Laffranchi may be underwhelming, but he and Perry compared to Cross and Hauraki? I know which duo I'd rather have.

Too right

Oh...and Tom Briscoe recruited at RC wouldn't be a bad option either.

No argument on that!

All clubs ought to be keeping an eye on the TV deal the NRL gets next time round. Whilst some of the figures thrown around may be make-believe, it's likely to see a big increase on the current deal, which will see a significant rise in the total salary cap. This in turn (combined with likely continued higher exchange rates) will make even journeymen Aussies expensive, as the side effects are likely to include a minimum wage in the NRL ($100k has been mentioned) and increased squad sizes to cope with injuries.

Smaller experienced squads has probably been one of the less obvious side-effects of the large number of Aussies/Kiwis in SL, and has led to a reduction in the pool of second tier players with experience to fill in when injries hit. At the Broncos for example, they simply can't afford to have too many average players waiting in the wings in case of injuries - they tend to go straight to the next junior in line.

If that means a reduction in Aussies across the board that's great - but it does put SL clubs at an advantage who have already signed their overseas players for a few years. Looking at Leeds' list, I'd say GH has his work cut out to get close to replacing like with like (in quality if not position) as our current overseas players leave.

FWIW I would say we should definitely earmark left centre for Watkins and fullback for whoever wins out of BJB and Smith. A bit of a gamble, but I can't see the point in signing an ageing Aussie who would expect a first team spot and blocking either of those positions.

We need to get back to the view that recognises you only go shopping in Aus when you can't find suitable replacements in either your youth set up or within your own league. Too many clubs (Leeds included) have previously signed overseas players because they were the quick fix rather than the right answer longer term.

I think you are correct. Even with the licence system it's difficult for teams around the top to just change lock stock and put faith in the youth system as there fans still demand competeing.

Bradford are a good example. They haven't made the playoff for last 2 years and look to be struggling this year. They should have been putting faith in their youngsters and building team back up but appear to have bought In 3 new teams to try and instantly get back near the top.

Lunt signed up with hudds till 2015 now on sky text

Leeds will have to replace at least two(?) of their current overseas players from within the UK anyway, as the likes of Webb and Lauitiiti have dispensations from being non-Fed trained given they were here when the rules came in.

They will have to be replaced by Federation trained players.

On the rest - I'm not convinced that even with a rise in the NRL salary cap there won't still be players available of the required quality to replace the likes of Delaney, Cross, Leuluai and Hauraki.

We have players in the squad now, British players who are of standard to replace the names mentioned

There will be "like for like" available Andy, as even though the SC is likely to rise in Aus, the number of players in the competition won't (without the new teams that is), hence there will always be a player drain to GB, just that they won't be great players...

That isn't the case bats. When the new increase was announced, it was also stated that clubs would keep 30 man squads now instead of 25 man squads. Now with the increase that extra 5 players from what is it 15 teams? that's 75 players in the squads that were not before.

Of course not every player is happy just been a squad man, so some will certainly still find there way here. But where super league in the majority of cases were originally getting names out of those 75 players, it is more likely now they will be getting them from the next tier down still.

Has the increase been announced? I thought the new TV deal was in negotiation. I must have missed any announcement, could you give me a link to it please?

You are correct. It was a publicity announcement of where the clubs would improve from, rather than a confirmation of the deal.

The deal won't be done till next year (IIRC?). But a number of clubs have flagged increasing their squad sizes and rotating players more frequently to avoid burnout. Even if that's only 2 players per club extra, that's a significant reduction in reasonable overseas players available to SL.

I don't think it will mean that SL clubs won't be able to find overseas players - there will still be big names able to get a bigger last payday from SL, and those who want regular first team action - but there will probably be a reduction in the number of 'solid' NRL players available.

I don't see that as a bad thing at all, as there are far too many of that type in SL who in the end don't really benefit clubs or overall youth development.