IF we win the CC whos to say JP wont decide to hang up the boots??
All speculation i know and plenty of ifs buts and maybes but we need to freshen things up and if that means a "pay off" for 1 or 2 so be it imo.

Well according to Hetherington he already stated that even if palyers are contracted to play for the club next season and are not playing well they will be released.
So who knows what the squad will look like next year.IMO I think nothing much will change and we will have the same pack plus Singleton/Smith promoted from the U20`s for the odd game or three with the likes of Amor and McShane staying with their clubs as at present.
I agree it will be JP/Kylie who will probably make the choice themselves if they want to stay another year and not GH.

Looks like that whisper regarding Smith was true, afterall It didn't take long for his loan spell to be made into a permanent move did it?

I was initially told that Smith wanted out of HQ ASAP as he wasn't going to get any game time in the first team unless there were any serious injuries to the squad and that he was thus willing to go out on loan, and to any SL side!

His preffered club for his next permanent deal must have hit a snag as he was supposedly Hull KR bound for the 2013 season as a replacement for Shannon McDonnell

It will be interesting to see how that Hull KR situation pans out and why Smith suddenly signed a 1 year deal at Wakey

Didn't think we needed to bring in several new players for next year like some were asking for post Wigan/Warrington drubbings. Just need to sort some things out,
- If Ablett is going to stay at centre then we are fine in the backs with Keinhorst and Chilsolm to cover.
- Hooker, if Lunt is signed permanently then we have one hooker too many and one of Hood or McShane has to go, probably looks like the latter. (Hood was considered the better of the 2 anyways wasn't he?)
- Props, The likes of Singleton and D.Smith coming through means we have good young options on the verge so don't want to see us sign another average prop (because the chances of getting one of NRL's better props is slim to none). Amor, well he's doing good at Wakey, but good at Wakey is a different level and if he returned would he be better than the likes of Griffin, Moore, Kirke? More than likely to offer much the same as those.
- Back Row, This is the one area i'd like to see a signing, Delaney and JJB are our starters but i'd like to see someone of the same quality to challenge them or at least be able to trust with more minutes off the bench so we don't over work them......as for the repeated calls for an '2005 era Ali-type' second rower, they don't grow on trees you know them kind of players.

We have the pieces we just have to use them right (Hardaker at FB, Ablett at centre) and hope to get more out of some others (Griffin, Kirke, Clarkson).

The rumour was Smith to Hull KR in exchange for Taylor. I think we are still interested so that option has now gone.

Taylor was outstanding last night. Is he still one of GH's targets for 2013?

Pointless signing, no better than Leeds already have on the books IMO.

The Exiles game showed exactly where he is in his development - he looked like a lost little boy that night.

And I get accused of been negative.



You are getting worse Andy with this negativity.

The lad looked great last night, and is highly rated in the game. God knows what you are looking at. He looks like the sort of player who can offer something non of our props but the ageing Peacock can do. Very far from a pointless signing. But a realistic signing might be another case.