A bit from our great leader here. I guess it spells the end for Morton, Davey & co. Out of contract, not in first team consideration & too old for the u20's.

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I hope we are going to be in for top 8 players at least the crowds are getting better but the team needs to be much better next season top 8 for sure to keep new fans coming..

Didn't hull fans always say that Agar's mantra was always "next year will be loads better"?

Sounds like he's accepted that this year is a write off. Funny. So have I.

All sounds realistic and dare i say it sensible, the important thing in all this though, is that quantity is replaced with quality, real quality.
As with one or two clubs lately, its not unusual for clubs to write off this season, Cas have just done the same, the difference with us is that (and you may call this positive spin) this was always going to be a season of foundation digging, the real building hasn't begun yet IMO (in hindsight). If things go wrong next season Agars (and perhaps one or two others) popularity will drop off the scale!!
Also seems to follow one or two calls on here for an update from the club, maybe there will be more meat added to the bones on Thursday evening, they clearly are watching!!!

spot on

Is Agar's popularity on the scale to allow it to fall off?

Newmarket may make things seem more positive.

I think the whole clubs future depends on that decision.

Yup, not sure what folk expect him to say.

Shenton for Mellars would be a good start.

Probably not, but he may get across more than in a few of lines of a website story.

Think we are one over quota next year so looking at Shenton for Mellars would be a good move.

Mellars isn't on Quota, more's the pity.

does that mean bye bye Smith then?

Looking at Shenton would be a good move full stop, he's a quality player, although Cas seem to think he may be heading back there according to their forum.

I don't think there's anything too scary in that - in fact it sounds pretty sensible to me; 33 is too big a squad, particularly if we're carrying players who are too old for 20's but have no prospect of making 1st grade - they need to go to free up cash for players who can add value.

Hopefully, next season will be a leaner but higher quality squad, with fewer imports and decent contracts for the young lads who are perceived to have genuine prospects.

I'd be interested to know who's on the radar for next season - quite a few players coming out of contract this season, so could be a bit of a bunfight.

Rubbish, according to the doom merchants on here you need at least 10 props, 15 Hookers and 8 specialist Wingers per side and an extra Tea Lady both called Dorris. That's 33 already!

Give your head a shake

Will we be hearing a similar plan at the end of next year? Finding replacements for the over 30s, there's several players already in the first grade that will be looking at retirement at the end of this/next season.

Wilkes 34
Raleigh 31
Lauititi (nearly) 33
Southern 30

I do think his plan makes a lot of sense, as it frees up a lot of money that could be put to better use, but I think it looks like a could few years before we have a settled squad and therefore consistency.

if wilkes is 34, Lauititi 33 and still playing why would Raleigh and Southern at 31 and 30 be retiring?

Wilkes has just turned 32.

How many players do we have OOC at the end of this year? Mathers & Sykes loans expire, although I wouldn't be shocked to see a deal made to keep them on. Who else?

Morton
Davey
Tony
Smith
Hyde

Is that it?

I think Morton's and Davey's contracts run out next year. And IMO we need to keep our current loanees.

Johnson?

I'm not sure.

I think he'll be showing the door to Morton,Davey, Mellars, Motu, Spiers and others who have no chance of first team rugby.

Wilkes (2/5/80) is 32 not 34, has been one of our best players so far and could have another couple of years in him barring injury.
Lauitiiti could also do another 2 seasons IMHO.
Southern is on a 3 year contract with WTW so we'd have to buy him out if he was to go at the end of next season. Wouldn't be surprised if he goes at the end of this season.

How can you say Spiers has no chance of first team rugby? I would be suprised not to see him in the 19 against Wolves, considering we are two props down!

Would be madness to let players like Speirs, Anakin etc go. We have put years into these lads, scouting them, developing them and investing in them. Our junior depatment under Drury brought these lads in five or six years ago, won the under 18`s championship with them, finished fourth last season in the under 20`s and now people are suggesting its a good idea to get shut. What a waste of time, effort and money if this was allowed to happen.
Many clubs have achieved great things with a good crop of players all coming through the ranks together. Look at the recent Leeds team, previous Saints teams, Wigan, they all try to get a group of players together at 15 / 16 and bring them through. Leeds now have a fantastic under 18 side and these players will become their next great side, Huddersfield who have always failed at junior level have gone out and put together an under 16`s`( mostly from outside their area ) team that they see as the next great home grown team.
We produced a great team in 2007 to win the under 18`s, we have already lost Eden lets try to give Anakin, Speirs Widie, Trout, Walshaw etc the chance to prove themselves. To do that they need to play and not just in games that we have no chance in ie Wigan and Saints away. Do you honestly think that Chris Anakin who has worn the Trinity shirt with pride in all Junior levels and continues to rip it up in the 20`s would not do a better job than say Mellers in the second row, or that Speirs would not give us a better 20 minutes than Southern has given us so far. Lets play them and find out, the season is over we have nothing left to play for except pride and the chance to find out about our younsters.
They could be our next great team.

I very much think the likes of Anakin, Speirs Widie, Trout, Walshaw will be with us next year, from what I've heard Agar holds most of these young guys in high regard. Obviously not all our young guys are going to make the grade but as long as a core group do each year and stay on to build a team around, all will be good. Like you I hope that each of these guys will get at least a few games each to see what they can do, especially Anakin & Speirs who've obviously played less than the other names but must be chomping at the bit for a crack.