I haven't seen enough of him to say whether he should be picked so yes.Coaches in general don't take risks in important games they play it safe unless there is no other option.If you do and you win and player plays well you will called brave.If you lose and the player has a stinker you will be called reckless.

seriousaboutrl.com reporting that no further high profile signings expected at Leeds for next season.

Sounds credible, although we’ll know more if and when we confirm SL status for next year.

another fight for 8th place then

If that report is correct we will be 6th to 8th at best.

As long as we get a quality coach in, I don't mind.

Considering that the average wage for a SL player is around £80k, then we will have a lot of cap coming free this close season. Now unless we have overpaid the players who have signed new contracts (my guess is that Walker and Handley were earning much less than the average on their old contracts) then we should have quite a lot to play with. I get that we are probably overpaying a bit for Lui and Martin, but they come out of the savings of Parcell and Watkins who were two of our higher earners.

I'd be happier with a top coach than another top player, but there must be room for both...

Hm I wouldn't be at all surprised if we ran with what we've got now. Maybe an official appointment of assistant coach to Agar, with Carr the man in the seat now.

It's not saying much, but we've probably been in top half of the table form since after Agar took over. That's not to say that would be good enough next year as other sides strengthen.

Commercially I'm not privy to the salaries and contracts of course, but if Ferres, Ablett, JJB are indeed leaving then I can only assume the club is intending to run under the cap next season - unless we've back ended the likes of Martin.

However it could also be the case that we're clawing back the extra salaries paid to Hurrell and Merrin over and above the Marquee allowance, in effect, leaving us at around the Sky TV money cap again.

Having said that we do need extra cash to upgrade talented youngsters / fend off interest, and it can be a real advantage to be able to make a mid-season signing if quality becomes available.

IF McLelland, Holroyd and Oledski can step it up next year we might be OK but I can't see us challenging on this basis until at least 2021.

Which is probably the plan of the club: survive, stabilise and then push for titles.

It will be a shame if we don`t sign another prop and scrum half but if we get a very good coach and start blooding some of the youngsters then I can live with 6th-8th next year.
It might be we consolidate next year if we stay in SL that is look at what we have coming through the ranks and build up a top five squad the following year.
With a good coach at the helm to steer them it should be possible.
Whilst others have strengthened and got themselves out of a dip such as Hull, Wigan, Saints and Wire. We seem oblivious on how to do it so fingers crossed a new coach can/should be able to deliver in two years time.
Not ideal for a club like Leeds whatsoever but that`s where we are at.

It's a bit of an oil tanker to steer isn't it?

Another thought on this is that Leeds look very much to be trying to replicate the formula that worked when Sinfield et al came through.

At that time Leeds clearly had the best Academy set up and were able to attract some of the best talent in the country. There's more competition now.

Anyway it is what it is, and we do have the makings of a decent squad now.

Mellor to come in.JJB to retire, Ferres rumoured to be off,Ablett as far as I know no news.Upgrades for Walker Newman and Handley.Just might not be a lot left to play with.

That is exactly what they're doing IMO, I think people need to temper their expectations of next year, this rebuild will take at least another year probably 2.

Whilst obviously not Ideal I think our squad is at least capable of not being in the again next season and that is what we should expect, not challenging but not in the bottom 4/5

Ferres alone should free up a big chunk, add on Ablett, JJB and Donaldson, we surely are a long way off the salary cap for 2020.