MC has confirmed the 9 definitely leaving. There are still some out of contact players who may not be retained. Whitbread has got to be the number one retention. The jury seems to be still out on Pitts Evans and Croft. Hopefully Lineman can be offloaded . We desperately need an organising half. plus 2 props and a loose forward . Apparently we are trying to agree terms with Shaul. We already have Bowden Butler and Tafua . We have 3 quota places. Looks like we are waiting until the World Cup before filling those spots. What does anyone think?

Willie has said that Whitbread will be here next year.

I'm happy to wait and get tge right overseas players.
We need to extend some of the players that have contracts ending next year.

If Pitts is out of contract, then from then me bye bye and thank you. His time is over , he has been OK but things move on

Here’s my thoughts. Recruitment needs to be absolutely bang on.

The two number one signings must be a halfback and a prop forward in the enforcer mould.

We also need a couple of second row forwards and some cover for centre/full back.

I have thought a lot and personally I would only extend Croft and Shaw of those out of contract.

Here is my wish list of sorts:

Sam Williams (halfback) organising half, good kicking game and can set try’s up.

Marty Taupau - (prop) vastly experienced NRL prop.

John Asiata - (LF, Prop) One who may fall victim to the quota issue at Leigh.

Jack Ashworth - (SR) big unit and would have him interchange with Tanginoa for impact.

Leon Ruen - (SR) seems to have gone well at Doncaster.

Jack Croft - (been impressed with him lately).

Jack Broadbent (FB, C) - if he hasn’t signed for Cas.

Isaac Shaw (prop) - think he will continue to grow. Maybe more of a long term project.

I’d look to promote another 2 promising academy lads - maybe a halfback and a centre also. Pratt? Beevers?

We need to get this right or we could well be in trouble

If we are waiting until after the World Cup, while it makes sense, we are gambling because we will be recruiting late and effectively putting ourselves in a similar position to that of newly promoted teams.

We aren’t just adding a few players, we’re replacing pivotal players, backbone of the team types and big characters. We need to find some strong personalities and natural leaders.

If we do get it right there’s no reason why we can’t do a Salford and shock the game with a high finish, play offs or threaten the Challenge Cup later rounds

Think Pitts and Whitbread were both down for having options for 2023. Not sure in who’s favour though. The fact Pitts, Whitbread, Croft, Evans, Shaw are the only current players with expiring contracts that haven’t been confirmed as leaving it shows they may have already resigned / are close to resigning? Especially with how many have already left. I also don’t know how I feel about leaving 3 quota spots to see who shows up at the World Cup. The fact it’s been made a big deal how we are behind already shows me it’s an issue. Maybe used for 1 quota spot as a gamble/project player but hopefully we have a couple more spots filled up beforehand

Sam Williams will be great playing with Lino that would be good to go after

Lawrence from Huddersfield rumoured to be coming, wrong side of 30 but be a great signing and can't see him being a massive earner

The World Cup is a bit of a red herring.

The bulk of our signings will be domestic.

We have three slots left. Out of that we can possibly get our version of a marquee player, leaving one spot maybe two for any WC players. Remembered of course that we won’t be the only team looking.

As ever people forget that in Butler we ha because already made one signing for this year. He’s looked good in recent games. Ditto Evans for me, I suspect he’s staying. Finally Bowden, although there seems to be some debate as to whether we signed or loaned him.

So you need to take those out of your nine.

FWIW I think, we will keep Croft, keep Evans, sign two new overseas players, sign three domestic players of reasonable quality. Leave one overseas for the WC and a few bob in the bank for mid season reinforcement.

For me injuries are now such a huge yet random part of the game that you may as well wait. One of the big teams will have an injury free season leaving plenty of loans and signings available.

Also there are a few players in the reserves now who can imho fill gaps in the short term.

None of what I say is radical, it’s how most teams used to be run not so long ago and it worked. We got some of our best performers that way..

Woolf stated at Walmsleys benefit night that Saints are close to signing a winger with similar style to Regan Grace from SL.

I wonder who that could be?

Williams wasn’t even being selected for reserve grade at the end of this season… his form has blown… he’s not the same player who played at trinity a few years ago!

Hall from HKR