based on the current performance of the team, I'd have to say

Peacock
Kirke
Smith
and maybe Clarkson

to free up space on the cap for the important signings we need in the back, and at left centre.

Agree with Smith and Kirk, Peacock still making the yards and making the tackles to justify keeping him. Clarkson I still think he would improve under a good coach.Who do you think we should sign?

Well, bringing back Ambler, Amor & Hood into the squad would be a start. The questions then get difficult, a Sinfield wants to play 6, Ward is the next thing at 6, and Burrow's currently hooking. My preferred signings would be Daryl Millard, Matty Smith, Olivier Elima, Craig Kopczak & John Bateman, and also lookg at releasing Sinfield & McGuire. Would leave a X7 of:

Hardaker
Jones-Bishop
Watkins
Millard
Hall
Ward
Smith
Leuluai
Hood
Griffin
Jones-Buchanan
Ablett
Bateman

Burrow
Bailey
Kopczak
Elima

noting that this would effect the complete change of our 1, 6, 7, 9, 13 creative team from Webb/McGuire/Burrow/Buderus/Sinfield to Hardaker/Ward/Smith/Hood/Bateman

Does Tyke's (sic)/Rhinos No. 1 Fan sppreciate the salary cap implications of sacking a goodly chunk of the first team?

That aside, Hetheringtons master plan of signing the bulk of the squad on long term contracts has been proven a winner over the past decade but it may be that the strategy should have been slightly different the past two years or so.

IF Batemen leaves the Dulls there's a 6 figure bid on the table from Wire.
As for Elima and Millard i'd stick Singleton in and put Smith/Ablett at LC for next year Zac to FB at least until Keinhorst comes through or better than Millard are available.
Up front i think D.Smith deserves his shot and i'd recall Amor but release Kylie not JP (just yet) also for the BR i'd target Oliver Holmes at Cas or Colton Roche would be my next choice to get a run out there if there's no-one available to sign.
I agree with letting Kirke go and i'm not too sure we should use top SC money for Lunt especially if we get a new coach prepared to Mcshane a good enough chance to establish himself.
For me next season i woukldn't mind us line up like this..

Hardaker
Bjb
Ablett/Keinhorst/new signing
Watkins
Hall
Ward
Mcguire
Amor
Mcshane
Bailey
Bjb
Delaney
Sinfield

JP
D.Smith
Singleton/Holmes/New Signing
Burrow

Squad wise i'd retain Smith (1more yr)Clarkson ,Hood ,Griffin ,Moore ,Roche ,Chisolm .Olds ,Keinhorst ,Watson.
As soon as the full 25 man squad was confiremd with usual extra 5 u20's then get the likes of Olds ,Watson and co out on loan or dual reg.
Outs for me.....
Webb
Kylie
Hauraki
Lunt (loan return)
Kirke
Now of course i'd hope to add a couple of quality signings to that IF they become avaialable but i certainly wouldn't use cap money on Elima and Millard maybe Manokafosa??

Sinfield will go straight on to the coaching staff when his playing career is over.
I would think he would end up being the Rhinos head coach. This of course is a few years down the track. He is a smart lad,could be a huge success for us hopefully.

That assumes that the players couldn't get gigs elsewhere. Smith, Clarkson, Hauraki, probably even Kirke would all be picked up by lower-SL teams if they were available on frees (see also: Ben Cross), so don't see the dramatic salary cap implications you describe.

Are contracts really worth the paper they are written on? Tomkins Senior signed a 5 year with Wigan before departing over to Union a few months later. Junior has also signed a similar one, but not even the most dyed in the wool Pie expects him to honour it.

I'm not convinced either,that the simplistic idea that somehow the length of a individual players contract contributes to the team getting to a GF. I would have thought the skill sets that gained him a place in the squad, allied with a switched on Coach would be a better route to Old Trafford or Wembley.

I'm not suggesting sacking them, I'm suggesting offering to release them so they can find gigs elsewhere. If we've assessed Smith & Clarkson as not good enough in the long term, and Peacock as not worth it any more, then I think they'd agree to leave so they can find another gig. Certainly sitting on the sidelines doing nothing for a year doesn't look good to any new coach when you do become OOC. As for Peacock, I'd certainly want him on the staff, so offer him a coaching job at his current pay rate and get him out from under the SC.

in all seriousness, how many of do you think that GH would let go freely to other clubs with them being signed up:

2012

Ryan Bailey, Daniel Smith, Luke Ambler

2013

Brad Singleton, Jamel Chisholm, Jared Stewart, Weller Hauraki, Ian Kirke, Lee Smith, Kylie Leuluai, Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow

2014

Luke Briscoe, Richard Moore, Darrell Griffin, Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Jamie Peacock, Ben Jones-Bishop,

2015

Paul McShane, Liam Hood, Stevie Ward, Brett Delaney

2016

Chris Clarkson, Ryan Hall, Carl Ablett, Zak Hardaker, Kallum Watkins

I would go with Ryan Bailey, Daniel Smith, Luke Ambler, Jamel Chisholm, Jared Stewart, Weller Hauraki, Ian Kirke, Lee Smith, Richard Moore, Darrell Griffin, Ben Jones-Bishop, Paul McShane.

For me Kirke and Hauraki can go now the at the end of the year return Lunt to Huddersfield ,release Kylie and we know Webb is leaving i'd retain Smithy simply because of his veratlility but if a reasonable ££££ offer came in id consider it.
I'd be looking to get Mcshane ,D.Smith ,Singleton ,Ward ,Chisolm and keinhorst as much game time as poss and hopefully look at Roche and Watson.
I'd look to get Olds and a few others out on dual reg.
IF we can sign some quality in the BR i'd happily release Delaney also if we sign another top Prop then 1 of Griffin and Moore ,or retire JP early.
Re-Sign Bailey ,recall Mcshane and Amor.

If there is to be players to bring to the squad who would you bring in? I would bring Amor back, and sign Walmsley, Sarginson and Kopzcak, aswell as giving Smith, Singleton and Ward the chance to shine.

Smith, Hauraki, Kirke and Clarkson out irrespective. See if any club will take Delaney off our hands, doubt you'll have any takers which says it all.
We have too many purely workman like players in our back row. What I'd give for a player like Tony P at St Helens. Elima is available and better then we currently have.
Bring Amor back and try to get an Ali like replacement in the back row. Top class FB or Centre required. Select McShane or get shot. Play Hood.
Tim Smith is meant to be looking good at Wakefield and ooc if you want to move Kev from 6 and back to LF.