I think Delaney who has now got a bit of club service under his belt will be offered a reduced salary in return for a testimonial

Yes, as they are not producing what we potentially could have, and it is what we could have that should be the determining factor. The fact it is all as one is more down to the planning rather than a forced on them.

To be clearer. We all complain about the level of player attracted to Super League these days, and it has without doubt effected our competition. Next year I believe the cap is increased by £100k. If you imagine just letting go of say Delaney and Ferres, that in its self would release approximately £150k in salaries. Are people seriously saying that we couldn't attract a player on £250k who would offer far more and be much better for our comp, than Delaney and Ferres?

I get what you are saying but you have to factor in players who are currently working their way into the first team and moving up the pecking order looking for improved deals which eats into cash freed up by big earners.

That said, with the Galloway money and the possibility of 3/4 veterans moving on i see no reason why we shouldn't be able to bring in at least a couple of quality signings.

Not only quality signings, but better than the ones we are questioning on this thread, and that is the determining factor.

Regarding the 5 older forwards, Ferres is contracted to 2019 - so I don't expect him to go anywhere. I reckon JJB should retire. Delaney deserves a testimonial and I'd expect GH may offer him, Ablett, & Cuthbo 1 year deals as he has done often in the past for forwards over 30. The risk here is if other clubs offer something longer. I would not want to see Cuthbo in particular turning out for say Cas next year. He is currently playing with a knackered hand and I reckon has got at least 2 years left if played more as an impact forward off the bench. He is a class act for mine.
In addition to Ablett, JJB, Cuthbo and Delaney, leeds have briscoe, moon, hall, josh Walters, mullally and Cameron smith all Off contract this year. With the likes of Johnson and Holroyd needing to be signed up into first team, Then you can add on Keinhorst and handley into mix of staying or going as well. GH has plenty of work to do.

As we have had no testimonial this year, I’m expecting Watkins to be November 2018 - 2019 season, purely on the fact that his wife already said it on her Instagram. That’s mean giving Delaney a two year contract to enable him to have a testimonial.

maybe a minor one 3 months like they did with Senior

Of those OC the priorities for me would be Hall and Briscoe, assuming Moon has decided to head back to Aus. If Moon does go that means the search for a partner for Myler becomes almost the biggest issue we face. In fact given Moon's form this year you could argue its the most pressing issue this year let alone next.

Whilst I understand that we can't just let go 4/5 players in one year without replacing them (particularly if they cover the same positions) we've also got to avoid ending up with the same players getting older and less effective every season and blocking the path of juniors or preventing us signing ready-made players. Whilst it would be a shame for Delaney to miss out on a testimonial, it'd be ridiculous to sign anyone his age and with his injury record up for another two years.

I take it nobody would disagree with not re-signing Walters for next year?

I did hear a whisper in the group on Friday that Delaney would not be going round again and may be out before the season is up due to his body being shot. I was shocked to hear it due to testimonials etc. and don't know how much credence to give it.
We've probably needed some changes to the pack for a couple of years, but they dug deep and got it done last year. Ferres was a bit of a gamble that didn't pay off (or hasn't so far). Walters displays little to no dynamism and should probably be let go, despite putting in some slightly improved performances this year on occasion. JJB has to be looking at retiring, even though he still does a job. Ablett should prob get another year and losing Cuthbertson opens up bigger problems in the pack in my opinion.

Cuthbertson "superb overseas servant" he had a good first season. Done very little since so moved into coaching a girls team.

Unfortunately we have a number of players all reaching an age and performance that can only be compensated for by having 3 or 4 class players alongside them.
Out of our forwards I would say that only applies to Ward and possibly Parcell with maybe Garbut, Cuthbertson, Singleton and Peteru slightly better than the likes of Delaney, Ferres, JJB, Abblet and Dwyer
Lower down the pecking order we have the likes of Mullalley, Ormandroyd and Walters.
For me we have no punch or zip in that pack and would need a very good prop and a very good strong running second rower.
In the backs we need to replace Moon preferably this year so he can move back to centre but definitely next year.
I would not be too upset if Briscoe moved either as long as we could replace him with someone like Johnstone which is wishful thinking.
The worry is if we stick with what we have for another year especially in the pack we are going to fall well behind the top 4/5 teams and be competing with the likes of Wakefield, Salford and Widnes.

Surely Oledzki deserves a mention?

I agree we can't replace 4 forwards in one go - but that's also why we can't go on extending them all every year because otherwise we'll eventually be forced to do it. Right now we have a small window to make these changes over 2-3 years. If we don't start now that window will narrow every year.

Its also why I'd keep Briscoe unless a ready-made replacement is lined up, because adding needing to get a new winger plus a couple of first 17 forwards plus quite possibly a stand off if Moon goes is really difficult in a salary cap world, especially when we don't want to pay transfer fees. Not to mention the dilution of the club culture if we bring in half a team into the first 17 in one hit.

Purely from a rugby point of view the people out the door would be in the following order :
Walters - not good enough
Ferres - assuming OOC. Never really worked out
Delaney - harsh to miss a testamonial, a loyal servant, but his body is shot. He needs to retire or spend his life in a wheelchair
------- -
JJB - oldest, but still puts it in. Should be used more sparingly
Ablett - still effective
Cuthbertson - provides a bit of xfactor, albeit less than 2015

Now we're finally producing better quality youngsters, it would be ridiculous to keep someone like Walters around, who is never going to be anything other than a squad player who will block a kid from getting a go. Ferres is 2019 (my bad), which makes moving on at least one of the others of Delaney/Ablett/JJB even more important or else the end of next year will look like the end of the new Avengers movie.