Exciting that we will have our home grown talent for next season, 22 players in total. L Briscoe, Broadbent, Dupree, Gale (when announced), Handley, Holroyd, Johnson, McLelland, McConnell, Mustapha, Newman, OConnor, Oledzki, Singleton, Smith, Sutcliffe, Sutcliffe, Trout, Waite-Pullan, Walker, Walters, Ward will all be have a squad number.

If Merrin goes it gives us the chance to sign an overseas marquee half back, presuming we haven’t already signed Luke Gale

Too late for that, but possibly a marquee hooker or forward.

Without merrin we could well have gone down this season. If he goes getting a suitable replacement will be key to next season

You do start to wonder what the point of signing Aussies as marquee players is though. They chase the cash for a year or two then look to go back at the first sniff of a half decent contract.

I'd much rather we signed top class British talent. I know they are not immune to the lure of the NRL but it's a much bigger choice for a British player to go then for an Aussie to go back home.

We have had much more success over the years with the less 'popular' Aussies signings such as Kylie, Delaney, Hidden to name just 3.

Just saying

To be fair to Merrin his situation has been extreme this year and you cant blame his partner if she wants to stay home given what shes been through.

I would hate to think that would put us off signing top Australian talent if its available. Merrin was an excellent player, it just hasnt worked out by the looks.

It frees up cap space and a quota spot so lets hope we can move forward.

Agree completely. Nothing against Merrin but this keeps happening to Leeds

You do realise that if he goes back he will be without a doubt taking a pay cut on what he is on at Leeds? This would have nothing to do with money, and would be a far more understandable situation than simply money.

All the best to the lad. His circumstances have changed and family has to come first in any walk of life. I've had to change jobs in the past due to personel circumstances and i'm sure that there plenty of others that have too. I still get requests from my old company telling me my job is open any time i want to go back and i think the same will be applicable for Merrin, assuming space on slary cap and quota. He was by miles are best player in 2019 and if he does go it is with my best wishes and i will keep an eye out for him if he lands a gig back in Oz

Can't knock him at all.

He deserves a lot of credit for being able to carry himself in the way he did earlier in the year when everything in his family life was all over the place.

My comment wasnt specific to Merrin, you could easily insert seggys name, Sandow a couple of years ago, I'm sure there are plenty of others. It's the top class bit that is the issue as they will always have offers at home available.

If Cuthbo was to be having a child, as an example, he would find it much harder to just get another gig in the NRL.

It's something we need to be mindful of for me.

But the point made is that the circumstances with Merrin are not the same as Segeyaro and Sandow. I understand your concerns, but it is wrong to voice it in this particular occurance. This one is fully understandable, and is just what happens in life at times unfortunately. He is not doing it for the money, and I am pretty sure he would honour his contract in different circumstances.

Specific to you cash point I didn't say Merrin, or in fact anybody, was going back to Oz for the money. I said they go back for a contract.

I have the upmost sympathy for any player a long way from home who gets homesick or has any kind of family emergency.

My point is that acquiring top class Aussie talent is an arduous and competitive process that even when you win, let's take Merrin as an example, you are then fighting a never ending process of the lure of home and the increased risk of homesickness and issues just like we have seen with Merrin.

All I am doing is suggesting we need to cautious about signing big name Aussies and risking building a team around them as they are far more likely to not settle or go home early.

I’d much prefer to be signing the best of British rather than overseas for the reasons above.

The NRL is the premier RL competition in the world, and their salary cap is way higher than ours. ANY player who is ambitious to really test themselves and maximise their earnings would have a serious look.

Merrin came over here in the first place against that grain largely for the money, I'm not quite sure how that gives him a sunshine sphincter. He was being played less and less at Penrith and was going backwards in his career there. We were willing to chuck money at someone with a reputation, and there you have it.

Does anyone think he would have come to Leeds if the money wasn't better than he could achieve in the NRL at the time?

I'm not having a pop at Merrin at all because he's been a rock at times this year and he has persevered through some extremely tough times at work. Good luck to him if he can secure a decent gig back in the NRL.

He has been a real professional with it.

He seems a good character but positionally the things we really lack, he doesn't give - with the possible exception of "leadership".

Get a first grade starter prop to partner Ava, who can compete with the front rows at the top of the comp next year, that would make a huge difference with the young bulls Holroyd and Oledzki in reserve.