Ward is scheduled to return next week.

Merrin at 13 all day long

This.
A team of:
1. Walker
2. Briscoe
3. Newman
4. Hurrell
5. Handley
6. Lui
7. Myler
8. Ava
9. Lunt
10. Cuthbertson
11. Ward
12. Martin
13. Merrin

14. Dwyer
15. Singleton
16. Sutcliffe
17. Donaldson

Isn’t bad for next season.
We’re probably a prop light there however the size of Merrin & Martin in the back row possibly account for some of that and the work Donaldson does and the utility value of Sutcliffe is invaluable.

We could do with a leading prop being signed for when Cuthbertson packs in. He’s been great for most of this season in my opinion and will be a gap to fill when he finishes.

Singleton still doesn’t show to me the attributes needed for a starting prop.

The halves are hit and miss at the moment. However if we can get a good pre-season into them I’m hopeful they can do what we need. Lui to move us around, Myler to support.

1. Walker
2. T/L Briscoe
3. Newman
4. Hurrell
5. Handley
6. Lui
7. Myler/New Halfback
8. Ava
9. Dwyer should get the 9 shirt but start from the bench
10. Peteru/Cuthbo/New Prop
11. Martin
12. Ward
13. Merrin
14. Lunt
15. Peteru/Cuthbo/New Prop
16. Mellor
17. Crosby
18. Sutcliffe/Donaldson if retained
19. Smith/Oledzski/Mclleland

All that with a pre season behind them and just a few additions and try and promote our young one through as much as possible. Don’t know what to make of Ablett. I don’t rate Singleton, he doesn’t look like a prop to me. But he is still contracted. Could be a strong team.

Unfortunately Ward is in last chance saloon, next season will be the last year of his contract, and I have heard that another season like last season and this season he won’t be offered another contract. It’s a shame but the lad is busted. Every thing is crossed that can be crossed in that he gets fully fit and his body can stand up to a full season of rugby, unfortunately history has a nasty habit of repeating itself and the sad fact of life is that every rugby player will not have a long career in rugby, some have to retire early let’s hope Ward does not have to call it a day.

2 to 3 additions for me. Prop. 7. A solid experienced number 9 if Lunt isnt retained who starts games well letting Dwyer impact from bench

The biggest priority going forward for me is top quality at 6 and or 7. Lui is good for right now, Myler is meh. Neither are grand final halfbacks (yes I know Myler played in 2012 thank you very much).

Top quality in those positions knit it all together and make average players around them better. When we had McGuire and Sinfield we were able to win grand finals with the likes of Kirke, Bailey, Scruton, Ablett, JJB, BJB, Lee Smith and more. Before anyone get's precious, some of those were great servants for the club, but objectively speaking are all bog standard, run of the mill, average.

Bull

Ablett , Smith and JJB were far from average

Dont agree

Flex wheel

Spot on imo

Objective?

run of the mill ??? Kirke and Bailey maybe, certainly not the rest of them

totally even Bailey who never became the player he could and should of been was still not average an would walk into most super league sides at his best.

I still don`t rate Myler unless he`s been told to just pass the ball on when he gets it.
He doesn`t do the sort of things I want to see in a scrum half or what Burrow would do for instance.
Luke for me is better than Tom and played well on Friday.
I have Handley for top try scorer this year doubled with Tomkins for top goal kicker.
Might not be too far off and pleased Handley keeps proving the doubters wrong.
Singleton woeful as ever and what on earth was Ferres thinking kicking the ball to the wings
A Fifita type prop and a scrum half if McLelland isn`t going to get picked and we are probably top 5 material again next season.

Burrow was hardly a classic scrum-half; he spent the latter part of his career at Leeds at hooker.

Myler looks a lot better with Lui taking some of the responsibility off him. They aren't world beaters but on present form I can live with Myler seeing out the last year of his contract with us.