The one thing I hope, that over any reason for letting players go in order to improve the squad, that the last thing they consider is "is it fair". That form of reasoning is why we have been as poop as we have for two of the last three seasons.

But it is a reflection of performance. Getting rid of our best prop to bring in one who is possibly slightly better isn't addressing the other fundamental issues. Keeping Garbutt and getting rid of almost any other forward, Cuthbertson if you want a quota spot freeing up, would make much more sense.

Don't see Garbutt going anywhere, or Cuthbo for that matter. I could see the latter's terms & conditions being changed to something like a pay per play deal but with an enhanced deal on the women's coaching side, or something similar, to free up a bit of cap space but that's all. Also on the domestic front, Kyle Amor's been up for grabs for a while longer apparently with few interested. Maybe most teams are happy with their current prop rotas...

I'd be hugely surprised if any sort of swap happened, they are so rare, do people literally mean a swap?

If, and it's a huge if, merrin or similar were to come it will mean people moving on. But then we knew that anyway and frankly a number of the squad aren't good enough anyway so it's no big shakes.

I don't expect garbutt to leave unless he asks to as he is our best prop. More likely mullally, ormonroyd, Lilley Walters will all go to free up cap space.

Then next year jjb, Ferres, cuthbo and parcel will follow.

Is that worse than taking the view that they have to be seen to be doing something, even if that involves letting better players go while still retaining poorer ones? 'Cause make no mistake, that is effectively what the loss of Mitch Garbutt would be.

see what your saying but look at it from a different point of view. Cuthbo player injured put his body on the line, got flack from fans , but was playing injured playing in a role that is not his best assett. Garbutt only prepared to play when fully fit not prepared to put his hand up and play through the pain barrier. not saying this is the case with Garbutt but it could be and the inner working of the club may have picked up on this. Played with players myself who are off the field and hogging the physio Bench over the slightest knock. If Garbutt is one of those types then i can see why a club would want shut of him, But purely speculating and offering perspective, the coaches and other players and inner circle of the club will know who is prepared to play on and do the hard stuff.

Lilley already gone went mid last season, shame for him but not good enough for super league level. Ormanroyd walters should all follow, Mullallay a strange one was a big improver in 2017 but failed to stand up this year when he could have stamped is authority and pushed for a starting prop spot.

I'm actually a closet mullally fan and think he can do a squad based job for us but in reality we have too many of these type of players which is why the overall quality has dropped.

So sad to say, mullally is one of those that should be on the leave list if there is an option to make that happen.

The issue with that is that Cuthbertson only takes up a NFT place, whereas Garbutt takes up the NFT & OQ place, which to bring someone else in, we would need. I was told a few weeks ago that Garbutt was possibly going to Hull KR.

Is it confirmed we have signed Merrin? Haven't seen any statement online but someone has tweeted we have. Very happy if true

souths have made a late bid but he has either not yet signed, but every other indication is that he has signed, or he has signed and will be revealed next week when Furner arrives which seems the most likely.

Hope so. Would be the definition of Marquee. Just turned 29 so in theory has a few prime years left