So by my reckoning we have:

OUT - CONFIRMED

Kylie Leuluai (ret.)
Paul Aiton (Catalans)
Jamie Peacock (ret.)
Kevin Sinfield (Yorkshire Carnegie)
Andy Yates (Wakefield)

OUT - PROBABLE

Jamie Jones-Buchanan (ret.)
Thomas Minns (rel)*
Alex Foster (rel)*
Chris Clarkson (Hull KR)*
Robbie Ward (rel)

*not in 2015 Squad

IN - CONFIRMED

Keith Galloway (Wests)
Anthony Mullallly (Huddersfield)
Jordan Baldwinson (Loan Return)
Elliot Minchella (Loan Return)


That sees us losing three senior props, a second row, a hooker and a stand off / utility in exchange for two senior props and two academy lads back off of loan.

So who else will be joining? Clearly The Sleeve is in the search for a hooker, and I'd hope another prop to add to Galloway, Garbutt, Cuthbertson and Singleton - with only Baldwinson and Mulhern as backup we look a little light in that area.

Personally I don't think Clark will happen - too early for Wire to write him off unless he's determined to come back over the Pennines, so I'd have thought that Houghton (very solid, has talent that could be developed if he didn't have e around him, soon to reach his peak having never played for a top club) is far more likely.

Also seen some strong rumours about Luke Burgess being on his way back to SL - surely worth an offer on our part, given he originally left because he wanted the #10 shirt - now he can have it.

The Widdop rumours seem to have died down - seems we'll be allocating our marquee player to someone already at the club.

Squad 2016 to (hopefully) look like:

1. Hardaker
2. Briscoe
3. Watkins
4. Moon
5. Hall
6. McGuire
7. Burrow
8. Galloway
9. Houghton
10. Burgess
11. Achurch
12. Ablett
13. Ward
14. Mullally
15. Delaney
16. Garbutt
17. Cuthbertson
18. Sutcliffe
19. Singleton
20. Keinhorst
21. Walters
22. Baldwinson
23. Minchella
24. Lilley
25. Mulhern
26. Golding
27. Handley

Can't see us signing a prop. 5 front line props plus kids/ second rows to fill in as and when would seem a pretty standard squad balance.

I think a new hooker will be all we get.

Four props with a prop at LF and then baldwinson and kids is enough.

All we need is a hooker. Next year a halfback and a SR imo

I think JJB will keep on next season. So put him back in the second row and it seems a bit better:

1. Hardaker
2. Briscoe
3. Watkins
4. Moon
5. Hall
6. Sutcliffe
7. McGuire
8. Galloway
9. ?
10. Cuthbertson
11. Jones-Buchanan
12. Ablett
13. Ward

14. Burrow
15. Garbutt
16. Delaney
17. Singleton

18. Mullalley
19. Handley
20. Achurch
21. Keinhorst
22. Mulhern
23. Walters
24. Baldwinson
25. Golding
26. Lilley

I think that's a pretty good squad. The only question for me is regarding hooker. If we get a decent one we'll be very strong contenders again. If we don't then I think we'll struggle.

If, as the rumours suggest, we've got Brierley for the year after, effectively replacing McGuire then I think all we'll need is a second row to replace JJB when he eventually retires.

IDK We're losing Peacock, Leuluai & Yates to bring in Galloway and Mullally. I'm pretty certain AM isn't ready to be a replacement for Kylie.

We should have the cap space, and if someone of Burgess' quality is wanting a move back to SL IMO it'd be silly not to.

You could then play:

8. Galloway
9. Hooker
10. Burgess
11. Ward
12. Ablett
13. Cuthbertson

with Burrow, Garbutt, Singleton & Delaney coming off the bench. Incredibly strong pack, plus having back up of Achurch, Mullally, Keinhorst, Walters, Baldwinson, Minchella and Mulhern. Strength in Depth.

1 Hardaker
2 Briscoe
3 Watkins
4 Moon
5 Hall
6 McGuire
7 Burrow
8 Galloway
9
10 Singleton
11 Ablett
12 JJB
13 Cuthbertson
14 Ward
15 Delaney
16 Achurch
17 Garbutt
18 Sutcliffe
19 Mullally
20 Keinhorst
21 Walters
22 Minchella
23 Mulhern
24 Handley
25 Baldwinson
26 Golding
27 Lilley

There is still potential to bring in two players for next season I would say. From 20 onwards I expect them all duel registered with Hunslet.

Also worth remembering for all the 'get the kids in' euphoria.

Handley, Golding, Lilley, Robbie Ward and Minchella are 19.
Baldwinson, Walters & Mulhern are 20.

1. They're not going to running off elsewhere soon - we can take time to blood them.

2. Liam Sutcliffe is 20, Stevie Ward 21, Singleton 22, Hardaker 23, Watkins 24 and the 'old stagers' Keinhorst and Briscoe 25.

This has the potential to be the core of a very good side for a very long time to come.

I think Luke Burgess would be a decent signing for us but a hooker is main department we need to invest in but atm there isn't any many quality dummy halves about but Clark would be a good signing also but I could probably see us signing Danny Houghton

We need two hookers right? We have one at the moment and he is injured so we need one to replace him when he goes and one to cover in case of injury, the latter could be a youth/academy product but we seem to be really struggling without one!

Garbutt was a signing made for 2016v we were just fortunate to be able to bring him over early. Also in terms of "losing" Yates, it's not like we really used him anyway. Not saying Baldwinson will get loads of game time but he could better the amount Yates got.

Burgess would be a very unnecessary signing. If we had room to bring in a forward we'd be better off getting a back rower. Achurch can't last longer than two minutes and as for JJB, if he returns he doesn't actually play 2nd row anyway nowadays.

Exactly, Garbutt is a 2016 replacement. We are not paying for him this year. If anything we are props heavy.

Daryl Clark. And that's it

hooker and a quality second rower. in fact make that two hookers. it was a major oversight not to have two on the books for this season and it's cost us

We have Sutcliffe McGuire "new hooker" and burrow to play 6,7,9 and 14. One injury to any of those four positions and our only cover is Lilly who is very inexperienced.

I think we need a new hooker AND another half. Although I can't see that happening this season.

Frosties sounds pretty convincing on the Bbrierly for 2017 signing, but what I don't understand is why we would loan him back to Leigh for next season. He needs to be learning off Mags and Rob now, plus we need the cover.

We need a quality hooker and another halfback. Our pack is looking good but unless we replace the loss of Sinfield's key game management and kicking skills we will suffer. Sutcliffe has shown great promise but not as a game manager or high percentage kicker. Of course he will improve in these areas but he does not look a natural 'give me the ball - I will sort it' type of player. Also he has had a serious injury which could have a detrimental effect on his game.

So IMO a proven controlling half back is required perhaps on a short term contract to allow Sutcliffe, Lilley & Golding to develop.