Surely there was more chance of gale and sezer not clicking than the former Canberra pairing of Austin and Sezer?

Weve now lost 3 half backs from last year and signed 2. That doesnt add up to me but lets see what happens.

Wow, can’t see any chance of agreement from opposing views on this one!
IMO despite any statements made by Agar or for that matter GH it was always going to be Sezer and Austin as first choice starting hub’s. Can’t imagine Austin being sold on being a utility hub one week centre next the loose forward, followed by a spell on the wing or fb. Does not sit right with me and as pointed out they were a starting pair for Canberra a few years back. Would Gale be happy as 2nd choice warming the bench? I don’t think so and could not blame him so best all round to go to Hull before issues start in the dressing room. Gale has been good for us just a pity he was not 3/4 years younger when we signed him.
We might sign a project prop but I would not be surprised if we keep the cap space for upgrading someone’s contract.
It’s going to be interesting as so many are in their last year and although not all will be retained cap space will be reduced upgrading the youngsters contracts. It’s never a dull moment and who would want the job of trying to keep not only players happy but also fans.
One last thought, all of this Gale business has shifted the limelight from Agars position and who comes in to replace him when he moves upstairs.

Im not sure its as simple as that, how often did we have a first choice half back pairing on the field last year?

We had an injury situation that I can’t remember ever having last year, and still made the semis by the way!

With a bit more luck we won’t need to use our ‘backups’ for most of the year like last

Sorry Chris we cant rely on luck. We need to cover every eventulality. Last week we looked as string as we have in years in the halves now we are 1 injury from the team being massively weakened in my opinion.

Im not suggesting we are stronger with gale leaving, what i an saying is with Sezer and Austin here we are stronger than last year.

All clubs rely on ‘luck’ because they can’t have top line backup players in all positions , and has been pointed out not many clubs run with 3 top line halfbacks.

Myler will be our ‘backup’ he is as good as many if not all other clubs backup half backs.

We also have a few players we need to keep who ate off contract, if gale leavings helps with that then that’s a positive.

Gale obviously wanted to leave, what’s thr point in kerping an unhappy player, especially one as ‘vocal’ as Gale

Personally im more excited about seeing how Sezer and Austin go next year rather than fretting about Gale leaving

Last season we had Gale and Lui, who couldn’t string a run of games together due to injury and suspension.
I’m sure Sezer and Austin will be much more reliable in that respect.
McClelland was deemed not good enough, so why would he be a better back up option than Myler?
I really don’t see this as such a big deal.
I just don’t see how you can keep 3 top line HB’s at the club - that’s why Austin left Wire.
If we get a bad injury, then we get exposed, but you could argue that about most positions.
Maybe we will go for another back up like Mclelland, one for the future, or we are seeing how Sinfield develops.
I’ve said before, I think this was inevitable from the day Gale lost the captaincy, then we coincidentally go and sign 2 half backs!

If Myler is our back up thats fine we just have to hope and pray that neither half get injured cos we have seen on many an occasion that he isnt good enough in the halves. Simple as that.

Myler will be playing FB. Walker won't string 2 games together and will then have to retire.

To be fair, the 3 halves who have gone were extremely injury prone anyway.

Have you seen Myler play with Sezer or Austin?

Nothings ever as ‘simple as that’

No and i dont want to either particularly with Austin. Ive also not seen Sutcliffe play with either of them and i hope i never do.

Ive seen enough of both of them playing in the halves to know that neither are the answer there and i will point out that i like both players. Myler has done a great job at full back. Sutcliffe does a good job in the centre and moving him about has hindered him.

We had real quality and options in the halves i expected us to make real improvements next year because of it. I like Sezer and Austin, real quality, but we now have nothing behind them which is a real shame and weakens our squad in my opinion.

But lets see what happens now. We may add to the squad yet. I hope so.

I agree mate.
Myler is an ex international half back, who has done an excellent job filling in at full back.
He's a capable back up to Sezer and Austin.
If we get an injury, it's not ideal, but hardly a crisis.
Last season was ridiculous in terms of HB injuries - can't be as bad as that next season.
Sezer and Austin can't be as busted or injury prone as Gale and Lui.

Sezer is coming off a bad injury last year. Myler sounds great but that means Walker being fit at full back, he has been injured for 18 months, let’s be honest he is likely to pick up some injuries. So let’s say Walker and Sezer are out one game, we end up with Myler and Austin in the halves and Broadbent at full back. It’s not awful but it’s worse than Myler going in at full back and Gale coming in the halves which we did have a week ago.

The other argument I have seen of what are we meant to do? Well he is under contract so we don’t let him leave for free to somebody who is going to be looking to challenge to be near the top of the table that’s what. He is out of contract next year anyway.

Just seems bonkers to let him leave unless he has really spat the dummy out, there isn’t anything concrete to suggest that has happened. I am sure he wasn’t happy about captaincy or Sezer and Austin but he is a competitive animal and I actually think he would have started with Austin from the bench. Also we must must bring somebody decent in and as has been said it realises a chunk of money but only 75k of actual cap money. Struggle to see a British prop we bring in with that kinda cap and not have to pay a large fee for.

Gale is coming off a bad injury himself, what’s his percentage of game time over the last 2 years?

When he was fit last year he got himself banned then dropped for spitting his dummy out, and these were at the worst times possible with our other injuries at the time

Lovely post

Gale was off contract at the end of 2022 anyway. No players need an upgrade for next season so this doesn't really benefit us.

Myler should never be play in the halves again. Dreadful idea that we have numerous examples of. Leeming should be first up if we need cover. With Johnson Dwyer covering 9

Agree. Leeming more than decent in the halves

I've heard on the rumour Mill of Louis McCarthy Scardbrook from Saints... Surely that can't be right. He'd be tied down to a big contract wouldn't he?

Hardly. I don't think too many Saints fans would be disappointed to see him go.

Leeming is fine at half back but that means Dwyer starting at hooker which we know is just bad, really bad.

We have Johnson at 9 as well.
He's got a few games under his belt at York and will have a full pre-season.
If Leeming has to go in the halves, Corey will be OK at 9.

Leeming did his best in the halves but he had a lot of poor games there too as well as some good ones. Please lets not think hes the answer if we lose a starting halfearly in the year.

If Gale wanted out or if Agar decided he wanted him gone or a combination of the 2 then fine let him go but the squad needs a 3rd half back if its to improve on last year in my opinion. Weve a decent pack, decent threequarter line we need the halves to get us around the park.

Weve gone from having best half back options in SL to not even having a proper back up and thats a concern in my opinion.

Myler, Sutcliffe and Leeming are all decent players but none are Leeds half backs in my opinion. Fine for 1 or 2 games but no more.

And they may only be needed for a few games, in which case were covered



Not many if any SL teams have an ex international halfback as cover in that position