I KA n't see it happening - what position does he play?

There’s a Galaxy of players out there to choose from.

It's years since he's played RL. He'd need ESCORTing through the first season.

OK so assuming that Watkins pulls through his form/confidence issues given more time, and assuming Ward makes a full recovery from his knee injury, I reckon Leeds still need. as a minimum:
2x Prop
1x Second Row

For 2020.

I'd be tempted to let Ferres go, although he's having a decent season so far this year. I'd probably lose Donaldson, Ablett, JJB, Sutcliffe, Cuthbertson, maybe Parcell, (Golding?) from this year's team, and Myler when the opportunity arises for a better player - although again he's playing OK this year overall and does try hard. I've just never been a big fan of his. Peteru needs to go if he can't string some form together this year with more game time too unfortunately, I don't think the lad plays his weight. I'd have a hard look at Singleton too. That's 11 current first grade players; although 2 are pretty much already happening.

The only way we're going to improve is by "devil take the hindmost", and swapping our less able players for better ones, turning weaknesses into strengths where we can.

I'd consider running with Dwyer for 80 mins at hooker, with perhaps Johnson coming in as cover next year. Trout, Mustapha, Walters, Holroyd, McLelland, Newman all need some first team action through this year with a view to next. If we swap quantity for quality in the first team, the young lads should be ready to start making appearances over the next couple of years, and replace a load of squad players, particularly in the back row, we seem to have accumulated.

We should be aiming at building close to an NRL-quality pack as a foundation stone for everything else. Although the RU winger Joe Cokanasiga looks an absolute beast, would have him. I think McLelland needs a shot at the next half back opportunity between Myler and Tui. So no Ford for me.

Dwyer is not a quality to be a replacement. I am not bagging him, and he has some good moments, but he is not sufficient quality to be a number one 80 minute hooker, in the Roby, McShane, Clarke mold. We need a quality hooker if we are replacing Parcell, with Johnson working with him.

Our wingers are terrible, and we need quality, which is why I would agree on the Cokanasiga route if that was true.

We need to get back to faster forwards also, which was an hallmark of our dominance years. Ours are ponderous at best.

It’s always a good benchmark to see how many of our players would make it into the starting 13 of the leading clubs. At the moment it’s very few if any at all.

Too early to say with the new signings but outside that we measure up poorly.

On that basis would you also get rid of Dwyer then? Or does Corey need another year or two before first team appearances?

Wingers - I don’t think they are our biggest issue by some distance. I think Briscoe has been playing well for a while now in a struggling side, although I’d like to see him getting more meat pies. Handley - he can finish, and outside a good centre he’ll get points. Whether he can defend or take a high ball, I suspect we will find out.

I think we just need better quality all round in the pack. I can live with Merrin but generally it needs a sweep.

I would say possibly only Hurrel would get in even with his poor defence.
On the other hand there would be several of the Wakefield players I would gladly take in to the Leeds team right now.

I would let go, simply because Corey will be a better number two, and Dwyer IMO isn’t good enough to be a number one. Still a good player though, but should go for one of the other clubs as first choice.

Our wingers are crap. Neither can defend, or position correctly. Don’t think they have the heart for it. And I was a very big Briscoe fan. And I should say to be fair, neither could Hall defend either.

I'm guessing a hooker would have to come from NRL because all the good ones in SL are tied up to top clubs already, unless we made a bid to get McShane back with his previous at Leeds. And in that case, we may as well retain Parcell for another season or two unless we can find a better value player.

Agree re. Johnson, I really like him.

Briscoe had a great tackle against Saints I think it was, almost Tallis-and-Hodgson-esque, but he isn't great under the high ball and does get pulled out of position too often. Again though, I wouldn't be swapping him any time soon because there are far worse problems in the side. I was a bit disappointed we didn't land Kyle Feldt actually - but realistically if an NRL club is interested in a player, it's extremely difficult for a SL club.

We should never waste an import slot on a winger. I'd say Handley looks Dodgier than Briscoe - he's slow off the mark but not big enough to bust through defenders.

The basic problem is we still have too many really poor forwards - Peteru, Cuthbertson and Singleton are all bottom of the table players for mine.

I agree to a degree on import slots, but then again our best wingers have usually been imports, to have a Marcus Bai available now would be great.

However, regardless, it doesn’t mean you settle for rubbish. We have good non import wingers in our comp. Wigan have four better than ours. Saints have one who can’t get a game.