And if nobody is available (for a reasonable price) who meets those needs - a likely scenario at this stage of the recruitment process - what do you do?

The team functioned pretty well with Sutcliffe and McGuire as starting half-backs earlier in the season, did it not? I can't say I recall game management being that much of an issue when we were rolling over Saints in the first half at Langtree Park, or winning convincingly at Castleford. Sutcliffe has earned the right to have first shot at the stand-off role in 2016. If it doesn't work out, then move on and look to recruit someone for 2017.

Bringing in another half-back to the club and thereby blocking the development of both Sutcliffe and Lilley is short-termist thinking. It's a good job nobody at the club had those kind of ideas in the Powell era, otherwise we may not have seen some of the club's stalwarts of the golden generation because short-term gains were put before long-term benefits.

And who will be your reserve hooker? Who will be your game manager?

I am not saying Sutcliffe or Lilley will not develop in the role (I hope they do) but if you and other critics do not see a need for a game manager then I would ask that you remember this before you take to your keyboard when we fail to win due to this omission next season.

The same rule applies to recruiting a hooker! This will not stop our search. Who knows we may end up with a mediocre hooker who can tackle eg

I note you didn't mention the loss at Warrington, followed by the draw against Hudderfield at Headingley when we squandered a 20-6 lead or the loss at Widnes all in consecutive weeks and all with Sutcliffe starting at 6. The following week Sinfield was recalled and we beat Hull KR by 20 points.

When all are playing well and better than the opposition we have momentum and the half backs role becomes easy as they are always on the front foot. But in a season form and injuries mean the half backs have to play behind a beaten pack or a very tight game where field position is vital. This is where Sinfield has won us many games not to mention his higher place kick success ratio.



I have already said that under the new structure it is vital to spread the minutes on the field for backs as well as forwards. Sutcliffe, McGuire, Lilley and A.N.Other can be rotated to bring on Lilley gradually and see how Sutcliffe develops.

There's no rush with Lilley, he's still got another year in the 19's, and has a lot of work to do to in the gym to get himself ready for regular first team RL. At this stage it's vital he's honing his craft and starting regularly in the halves. He isn't going to get much time in the first team so he'd be far better turning out for the 19s or Hunslet. That leaves us with 3 halves, one is still unproven, and returning from a serious injury that has seen several players of the last few years return significantly inferior to the players they were prior to their injury(Diskin, Gibson, Mathers). The other 2 halves will be 33, 1 of whom won't have been a starting halfback for 4 or 5 years.
To me, signing a halfback seems like common sense given the current situation.

Gareth O'Brien (good young halfback) has been released by Wolves.
He'd fit in with us very well in my estimation.
Better still would be both him and Clarke?

Because of those four only one - McGuire - is of a standard required by a top four side. Lilley has never played a SL game at half back so to suggest he is of SL quality is a huge leap of faith, Sutcliffe, hopefully he will be good as new but there is still a doubt and Burrow is no longer a top 4 half back. Perhaps now you can the need for an experienced half back of the appropriate quality.

In terms of cap space, the loss of Leuluai, Aiton, Peacock, JJB, & Sinfield from this year's squad should give us a fair chunk of change, even after Galloway and Mullally are taken off. Easily enough for a top hooker, another prop and a hooker/half back cover if we so desired.

Have to say I also don't see the need for another SR. Achurch, Ablett, Ward, Delaney, Keinhorst, Walters and Minchella seems enough to me. Especially given we can expect a prop to be playing 13 most of the time.

Fair point but don't forget others in the squad will be expecting to become the daddy earners now that JP and Sinfield are going so it doesn't necessarily mean all the money free'd up by them leaving translates to going into new transfers.

Garbutt is free atm, but not from next season. So we are losing Sinny, peacock,Aiton and Kylie, then getting Galloway, mullally,Garbutt and ?

Give Sutcliffe a shot at the 6 shirt for next season. Wigan have done it with Williams this year and I'd say it's paid off.

We have to get the cheque book book out for a hooker who can defend in the middle. I'd get rid of Delaney too, to be honest.

He's not "ready" apparently. Looked plenty ready to me, but that seems to have stopped being the Southstander way. We need to buy Thurston, Cronk and Cam Smith.

9 Has to be the priority and Sutty deserves the 6 spot imo.
As for Lilley i'd hope he gets gradually phased in as a 7 his form for the u19's and couple of games for the 1st team this year warrant at least a chance.
Finally lets get another F/T Coach in we need freshening up granted this year a lot of the RL we've played has been excellent but we still look rudderless when plan A fails or we start on the back foot.
Of course a new no2 may or may not prevent this but imo we need a new voice in there.
I will also add that i'd release Achurch and whilst Jjb has been a brilliant servant i think he's done as well.

It would help if the he was subbed when clearly struggling after 15 minutes but as we know our Coach loves his "machines" even when they are in need of an MOT.

Until last night I was of the opinion that we did not need an additional half back, however, after McGuires display that has changed. His lack of game management and petulance were painfully exposed. We need a half back with some guile that mixes a probing passing and kicking game when the pack is on the back foot. McGuire has neither of these attributes to the required standard and Sutcliffe although promising is not ready to assume that role.
We now need 1. A high quality hooker 2. Controlling half back 3. A dynamic back row as Delaney, Ablett and Ward are all similar players and last but not least a decent assistant coach.