Wigan's spend was reported at £3.1m, Catalans at £3.0, Saints Huddersfield and Leeds at £2.7m. All these clubs will spend very close to cap and the difference in the total is how much they pay their marquee players. There certainly isn't a huge amount of unspent cap at Headingley.

We have a few going off contract, including Fusi and Martin For quota spots.

For those not off contract, if I was coming in I would be saying to Lisone go back and be with your mrs in Aus, to frawley you aren’t going to play in front of Sinfield and to bentley you aren’t going to get in ahead of who we bring in.

Even without the three above you have room, with the three above you have more room, and one more quota spot.


We have hall to replace Fusi, saving money.
We replace Martin with a back row with size and some bang in D (McDonnell and that player is a much better mix for what we need) likely similar money.
Extra quota spot and money on a big starting prop to play with Mik. 200 meters a game, plays good minutes and can bang a bit in D.
On the others Sinfield is here so no money if frawley went as don’t need to replace.
Bentley - replaced internally with Gannon, back Ruan, Littlewood.
Lisone - replaced with another oversees prop, who plays longer minutes. I like Lisone but he plays such short bursts and never performs against a decent pack.

Part of the issue with our front row is the lack of size in our back row. If we had a a Sironen / Matau'tia style player in the BR, it would relieve pressure on the pack. Would love both, but think we can still improve a lot with one. If we bag Brad Arthur, it would be great to bring across a FR from the Eels, or even a BR like Shaun Lane.

I think there is a lot of overhype about Sinfield Jr. There is certainly potential, but I haven't seen anything to suggest that he is ready to start as the first-choice half-back. If he didn't have the surname he has, then I don't think there would be half as much clamour for him to be in the team.

What are your thoughts? Do you think he's being pushed too quickly, or do you believe he's ready to step up?

I don't think it can be said that Jack has been pushed too quickly. He has only made two appearances all year. I think the club is doing the right thing with him I don't think he is ready for SL week in and week out.

Hopefully, he will be in the 17 against London.

Agree with lots above. Bit of an out of body experience.

It's highly likely Fus will be moved on, but if he does by miracle stay fit the rest of this year and play into form, and he'll take sensible money to stay, I wouldn't be surprised if we offered him another year depending on who else is available, if Martin goes etc. It's likely we will need at least 2 quota spots in reality though to fix our immediate problems.

Again if we can sign Eseh, and assuming we have Hudson and one or two other fit and more ready to play SL, we could probably sign just one really good prop who's at the Mik+ level and we'd be different gravy up front. One big back rower to partner workhorse McDonnell, and some more pressure on Smith with the likes of Gannon.. I think we have issues in the centres still - elephant in the room again is Newman, he's not been great again this season. Mom has some time but he hasn't blown my socks off either.

Yes, let's give Fusitua a new contract....

Jim, if the club gave Fus another contract I'd think very, very hard about renewing my season ticket. It would be insanity. Luckily, they won't because they have already signed Ryan Hall, so I'll just assume the sun got to you over the last couple days and move on. To give us a chance of competing at the top end next year, I think we need two props (probably one NRL and one French/English) and a big second row (if Rhyse goes) from the NRL. We'd still have the conundrum of a goal kicker to solve, but it would at least increase the chances of winning on a regular basis and give our half backs and three quarters a real platform to play off.

Is this a rumour over your way or is there something in it? He has barely played for us but has had injuries and was really a young player/project signing

No probably just wishful thinking. Eseh is from Leeds and we were reported to be in for him before he signed for Wigan - with you guys having so many props there is some sense in him coming to Leeds as we look short.

You always start with "jim... " whenever you tell me off.

Again I'm not saying we will or we should, just that it wouldn't surprise me in the right circumstances. It does look like is goose is cooked after we signed Hall f course.

And yes I have been out in the sun, pruning my wisterias.

It would be madness for the club to resign Fuss.We need to use his quota place wisely.

Such a shame we didn`t try and get Johnstone instead of Hall for next season.
Personally think he offers more long term value.

Johnstone is a cracking player.