Halifax should be 2 points. I say should be!
hopefully a win v Widnes should see us almost safe

We have 4 points, 10 guarantees us safety. Like Tad says, we should pick up 2 points against Halifax, and I would also say 2 points against Toronto. As it stands I wouldn't expect us to beat Salford (that tells you how far we have fallen...) so that means we must beat Widnes to guarantee safety at the first chance.

It's incredible that the club heirarchy have fallen asleep at the wheel so badly over the last few years that we've come to this. We are perilously close to being Bradford Bulls...

not in the finance way.but yes, hopefully it will wake people up. you should spend the full cap, or close. we must have been miles off this year. unnaceptable

I think you've some way before you reach our level Bats.

Leeds are probably only off the cap this year due to Galloway going. Apart from that with the increases given to various players and new contracts we'll be up there.
The players haven't performed since about April, that's the problem.

sorry I'm not having that. the squad is garbage. gh isn't that stupid

I would be shocked that we are near to the cap if that were to be true.
We have lost some quality high earners over the last few years replaced by mediocre players.
If GH has paid over the odds to recruit these players then he really has lost the plot.

Already counting Salford down as a lose in my table. We are guaranteed to be in the MPG at the moment (subject to beating Halifax) as the lowest we can finish is 5th now. As I say, that's subject to winning Halifax or any of the next 4 games.
Win 3 and we are safe.
Win 2 then is a points diff matter !

It's been said for years - players wait to move up the salary scale. Players relatively underpaid even when McGuire/Burrow were here have seen increases at last. People might think they are not worth it given where we are now, but this is a team which won a Grand Final last year so the pedigree of a lot of these players has largely not been called into question.

Last years GF win was a bit of a red herring IMO. Castleford played like rabbits in the headlights and I'd say that even though we played well enough to win, overall we were more than a touch fortunate to be crowned champions.

The reality is that whilst the SC hasn't changed since inception (this is crazy btw) the value we have in our current squad is appauling when compared to that of previous years. If we are really spending the full cap, or even close to it, on this squad then someone needs to give their head a shake...

Take the GF win aeay we still were good enough to finish 2nd and actually get to the GF, we need some signings for sure but our players haven’t suddenly turned into rubbish players.

I get where you are coming from, logically they shouldn't have, but my eyes tell me a different story. Joel Moon is a good example, he should still be one of the best players not only at the club, but in the league, and he's been chronic this year for whatever reason. We have lots of similar cases, Sutcliffe has reversed at such a rate (from the player who kept Sinfield out in 2015) he should consider having beepers fitted

I hope that with a serious coach in place for next year that many of our average to poor performers can become average to good, and that we add 3 or 4 more high quality, proven additions in key places, otherwise we will tread water for the next 12 months. With some realistic changes we could aim for 4-5 place next year and then a serious challenge again the year after.

The challenge is recruiting those proven high quality players. Many are under contract. Clubs will be unwilling to sell unless the fee is so large they can justify it to their sponsors and supporters. Is GH really likely to spend big? He’s not exactly known for it. Also recruiting proven players from the NRL is tricky given the difference in salary caps nowadays so you end up going for someone with off field problems. Do you want that? Anyone decent down under will be staying there if they can help it. I think you're more likely to pick players up from other SL clubs when their contracts are up or returning English NRL players.

Back in 2006-2010 we replaced proven quality (Peacock, Vainikolo, Hape, Vagana etc) with far lower quality players (Simon Finnegan, Tame Tupou, Chris Nero, Chris Feather etc) yet apparently and bizarrely were still paying up to the cap limit. I expect you’re the same but admittedly not to the degree of naffness we were at.

I think (hope) that when (if) we are safe in the middle 8s we should see some announcements.

I think we need a halfback (already sorted) a second row, prop and centre to at least compete next year but the big one will be the head coach, I reckon the person is lined up already.

The problem with us is likely to be that players have been up graded with contracts beyond their actual ability since the obvious greats have moved on.i don't believe the cap space is as big as some on here assume for that very reason.