We have in Makinson and Swift, the problem is the gap they left - Galbraith who is probably next in line after those 2 is only 18 and not physically ready to fill in if required - hence signing Dawson - it gives Galbraith time to develop, fills the role left by Makinson and swift and makes sure we have some depth in the squad

If he's not a world beater, I'd imagine in 2 years he'll be let go so Galbraith can be promoted into that role

I'll wager he's quicker than Ade.

Correct, it is a squad game and rotation/resting and covering for injuries is required. However, this academy U19's has made it very difficult for fringe players to get a game. I'm not sure the dual reg aspect has been thought out properly.

A younger and quicker version of Ade, bye bye Ade

I agree and yet Leeds seem to be able to keep signing/retaining class players .. especially in the pivots and outside (strike) backs where you'd imagine players command the highest salaries

1.Hardaker - International , probably Ratboys understudy
2.Ryan Hall - probably the best winger in SL
3.Kallum Watkins - international centre
4.Joel Moon - top class player who would get in any SL side
5.Tom Briscoe - international winger
6.Danny McGuire - probably past his best now but he'll still be on a top deal
7.Kevin Sinfield - international halfback (like it or not) and captain so wont be playing for peanuts

9. Rob Burrow - International halfback/hooker

Do they have a salary cap ??

Puts our supposed improvements into perspective a little:

Hardaker = Lomax
Hall > Makinson
Watkins > AN Other (Percival?)
Moon > Turner
Briscoe > Swift
McGuire > AN Other (Wheeler? Wilkin?)
Sinfield = Walsh (Hard to judge, who actually plays 7 for Leeds? Is it Sinfield? Walsh is an unknown quantity in SL)

I doubt we'd do all that much better in the pack either.

Ill bite!
Lomax is way, way better than hardaker
I'll give you their wingers, but turner is at very least as good as moon, I'd say much better!
Walsh is also better than Sinfield
And maguire is just terrible

Into the forwards, their best forward will be 36 next year. I'd put out pack next year against theirs any day!

Disagree about Turner over Moon. I think Moon is a top class centre and should have been Carmonts replacement at Wigan.
You're correct about Peacock, he's been immense this year and should have been man of steel.

Turner over Moon

Ok, that was a little cheeky, but not funnier than you suggesting hardaker and Lomax are equals!

Hardaker is a classy player. He's also been selected for England ahead of Lomax, which suggests he's better. I've been cautious and clawed that back to equal.

Who would you rather have at fullback for your team?

Leeds just keep building and doing what we should have done. We just havent had good squad management for a number of years and now it's taking time to get things back on track.

Lomax but I'd have Hardaker in a second to play left centre for us. He even looks like Keith Seniors love child (with hair)

Is it a situation where all the Saints species would say Lomax, all the Leeds speccies would say Hardaker (and all the Wire fans would say Ratchford)?

They are different players.
Hardaker has more pace and is more of a running threat, Lomax is a better ball player (pivot is todays word) so I suppose it depends on the style of play and needs the of team they are in.

So who would you like out of the 3 to replace Tomkins?
I'd hesitate to call you impartial (

), but I know you're a big fan of Lomax, so perhaps that will temper your love of winding up our posters when you reply.

Lomax for me is sensational. When we finally got him to oust Wello, he had that wonderful run on games before picking up and injury. At the end of the season, although still effective, the way he moved seemed to suggest he wasn't fully fit.

I know I wouldn't swap him.

They are 2 different types of full back, for what we need I would take Lomax any day of the week over Hardaker. Whilst I agree that when you look at Leeds back line at the moment they are stronger than we are, but I think ours has very good potential. If you take a back line of Lomax (23), Makinson (21), Turner (24), Jones (20), Swift (20), Wheeler (24) & Walsh (26) gives an average age of 22.5 years old, along with 5 home grown players out of the 7. Playing behind a better forward pack in 2014 and having a proper organising 7 in Walsh to lead them around (as well as a world class kicking game) can only be good for them and I think they will all get a lot better over the next few years.

As for the forwards, I would challenge most teams to field as strong a pack as Amor, Roby, LMS, Manu, Soliola, Wilkin then have Masoe, Walmsley, Laffranchi, Flanagan, Clough, Beaumont, Walker, Greenwood fighting for a place on the bench to get in there so think we are looking good really for next year

I do like Lomax, but if it were a direct replacement for Sam, I would have Ratchford, the big plus is that he is a Wigan lad and a good goalkicker. In reality all three are fine players and there's not much between them. It's a position Superleague is strong in, if only we could say the same about centres and halfbacks. I'm hoping that Hampshire and Williams can sort the halfback situation out. Sutcliffe at Leeds looks very promising but I think he'll finish up as a #13.

With Leeds' situation on the cap, it's fairly well documented that the likes of Sinfeild and McGuire could be earning much more elsewhere, but their club loyalty is so strong that the stay at Leeds despite taking a cut in wages.

Kevin sinfields winning speech, he said that players at Leeds could leave for better money and have turned down moves for bigger money to stick with Leeds.

I disagree with that mate.

Not much in it between Hardaker and lomax. Lomax has had a very disappointing season. He started the season in the halves and was awful. He then had a top class 5 weeks at fullback where he was unplayable but since his injury he's been poor.

Turner isn't a patch on Joel Moon.

Yet come the end of the season, there was little to choose between us and we still had no centre or halves.

Briscoe signed deal with Leeds today. 5yr apparently

It had been the rumour on the Hull board, I think they were resigned to losing him.

There is also a small and I mean small rumour we are looking at Yeman.

But nothing concrete