If only there was another Bruce Burton to be found. Didn`t he come straight from Sandal Rugby Union Club.

Johno to me as improved massively this year and deserves his place in the team. Muzza is a no from me unless he loses weight and speeds up which I cant see he is turning in to another pauld handforth, good kicking game but fat and slow. We need a ridyard type player

Realistically our BOD have limited experience in running a rugby club and less in the area of recruitment/contract negotiations, so they will depend upon RM 100% to spend our limited budget.

So our recruitment will be dependent upon what he wants to do, who he likes and who likes him.

What we dont know is what the size of his budget is for next season. If it’s unchanged or lower he will struggle even to match this seasons performance unless he can unearth a cheap gem.

As a fan of a rival team, Murrell worries me more than Johnston, because Murrell has a natural rugby brain whereas imo Johnston doesn't. When I've seen Johnston this year I think his passing game has certainly improved a little in terms of putting people through gaps, but I kind of think Grady's angle running has made him look good down that left hand side at times; he's a bit of a luxury player to me, will do the odd thing that's out of the ordinary running with the ball but not really the guy who's going to create flowing passing movements, it's all a bit telegraphed.
Murrell is obviously very limited in terms of pace but he can read a game and see opportunities, and he's a better kicker than Johnston. For me, against the better teams, Murrell is the more likely of the two to have the guile to open up a defence, even with his lack of pace.

A fair and reasoned assessment there.

We could have the best centre in the world playing for us and he would still get allowed the same amount of space as our current centres ie. very little. Why is that? Watch any video of us playing and watch accuracy of our passing from hooker to first receiver and then from our halves, its really no wonder we score so few points.

Not a great situation to be in if we are honest.

If we didn’t have the BoD you have now you wouldn’t have a Club!

On the other hand it has proved to be a worse situation at other clubs when owners / BoD ‘s over involve themselves with recruitment, picking the team.

In my opinion centre is the most underrated position in the park. Let’s hope somebody agrees with me and spends some money in that area, but also gets somebody who can utilise it as

I'm not the biggest RM fan but the fact that so many on here are suggesting how many positions need improving does say how well he's done to knit those lads together. Three top four finishes in four seasons on our budget says that. It's time now though to get a couple of top, game breaking players and kick on. We also need to get shut of the 'best part time/underdog' mentality. If that is your aim then that is what you'll be, and that's not good enough for Halifax RLFC.

Unless Fax go full time, then how on earth can we aim for anything other than "best part time team"!?

But we can't afford to go full time, and neither can lots of other clubs. Widnes are now doing a Leigh with the help of the ludicrous and unfair parachute payment, and unless they bounce straught back up, we'll see yet more evidence (if any is needed) that the vast majority of RL clubs (and ALL non SL clubs) should really be part time.

Please feel free to expand on your comment.

As in, there’s not a queue around the block to be in the board of directors at Halifax - no directors no club! We have the board we have and should be grateful someone has taken it on!

Can’t believe the Marshall bashing on here. Three middle 8s in four years in the lowest budget of all the contenders. Yes we were found out in the middle 8s but we were always going to be, being part time. We are the best part time team in RL. Richard has built a structure within the club which is drawing attention across the sport. Can anyone name another coach out there who would get the players we have achieving what they are achieving, build pathways for reserves and junior players and all for the money we pay Richard?

I won’t hold my breath....