I suspect Lunt & Achurch will be the only 'new recruitment' for 2013.

Let's face it having just won the GF again, like last year GH is still goiing to be able to retain a similar amount of season ticket sales on the back of that and use our repeated success to justify that his 'recruitment policy' is still working.

However, had we bombed out early from the play-offs these last 2 seasons having only finished 5th and not made all these Wembley trips, then bearing in mind his 'outburst' in June questioning whether it was time for a changing of the guard, then I think he will have been forced to try and bring in some 'big name' signings to replace the likes of Donald, Senior, Webb, Buderus,Diskin, Ali, Eastwood, Burgess etc etc to prevent a possible/probable 'loss of interest' in fans renewing/purchasing season tickets had these last 2 seasons not finished like they did?

I think you're probably right and I agree with your scenario if our season had not been so successful. GH will possibly say that he tried to sign Widdop but failed and there are no quality players available at the right price! Recruitmemt update in YEP soon.

GH's mid season 'outburst' was far from an outburst. It was a very carefully and considered press release.

By posing the question "Has this team run it's course?" achieved several different goals:

1) Puts the wind up some of the old guard who may have been considered to be coasting mid season.

2) Reassures the Season Ticket buying public that he is aware that performances aren't what they should be and is prepared to do something about it.

3) As it was an open question it gave GH a nice 'get out clause' should we succeed in any finals - which we did. GH can now say "I asked if we needed to change the team but obviously we don't so I need not spend much in the off season as we'll be starting next year as a Championship winning side."

Very shrewd bloke is our Gary.

We might have used up a little of our cap space making sure some of our young talent isn't poached by other clubs and keeping some space for big names to replace some of our key players when they start to go in a few years, eg peacock, sinfield, etc. some of these will be replaced in house. But no point having some average luxury Aussie signing on a decent wedge (eg Williams) money could be better spent in a year or so when peacock goes for example

The long term planning has been going ok bus far who are we to argue, one thing you can say is GH is a shrewd operator.

Both Sinfield and GH have said thet want more player rotation next year and also a target of finishing higher in the league. Both have said this means an improvement in the quality of the players in the 25 man squad and the inference is that will be met from both internal promotion for some of our talanted youngsters and also some recruitment. I think the addition of 1/2 quality signings will make all the difference (provided they are available and affordable!).

edited for confirmation of Shaun Lunts return to Huddersfield.

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... -1-5030513 From this interview with GH it seems: - Keinhorst, Singleton and Hood are still in the mix for next season. No mention of McShane, though... - We're still looking out for a big name signing... - ... but it doesn't have to be for 2013 - this squad can do another season. '2014 is the focus'.

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... -1-5030513 From this interview with GH it seems: - Keinhorst, Singleton and Hood are still in the mix for next season. No mention of McShane, though... - We're still looking out for a big name signing... - ... but it doesn't have to be for 2013 - this squad can do another season. '2014 is the focus'.

“We are still looking to bring in a quality player, effectively a replacement for Brent Webb, but not necessarily in the same position.”

That's exactly what was said when Buderus left, with no consequence.

I agree and he also said exacly the same a few months back when we knew Webb was leaving. GH gives the impression that nothing has happened but surely behind the scenes Gary is trying to put his words into practice! I suppose he has because he was quoted in the Guardian saying he wanted to sign Widdop and Andy Wison said the Rhinos had put a lot of effort into trying to sign him.
In the YEP interview with Peter Smith, Gary talks the good talk saying we ar still in the hunt for a quality overseas ace but then goes on to say there is no immeadiate need and then drifts into 2014. How does this square with player rotation in 2013 and the need for a higher quality squad? Incidently Widdops contract with the Storm finishes next year so if GH was really keen there's an opportunity although probably can't match money of NRL.

Eurosport Australia tagged an interview with Mac on the end of their repeat of the gf over here. I was interested to note that he included the name of Kirke in with other, more obviously influential players when explaining that Kev has other leaders around him. Either Kirke does and says a lot behind the scenes or its a massive bluff for the storm game!

As much as he gets stick, he has really upped his game this season and actually started to run like he means it

Frosties rumour of a few weeks ago of Kirke going to Wakefield may, on the sound of it, not happen.

Depends on what else is out there and who is avalable. On the face of it doesn't seem to be many external options avalable

It was probably linked to the expectation that Amor would be coming back to Leeds, until Leeds decided they prefered the older, sleep inducing option, with less raw potential to develop for the future.