They'll still be non-Fed trained, at least to start with depending on their ages.

The only thing having a UK passport would get them around would be the work permit regulations.

Retains for me:

J. Peacock (1 Year deal)
R. Bailey (3 Year deal) - Replacement for K. Leuluai.
J. Pitts (3 Year deal)
D. Smith (5 Year deal)

Get rid of:

B. Webb - Replaced by Ben Jones Bishop at fullback
B. Delaney - Replaced by Pitts / Hauraki / D Smith / AN Other.
L. Ambler will leave the club if he goes out on loan this season IMO.

Also, can see new deals been given to Singleton (5 Year deal), McGuire and Burrow (3 Year deals), Ablett (5 Year deal), Chisholm (5 Year deal) and also, at the minute, L. Smith (3 Year deal)

For me i'd retain..
Bailey (2yrs)
JP(1yr rolling)
Pitts( i would look to get him out on ,oan to a SL team then decide).
Daniel Smith (at least 2yrs and again get him out on loan hopefully in SL).
I'd also re-call Amor depending on his form IF he maintains it then i'd be happy to take up the remaining 2yr deal.
As for the other renewals amongst the younger players i'd be looking to either getting them into the team for at least 8/10 games next year and then re-assess IF they continue show and improve their potential then get them into the squad on a regular basis or again out on loan the U20's isn't good enough to test them on a regular basis.
I'm sure Contracts for the likes Mags ,Burrow and Ablett etc etc will take care of themselves.

I can see McGuire and Burrow getting 3 year deals extension ,the existing contracts runout in 2013 ,but Ithink they will be amended this year.GH may come up with some young over sea's signings to start in 2013

A real quality signing has to be on the cards for next season, surely, as we must have a fair bit of salary cap space left at the moment and with Kylie going probably Ambler and maybe Webb and Delaney. There must be 200k in wages just there to go alongside the money we have spare from Buderus leaving.

I dont know who is OOC especially in Australia but we should be able to attract a top player. Somebody with the reputation of Mullins, Toopi or Eastwood but turns out to be as good as we expected those 3 to be!!

Adam Blair maybe?

I would'nt be too quick to speculate how much we'd have to spend jarvis ,lets not forget the contract upgrades for the younger-lads who are now 1st team plus the expected emergance of others from the U20's.

I think Delaney has plenty to offer and his best is to come. He won't be on massive money and is better than a lot of SL backrowers and is miles better than Pitts.

Adam Blair maybe?quote


Is that the same Adam Blair that's just joined Wests on a 4 year, half a million dollars per season contract?!!?

It's not only Pitts though Wilko Singleton has been shifted to the BR ,Jjb ,Ablett ,Clarkson ,Hauraki and then there's other youngsters like Jordan Stewart (If he recovers from his knee op) Bravo ,Roche and Stott all of which have shown potential.
Don't get me wrong i think Delaney has done well but would you extend his deal at the risk of losing someone like Singleton or Stewart??

Absolutely.

However i would agree that first choice young English lads should be given every [ifirst[/i opportunity over their antipodean counterpartsmy[/i insight is a puzzle )...but we do appear to have many other options which will render his re-signing uneccessary.

No chance of Adam Blair whose just signed a new contract.
At the end of 2012 we know that Brent Webb and Kylie Leuluai are returning to NZ. Most of the other OOC players will be offered new contracts of various durations including I think Delaney. One/two players currently have question marks against them.
Altough a few players have recently received improved contracts we are still way under the cap due to Buderus and Ali not been around. I agree that a quality signing would be great and is affordable if it strengthens the squad (GH and Brian McD also say this). Gary H went to Aus and NZ looking for young talented players but I've heard nothing (is GH back yet?) I think if anybody is signed it will be for 2013. Any further news?

I didn't think it was certain Webb is leaving at the end of the year - just that he's only signed for one more year?

I too wouldn't underestimate just how much the contract upgrades will have cost - Hall will be one of the highest paid players now, and Watkins, Hardaker and Clarkson's contracts won't have been cheap (and IIRC they may include higher payments for international honours). With the drying up of the NRL well, you'd expect significant wage inflation for reasonable standard Brits, who can't be as easily replaced by Aussies as in the past.

I've seen nothing from Pitts, singleton or Stewart to suggest Delaney has anything to worry about yet! I would think huaraki would go before frogga