Hooker is well down the list of positions we need to strengthen. Ackers will be fine if we can actually get the pack around him sorted out.

Yeah Ackers will come good, he's had a very stop start time and off for a while with injury, he's no pack to get on the front foot with. I think even Cam Smith (the NRL great) wouldn't have looked his best playing alongside that shower of a pack.

100% Leeds biggest issue is our props Oledski who some people are bagging because hes made a few mistakes probably because hes trying too hard is carrying our go forward on his own. We need 2 new props and the stats don't lie this season or previously.

Oledski

Games 16
Carries per game 14
Average metres 118
Average gain 8.5
Tackles 28

Lisone

Games 14
Carries 9
Metres 72
Av gain 8.04
Tackles 15

Sangare

15 Games
Carries 7
Metres 55
Av gain 7.42
Tackles 18

Holroyd

5 Games
5 Carries
32 Metres
6.4 av gain
18 Tackles

So apart from Oledski our other props workrate is poor dont carry the ball enough their impact making yardage is
negligible in Holroyd and Sangare case and they don't tackle enough. Fix that and ackers and Frawley look different players. If lose Mik for any length of time we are really in trouble.

Add in the averages for Eseh please, over/under bet 20 metres per game

Think the stat I heard was 88 metres in 4 games for Eseh. Desperately need another 2 senior props.

Damning numbers. No doubt metered from the back row aren’t great either. Cam smith tops the tackle count which probably doesn’t help with his decision making in attack.

Be interesting to see if any of that work rate changes under Arthur where we might see the backs carry less.

I actually think Wallace would have been a good signing for us. Good business from Catalan imho.

I'm hoping Holroyd will do well under Arthur - there is a really good prop in there if we can extract it somehow.

There will be some movement with a couple of players which is out of our hands; Martin might go somewhere else if the offer is good enough and I saw something about O'Connor earlier in the year. Who knows.

I just hope we keep Arthur for at least next season, he just exudes confidence and class to me. That older mentor-type figure is perfect for a young and developing side, I just think he's a great fit for Leeds right now.

I'm much more confident in us identifying and fixing gaps in the squad now we have him and Blease working on it.

Newcastle knights giving option of assistant coach to Arthur for next year

I thought so as well but he needs to hit the ground running in 2025 as at the moment his contract reflects that he should be one of our 4 prop rotations but based on the last 3 years doesn't justify the cap space. A good spell for a few games in 2023 but other than that well below the club investment in him as a player. He has played 8 games less than Fusitua over the last 3 years! I am not saying we should try to move him on but he needs a big year next year if he is too earn a new contract with leeds and he may start next year as 5th choice prop if we are able to bring a couple of new signings in.

@Loiner at Large, can't reply to your post but that makes staggering reading and confirms our thoughts. Shocking. You can bet your bottom dollar Arthur wants that pack totally revamping.

Richard Hunwicks to leave with immediate effect.

Says he's been serving a lengthy notice period, I wonder when he decided to pack it in?

If BA is going to stay, and with Blease being new in role, they may want a change of approach in S&C anyway.

Yes, it does say that. However, it does seem a little coincidental, doesn't it? One thing is for sure - despite his reputation it's hard to spot any obvious achievements in his time at the club. The squad seems injury prone, physically weak, and poorly conditioned.Yet another who just hasn't worked out.

perhaps his instructions from rohan smith were to prepare them for pace and agility rather than put muscle on.
just a thought as that was smiths game

And if there were any trace of pace or agility it would be a source of consolation. Can only hope that there is a plan in place, with Arthur and Blease as the authors.