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.

That is a bit of a big jump isn't it? Where has anyone said he isn't ready? People have talked about control, game management. McGuire has played for years, he doesn't have it, Burrow has played for years, he doesn't have it. We need it, but you think we should rely on Sutcliffe to just have it.

I'd rather Sutcliffe be given the chance to show he can do it, without having Sinfield lurking over his shoulder off the bench waiting to come and snatch the reins off him mid-game.

So yes I'd happily go into next season with him as first choice stand-off, if the alternative is he gets farmed out to some backwater on loan where Leeds lose control of his development and we get some short-term signing in his place.

I think we all agree we need to sign a hooker as straight replacement for Aiton. The half back debate I don't see as something that would hinder Sutcliffe's development. For the four spots in the 17 we have McGuire, Sutcliffe, burrow and new hooker. Out of those, if we signed another half, I see burrow being the first to drop out. Not Sutcliffe.

I agree it shouldn't be some old timer here for a couple of seasons it needs to be some here to stay and to eventually replace McGuire and burrow. Someone like Brierly or Widdop.

The last two seasons we've had spells without Aiton or burrow through injury and it has really affected us. I don't think it would be fair to give Lilley the job of "first reserve" after just a few games this season. I think strength in depth is is lacking in our creative roles and it wouldn't be a bad thing to sign another half as long as he fits the bill. Emergency bbuy is deff not neccissary.