A good move for Elliott and York imo he should be able to handle the step up at that level and may do a "Peter Fox" and get into SL in a couple of years just not ready yet and too good for u20's RL.

Would make a lot of sense - it was said that he wanted to go to Crusaders for the counrty lifestyle, well there's plenty of space in France. Also he played mainly Union as a junior didn't he?



He'd make a cracking League player (his big brother Freddy was pretty good) - can't see how any League club could match what he could earn at Leicester though - their cap is £4m. Admittedly Union sides need bigger squads but that's still a damn sight more than £1.7m

edited.

No chance. Ferry-jumpuing aside, England's only bright spot from the RU World Cup. No way League is going to have the financial clout to tempt him.

So who are we expecting to get the number 9 shirt?

McShane? New Signing? Possibly even Burrow?

General squad number speculation a-plenty this time!! Certainly in the first 17!

Who'll get the number 4?
Will Smith retain number 2?
Will Delaney get a different number as a pack player? If so, who'll be 3?
Will anyone break the dreaded curse of the 15 shirt?
Will McShane be handed number 9 despite hardly playing this year?

Find out soon, on another exciting episode of...... "Rhinos in Decline".

So far I wouldnt put it passed going:

6. Sinfield
7. McGuire
9. Burrow
13. Clarkson.

But I think it will be:

6. McGuire
7. Burrow
9. McShane
13. Sinfield

New signing, or Hardaker



Nope, Ben Jones-Bishop



Delaney to 14, Watkins to 3



Richard Moore



Its either his, or Burrow's IMO.

I'd go...

1. BJB
2. Hardaker
3. Watkins
4. New Signing
5. Hall

6. McGuire
7. Burrow

8. Leuluai
9. McShane
10. Peacock
11. JJB
12. Ablett
13. Sinfield

14. Delaney
15. Moore
16. Bailey
17. Clarkson

18. Kirke
19. Hauraki
20. Pitts
21. Ambler
22. Briscoe

32. Webb
42. Smith

Looking at that, it still looks a strong squad, considering we'd be 3 players-ish down on last year, should still have plenty cap space available even with a squad like that.

More than likely to be : (with no new signings)

1. Webb
2. BJB
3. Watkins
4. Hardaker
5. Hall
6. McGuire
7. Burrow
8. Leuluai
9. McShane
10. Peacock
11. JJB
12. Ablett
13. Sinfield
14. Delaney
15. Moore
16. Bailey
17. Clarkson
18. Kirke
19. Hauraki
20. Pitts
21. Ambler
22. Briscoe
23. Hood
24. Smith
25. Ward

Well I was joking r.e. Webb/Smith. Clearly Webb will be 1. Unfortunately.

Genuinely intrigued to see what Smith is though. He's clearly out of favour.

Lee Smith will probably get the lucky number 15, play in some of the trial games looking refreshed and having regained his appetite for the game and then get sacked just before the season properly gets under way.

Frosties,
I assume that as you think the number 4 shirt will go to either a new signing or Hardaker, Gary H has not yet signed anybody? I thought George Riley,a few weeks ago, on twitter had suggested that Gary had made a marquee signing to replace Senior although he may have only been speculating. If someone has already been signed how will they be fitted into the team apart from covering for injuries etc as the backline is playing so well?

The experienced international marquee signing Riley referred to as replacing Keith Senior may well have been... George Riley's pal Keith Senior, back at the time talks were happening to set that up. I doubt they're happening any more.

I've genuinely heard rob burrows leaving, whether that had changed with his upturn in form I don't know.