Have to disagree with you on second row. With Ward back fit he will be like a new signing and hopefully Ablett, who rarely strung a set of games together, back at it added to Ferres we have three international standard back rows right there. Keinhorst is good cover now too.

We have Sutcliffe in the transition stage to full back. May not work long term, but for now with him and Golding we are covered there. Props are a bit Meh i agree, but we have a full quota on our books for next year.

Assuming Sutcliffe is now a FB that just leaves McGuire and Lilley for the half back spots so this is the glaring hole that needs addressing.

Its funny though isn't it, because virtually the same squad based on 2015 was seen by most as very strong. You'd say much weaker at fullback but also much stronger at hooker. So I guess the real question - particularly if not much happens on the recruitment front - is how many of the underperformers from last year can turn it around?

I don't see us been that much weaker at fullback. Sutcliffe's catch/pass and kicking game, plus his improving goal kicking are light years infront of Hardaker, plus Sutty is far less of a liability off the field. Sutcliffe is a very solid defender. He can brake tackles and isn't slow.

I think Sutcliffe in his first season back from a shocker of an injury became any easy scapgote for venting fans. He wasn't given the time by fans or the club (due to injuries and form to find his feet again).

I think he's been treated very unfairly with many on this forum leading the witch hunt with pitch folks in hand.

I agree with that. Whilst still raw in that position I can see some potential in Sutcliffe at FB. Will he be as good defensively as Hardaker, no but I don't think he'll be fine in that department. The area that was Hardaker's weakness....ball in hand 20m away from the opposition line....I've already seen enough to suggest Sutcliffe will offer us much more there.

As long as they know they're going with him at FB and he can spend pre-season working on the role then I think he could turn out to be one of our best performers next year.

The second row is an issue for me agree about Ward but I didn't see anything in Ferres to suggest he is anything special in fact the number of penalties he gives away is a serious negative. Ablett has been a great player but like JJB his best days are well behind him. Jimmy is average at best.

Anyone who thinks Sutcliffe can perform anything close to where Hardaker was in 2015 is mistaken - he isn't defensively in the same league, running with ball same better in the line yes but his negatives far out weight his positives to Hardaker c2015.

Apart from Suttcliffe can pass.

As I said he will be better in the line

He's better at busting the set line and getting through a gap.

Is that positive not good enough to outweigh his negatives, which I don't think are too bad at all. His defence he's a good size and speed and can tackle. He's looked fine under the high ball too. The one thing is obviously positioning but that I'm sure will improve with time and a pre-season under his belt learning this new position.

I doubt he'll ever be as good as Hardaker defensively but I still think he'll be good enough defensively.

If he was playing for Wigan yes it would be but Leeds don't play that structured attacking style - can he break the line like Hardaker did?

Time will tell but it is a downgrade IMO - he is very inexperienced and the jury is still out

A full pre-season learning the position and a more settled side around him will be the key.

Lets not forget he's coming off the back of a very nasty knee injury and it took Disko nearly 2 years to get his sharpness back.

Who is going to be his teacher to learn from?

Wrt Sutty he'll prove his worth imo either at FB or if he's moved back to 6.
Given an injury free run in a settled side i think he'll go on to be a quality player for us.
There are issues though we need at least 1 HB & a "linebreaking" Prop/SR.
Mags/Burrow are way past their best Lilley is still learning & our pack is carrying plenty of 30+'s on a downward injury prone spiral.

Depends on which way he wants to build himself out I suppose.

Attacking or defensive.

Though who he will learn the nuances from is a mystery. Youtube maybe?

That's a key point wrt Lilley as well imo Eaton was never anything but a journeyman PT HB.
There's a lot of potential/talent i dont trust this Coaching set up with.