I don't think you have learnt anything from this season, sorry.

Although I have come to accept that Ablett has signed a two year deal, and in that respect your post does have some truth there.

I don't think Delaney will be here next year, so I don't forsee the scenario you are saying. But if him and JJB were here that would be a big mistake by the club. It isn't only about players leaving, it is about opportunities for others, and in Delaney's case the bigger issue is the quota spots, what a waste.

I did say if we haven’t got the required players signed for next year.

Even then, I do not see them offering anything above what we can get from the younger players in the squad, given the opportunity. But I do think new players will be in anyway.

Lets be honest here, we are not going to be challenging top five next year regardless, that is too early. With the signings and letting go I believe we will make, that IMO will improve us so that relegation is not an issue like this year. Lets go for that transisition year we should have been doing three years back, and actually do it properly this time, so that we are actually challenging for top five come 2020.

with 1 down it gives us a great chance to blood some kids. we won't come bottom. I'd be happy with halfway providing we blood some youngsters

For me the cull needs to be deep and to happen now.
Offering new deals to the likes of Abblett Jjb Delaney etc is ridiculous imo.
Get rid now sign some better quality players add in the best of the u19's and build from there.

Retaining all three could only be based on looking at them all individually and thinking they can each do some sort of job. I reckon individually you could make a reasonable case for any of them.

IMO we need to start looking at all the players not just individually but as part of a squad. We've got far too many players across the squad who can 'do a job' if surrounded by better players. The problem is that we end up with a squad packed full of inadequate players all relying on our few stars and the whole is far less than the sum of the parts.

Retaining all three would be madness. We need two new second rowers for the squad next year to give a back row rotation of New Player 1, New Player 2, Ferres, Smith, Ward, Cuthbertson.

I can see a case to keep Ablett, who still has the most to offer of the 3, and who would allow Cuthbertson to play prop (if he will do the hard yards stuff too), but all 3 would be nuts.

I think this says it all, and exactly where we have gone wrong since the end of 2015.

Really I am not sure you can make a case for any of them if you have top 4 aspiration - if your aim is middle table mediocrity then yes there could be a case for retention. The club see 2019 as a year of stability with 2020 to be the comback year - I expect all 3 to be retained - sadly

I don't, and I can tell you now if we did, there would be no comeback by 2020. Prolonging just makes the wait longer, it doesn't benefit.

I expect Ablett signed, unsure on JJB, but Delaney no.

IMO they all need to move on.

How come they opted for 2020?

Its too big a job to turn it around in one year - they know the squad is weak and they have missed out on the opportunity to strengthen it. With a new coach and Sinfield concentrating on recruitment hopefully they can strategically target the players they need to be a top 4 side again. Add to the the development of 3/4 youngsters over 2019 then perhaps things will look a whole lot better.

JJB is a definite - if he were retiring it would be known now and he would be getting a send off against Toronto - Delanney has already said the club have made him an offer, if they are offering him then they will definitely be offering Ablett.

Ablett has a two year deal, I have already said that the other week, that will be announced. He wasn't getting one under McDermott and was leaving, but Delaney was getting one. Things changed when Sinfield came in, who saw Ablett as a priority, and apparently wasn't going further at the time with Delaney. If Delaney signs a new one it is because the club did not get the replacement they wanted, that is the only situation I can see Delaney getting a new deal.