I heard Hampshire from Wigan (but a Cas lad) was coming. Which Ryan will it be?

Quote ="Richie"A good watch if you've got an hour to spare, and says as much about Sinfield as any game clips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0tO_SQCAcM'" Thanks for posting this, absolutely fascinating insight. Just watched it sat in my car while junior has 2 hours land training. I will have my son watch it, so many lessons. Interesting to hear the stuff about how he learned about time management while he was doing A levels and training as a full time pro. My lad is just 12 yet trains 7 times a week, so really struck a chord. You get the impression the guy could do anything he put his mind to.

Quote ="Richie"A good watch if you've got an hour to spare, and says as much about Sinfield as any game clips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0tO_SQCAcM'" Thanks for posting this, absolutely fascinating insight. Just watched it sat in my car while junior has 2 hours land training. I will have my son watch it, so many lessons. Interesting to hear the stuff about how he learned about time management while he was doing A levels and training as a full time pro. My lad is just 12 yet trains 7 times a week, so really struck a chord. You get the impression the guy could do anything he put his mind to.

I just cannot see Brierley coming, can't see how it is a fit. Losing Sinfield, McGuire and Burrow and replacing them with Sutcliffe and Brierley would be crazy.

He is 23 now, he will be 24 by next season so its not like we can have him for a year or two and bring him up to speed behind McGuire/Burrow. We would be talking about relying on a player who most likely wont be a first choice SL player until he is 25/26 years old.

Personally I think GH saw Brierley as a Yates/Amor/Coady type signing, a bit of a gamble but cheap. A back up for McGuire for this season who may come good and exceed expectations but would probably spend most of the year on DR. Leigh obviously saw him as something more than that and his price was too high for that type of gamble. Since then his upside for Leeds has reduced but his value to Leigh probably increased.

Hampshire would make far more sense, highly rated but hasn't quite made the breakthrough at Wigan, still very young (but has more SL experience than Brierley), and could still spend next year and maybe the year after behind an experienced half back and Sutcliffe and still step up at 22/23 to being a main man.

I think we will either bring in an experienced half (Sandow? Big play for Hodkinson?) or stick with McGuire and Sutcliffe next year and bring in a prop a loose and a hooker this off season.

Hampshire and Brierley are two completely different players, in totally different roles. Not sure why you are comparing.

Of the 2 Hampshire would be a far better signing IMO. Wigan seem to view him more as a full back but he looks a much better 6 to me and would be the ideal replacement for McGuire if we do decide to recruit from outside the club.

Watching that you can see why he's so respected within the group, and why he's a superb captain. He's proof that you don't need to be b0llock your players (ala someone like panface) to be a highly effective motivator.

Yet we have players who can play 6, yet we have no true scrum half, which Brierley is.

I honestly think Liley can make it in that role, and an excellent goal kicker to boot. But unsure when they will finally give him a shot.

I like the look of Lilley also, I reckon Sutcliffe will get the stand off role next season and McGuire will stay on until Lilley is ready to step in, in a year or 2.

because they are the two players we were linked with in the posts above mine.

I mean we could compare other players but im not sure of the relevance.

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Sutty and Mags seem to play well together and Danny has at least another year in him. Use the extra sal cap money(should be big) to get some really big young forwards maybe a burgess or two. As has been said a young half backs progression will be a lot easier behing a good pack.

Brierley's an interesting one. Clearly he's a better player and potentially more mature than when he first had a go at cracking it with a SL club, but he's untested at this level and would be a real gamble alongside another developing half in Sutcliffe.

I wouldn't be surprised if Leeds tried to get McGuire through to the end of 2016, giving time for Lilley to go out somewhere and play regular open age rugby. A Sutcliffe/McGuire/Lilley combination could cover the half back spots for the next two years, then if Lilley doesn't make it you go out and sign someone.

If Burrow sticks around, that gives you a fourth option in the halves, If not, then Robbie Ward steps up to split time with and cover Aiton at hooker.

Another big man for the middle unit, and a back rower who can play on the edges and offer an offload game are higher priorities than signing a half-back. Nate Myles and Willie Manu, anyone?

We have some choices to make regarding the forwards as well. I reckon we'll sign at least 1 prop to replace Peacock (Rapira?), but do we then go with him and Cuthbertson as starting props, with Singleton and one of Baldwinson, Mulhearn and Yates, or do we sign another prop?

Surely you mean Sika Manu?

Myles would be a great signing but the Aussie press says he wants to move to Melbourne to be close to his wife's family. Not sure Leeds fits that bill.

Also assume you mean Sika ManU.

Autocorrect, but shows he would be the wrong signing.

Tend to think the forwards are in need of attention more than halves. Sutcliffe should be developed at 6 (you have to make the most of home grown talent like him), and I agree with Andy, McGuire will be around till end if next year barring injury and Burrow still gives the other option.
Forwards are looking in more need of revamping. Achurch is up and down and regularly injured, Delaney has given terrific service but even at his best doesn't offer a lot of skill. JJB can 't go on forever and even Ablett is a veteran now. It takes the arrival if a prop who offloads to really make you think we could do with a big back rower who could do that and another prop who could dish out some pain.
Get our pack on the front foot and the halves get an easy ride.

The good news is that JP and Sinfield, have given GH a decent amount of time to plan and recruit for next year.

Agree with the above that a top class forward should be number one priority. I simply don't see Rapira fitting that particular bill, although as a squad forward might not be too bad.

Someone who might be willing to jump ship earlier is Galen, although TBH he's completely up himself and a complete ball hog in attack. I'm not sure he'd go that well with the squad ethos.

The issue of the squad mentality of Leeds is vital, particularly with JP and Sinfield missing. Its another reason why it will be important to keep McGuire, Ablett and co around for a while yet. Genuine team spirit is mysterious, hard to develop but really easy to lose, and its been a huge factor in Leeds' success over the last decade.

No but you'd imagine Galen would steer a ship, and Leeds may need that.

I'd take Galen in a Leeds shirt.

Gal has been quoted that he'd like to finish his career with a couple of years in Super League, but he's adamant of 1 more year in the NRL and it's the Sharks 50th year next year, so he'll want to be part of that celebration - plus he's still an absolute shoe inas Captain for NSW and would be next year too.
Would be a terrific signing though - but highly unlikely for next year.

And please, not Sika Manu... Another example of a forward who looked a world beater in the Storm set up, playing a Bellamy style simple game outside 3 superstars, who when he's moved elsewhere hasn't even been average - he'd be a monumental waste of cap space.

JP and Sinfield leaving at the same time is as big as it gets in terms of departures.
First of all "Sir Kev" is the Clubs greatest Captain bar none and i'd hope in time to see a big shiny Bronze Statue of the Great Man outside HQ.
The HB pairing imo will be Mags and Sutty for the time being with DM taking the arm band although i'd love to see Brierley eventually come in.
In terms of recruitment we need at least 1 Front-line Prop and a HB as i see Sutcliffe taking the 13 shirt as an extra pivot ala Sinny when he broke through.
The recruitment has to be top notch imo no more projects ala Achurch or "veterans" ala O'neil/Cross.
We do have some top potential youngsters like Lilley & Golding then further back Smith ,Oledsiak etc but they will need some quality experience around them in their prime that's where the incomings have to be of the calibre as Cuthbo or better.
The end of an unbelievable era and i do hope whoever gets the 10 and 13 shirts aren't lumbered with unrealistic expectation that they are somehow "replacing" the Club immortals who wore them with such distinction during the greatest period of the Clubs history.
Whoever comes in/gets promoted from within should be judged on their own merit and allowed time to make their own history/legacy in the Blue n Amber.

I agree I think somewhere down the line there should be some kind of permanent tribute at the stadium to Both these players

Subject to other signings coming in, but I'd expect Cuthbertson and Ward to take those shirts for 2016. Both established players who have already established a decent rapport with the fans and won't have too much expectation on their shoulders.

Think that's a fair call.

Should the club retire the No13 shirt in Sinfield's honour?
No more statues please but does the club have a "Hall of Fame"?
If not time to institute it surely?
I'm happy to have Harry Jepson make the initial nominations from the past 125 years, followed by annual inductions to those befitting the honour.

No I don't care for this retiring of numbers. As I said when talk of retiring Peacock's 10 shirt, at most leave the number vacant for one season as a show of respect etc. but then use it again after that season.