Two props for sure, lacking pace on wing maybe bring in a good quality winger..??

obviously the Sykes decision is key because if we dont retain him, whoever we sign will need some goalkicking ability.

Although i think i recall that Lee Smith was a decent kicker when a youngster at Leeds?

I would agree. First choice would be to stick with what we have + at least one prop. Squad stability is something we haven't had for a very long time.
How far do people think that Jordan Grayston is away from first team?
He looked good at the 20s level when I saw him. If we could feed him in over the next two seasons, a goal-kicking fullback with pace would give us a lot more flexibility in replacing Mathers and Sykes should we retain them until then.

I would say that a quality prop or two to add to what we have is where the bulk of extra funds should go.

Depends on mathers resigning but if he doesnt I'd look at a good quality fullback or move Lee smith to fb and hunt a quality centre (which I think will be easier to come by)

Would really like to see Walshaw and cowling come through this year and feature more. Another off season for these two and they could contribute more to 2013. Especially Walshaw with his size.

Assuming 1 to 7 looks in similar order to this year, a couple of big mobile forwards for me. David Fa'longo would be a good addition and A.N Other depending who's available. You cant play behind a beaten pack and as we showed this year, when the forwards were on top, we could score against the best of them!

David Fa'longo is a backrower though isn't he? That's one area we don't need strengthening. We have too many already.

He is and for me, he'd be behind all of the backrowers we currently have.

I'd still be happy with one or both of Fielden and Kirke for next year; unless we're in for a surprise NRL signing, there aren't that many forwards to choose from.

I watched Kirke in the last game. They don't seem to use him very well. He was often the dummy runner and not the one getting the ball. When he did he made decent headway.
I think he could do better with us as we would expect different things from him than Leeds.

Fielden I'm hestitent but wouldn't grumble if we signed him on a decent deal for us as well as him. Needs to prove fitness but there is no doubt he has it in him, just whether he can find it again.

It seems andy Ellis as gone, so i would be looking for a master at dead and play the ball. Andy had it spot on, and made others at the club look second rate

I like Matt James still young and will improve even more with a good pre-season behind him,Also would give Fielden a shot if the deal was good for us not played much for 2 years due to injuires but if thats behind now then well worth a shot

I do like James, think he would be an excellent forward for us- seems he has been doing well in the reserves so might be ready to make a more regular feature.

A further addition (or two) and we would have a pretty awesome set of forwards.

Fielden I would say no as even at his best if he came up against anyone with a bit of biff he tended to hide a bit Barry Mac had him to a tee.
Kirke who knows he just might be a better player playing a different style of game to the one he does with Leeds.
Matt James has been going well in the under 20s and is still young and one of the reasons I say we need a battering ram of a prop and dont think we need to bring 2 in.

At his prime Fielden was pretty awesome and i think its unfair to suggest he couldn't hack the hard stuff or hid on the basis of what happened in one incident with Willie Mason.

I think he could still do a job but he'd have to take a huge pay cut to play with us i would assume.

Grayston and walshaw are the 2 quality youngsters we have at the club.. and i think they should both feature in some super league action next year, mathers has done a half decent job this year and assuming grayston could learn bits from him, aka positional sense and put it together with his pace and strength he could be a very good player. walshaw should definately be coming off the bench in most games next year, hes a strong running lad who could easily cause teams problems out wide. oh and another thing, lee smith out- step backwards.

pocket 4s - never mentioned Willie Mason anywhere that apart hes been out injured best part of 2 years and is not a spring chicken anymore.Would sooner us have someone younger who we can get a fair few seasons from.

For the money Fielden would want it would be a no from me, far too much of a risk signing him with his fitness record.

Kirk I quite rate and like others have said he could be more effective in the role we could use him in here.

All will become clearer when we know who out of the squad's leaving especially from the players who haven't featured much this year, also the Southern and John situations are they staying or going.

Like Agar's already said it's all about adding 2 or 3 bits of quality to what we already have and job's a good'un

James is a good squad player prop & maybe can contribute more next season. We need two more big props Kirke and a big NRL standard prop. Is Manuafokoa really happy at Bradford or could he be tempted?

These two would definately add punch & size if we can tempt them on 2 year deals?

We need 2 props and a quality stand off I hope we keep Sykes but hes not the answer at SO

Certainly need more pace out wide, would be looking to see Fletcher come through hopefully, Morrison obviously rates him and thats good enough for me. We made enough breaks last season but finished far too few of them, even when we were winning games! Walshaw certainly needs to play, he has the makings of a top notch centre.

Anyone know whats happening with regard Mellars? Are we looking to sell him?

I see Walshaw becoming a second rower. Ellis and Westwood both started out in the centres.

This is a difficult one, because to add more pace in the outside backs would mean "demoting" either Fox or Cockayne and both of these were excellent during this season, but we didn't seem to finish off enough clean breaks.
IMO the failure to convert clean breaks was more down to execution than lack of pace, which improver during the second half of the season.

I think Faalongo would be a really good signing for us at either 2nd row or prop. He has been quality both here and in the NRL. Mason and Kirke would be good too. Not sure about Fielden.

Mason a no from me. Matt James can offer exactly what Mason does IMO.

Fielden, pay as you play. Reduced contract maybe.

Kirke is a good solid prop who can drive it in for good yards. Out of all three kirke would be my choice for a year.

Amor
Raleigh
Kirke (?)
Wilkes
James

I'm ok with that. Of you added Fielden it is an expensive backup

I'd rather go with Kirke and a young guy who is working towards that like Gledhill than a big pay packet not playing.
Of course if we sign a big NRL prop I'd be happy but I wouldn't sign Kirke then.

For me, build slowly but surely and surely. Short term mavericks won't work for this team. I wonder whether Fielden would be one of those.

Why? most of them have been awful.