Yes I rememeber the look of upset on Crooks face when he was paraded in press conference. He looked devastated to be leaving Hull. That said I thought he was cracking player during his time at Leeds.

We need committed players, especially in the pack. If he doesn't want to come we should be looking elsewhere or it's just another Segeyaro / Eastwood mess

Merrin is a different situation. The player is at the end of his career, and it’s likely if he came to Leeds we’d be his last club.
The other thing I’d say is that no club has a divine right to be the Chosen Altar for any player who hasn’t come up through the academy / supported them as a kid. It’s a professional choice for others and they have money, family, friends etc to consider. I do think Leeds is a club that grows on overseas players if they settle, but let’s not judge anyone. If Merrin comes, he will be committed because he’s a senior player who knows what he’s doing.

I would probs go with

Walker
Briscoe T
Hurrell
Watkins
Jennings/Briscoe L
Lolehea
Myler
Cuthbertson
Parcell
Singleton
Ward
Ablett
Merrin

McClelland
Garbutt
Crosby
Smith

Walker;
Briscoe Watkins Hurrell Handley;
Lolohea Myler;
Cuthbertson Parcell Singleton;
Ward Ablett;
Merrin

Dwyer Crosby Peteru Ferres

Currently that’s my team.

Goodness me that pack makes me cry.

I agree.
Cuthbertson- not a go forward prop Garbut is much better
Parcell- last seasons form average
Singleton- average
Ablett- no longer good enough = squad player
Ward- probably injured
Merrin- very good

I would swap Cuthbertson for Garbutt get another prop and one more second rower and we should be ok!

I'm hoping Furner wants his fully fit match 17 will be something like this.

Walker
T.Briscoe
Watkins
Hurrell
L.Briscoe
Lolohea
Myler
New Prop
Parcell
Singleton
Ferres
Ward
Merrin

Subs
Cuthbertson
Dwyer
Crosby
Peteru/ Ablett

Rest of First team squad: JJB, Smith, Oledzki, L.Sutcliffe,Handley, Golding, Mclellend, Newman, Trout, Dupree, Holroyd and C.Johnson.

Swap Handley for L.Briscoe and that's what it'll be

Forgot about Dwyer, Peteru and Ferres - oops.

I would be getting Handley and Golding out on the minimum of season loans if not selling them.

Doubt we could sell em. Who'd pay when our need to shed players is so transparently obvious?