they weren't exactly a massive set of props (in terms of man meat) compared to bradfords awesome foursome, vagana, anderson and the others i dont remember.

Brian McDermott
Stuart Fielden

That is an excellent question. It was a huge mistake. Like selecting Dave Chisnall on the wing because he said he was "up to the challenge". Mind you Powell was stuck with a good number of them under contract for 2022 so had limited options.

Such a good question I wonder why no one has raised it before.

Hard to forget those two. Peacock too?

Peacock was a 2nd rower, playing in the same team as the Awesome Foursome

Nurse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Squad well and truely dhaping up for next year then. It's looking like Dufty at fullback which I'm not happy with. I think Thewlis should be there. Can see us lining up something like this next year:

1. Dufty
2. Ashton/Wrench
3. Ma'tautia
4. Wardle
5. Thewlis
6. Williams
7. Ratchford
8. Vaughan
9. Clark
10. Kasiano
11. Holmes ?
12. Currie
13. McGuire

14. Mikaele
15. Harrison
16. Dudson
17. Bullock
18. Walker
19. Philbin
20. Nicholson

1. Thewlis
2. Wrench
3. Ma’tautia
4. Wardle?
5. Ashton
6. Williams
7. Dean
8. Vaughan
9. Clark
10. Harrison
11. Nicholson
12. McGuire
13. Holmes

14. Mikaele
15. Kasiano
16. Walker
17. Ratchford

Isn't McGuire more likely to be 8 or 10 ... or at a push 13?

Think I'd be tempted to have him sharing 13 with Harrison. At least we have some options in the pack next year which is a nice change from this year.

1. Thewlis
2. Ashton
3. Wardle (hopefully)
4. Mata'utia
5. Wrench
6. Dufty
7. Williams
8. Dudson
9. Clark
10. Vaughan
11. Currie
12. Nicholson
13. Holmes

14. Walker
15. McGuire
16. Mikaele
16. Kasiano
17. Bullock
18. Ratchford

Harrison, Philbin, Dean, Longstaff?Gannon etc etc

I can see him playing 13. He’s played there a lot in his career and also due to the abundance of props we will have next year.

must admit, i always saw him as a gallen esque 13, but having seen his highlights, very surprised by how much he has worn 8/10

Are all these signings subject to us staying in the Super League and not being relegated to the championship?

Or do the club know something we don’t?
The club seem to be convinced with all the signings we’ll get out of this position the current squad as created.

I’ll speculate it going to 14 team league with the addition of Leigh and Fev and no relegation.
Why would Leigh be spending all their money on a squad when there’s a possibility they could lose the one off game with Fev at the end of season.

It was recently stated by Ralph Rimmer that there will be no structure changes for 2023. So, one up / one down as far as promotion to / relegation from SL.

With regards to Leigh, they appear to be doing everything in their power to ensure a win in the big one.

So the question is:-
If we are relegated which is a distinct possibility can all these signings we’ve made have their contracts terminated?

He's been brought in as a ball-playing 13, but can also play prop or 2nd row. In his younger days he played NRL & SOO as a stand off as well as in the pack. So quite versatile.

I'm not a stato but I believe he currently has the worst disciplinary record in the NRL...... bring back the BIF !

1. Thewlis
2. Wrench
3. Matautia
4.
5. Ashton
6. Ratchford
7. Williams
8. Dudson
9. Clark
10. Vaughan
11. Currie
12. Nicholson
13. Maguire
14. Walker
15. Harrison
16. Kasiano
17. Holmes
18. Philbin
19. Dean
20. Minikin
21. Bullock

Is that everybody contracted. I've left 4 for Wardle...

Burgess and Whitehead

Still thin in terms of backrowers

Maybe with all the props we have now signed-up, Harrison would be moved to 2nd row as cover.

Can`t see Harrison getting into the 17 man squad at prop, so it looks like he will play as a loose or 2nd row forward in the immediate future with us.

Philbin played all his Academy rugby as a 2nd row forward, he too doesn`t seem to get into the 1st team at prop for next season.

Why would they need to have their contracts terminated??

Firstly would the players signed genuinely want to play championship rugby, I doubt it.

Secondly a genuine question is the salary cap the same in the championship?
Also you would presume all income from Sky and gate receipts would drop drastically, our average gate is now down 2000 pre covid levels. We are behind Castleford now. It would probably drop half again. Could the club afford to run a max salary cap if this was to happen.

I’m hoping however it’s all hindsight because we’re going to win the majority of our remaining matches and I’ll be shelling out for a play off ticket. I’ve watched this club in the top tier regularly home and away the majority with a season ticket for the past 48 years and will be doing next year.

Yes the Championship has the same salary cap as Super league - though ironically there are some rules, like the non-fed limits which aren’t actually implemented (which is why Leigh have seemingly hundreds of Aussies currently).

Though I think the main point of the question was that most player sign a standardised Super League contract (and includes things like the registration documentation with the RFL). These are effectively null and void if the club are no longer in Super League. The reality is relegated clubs transfer as many as they can onto an equivalent championship contract, but if players want to leave, they can be stubborn about it and there’s not much the clubs can do.