I can see the thought process regarding the centre position in that neither of our existing centres hit the line hard and direct in the way that a typical NRL centre would do and Handley is our strongest and most direct runner in our back division. I would have concerns defensively with him and Hall on the left side. We had that type of player in macdonald but momorovski is not a like for like replacement.

Not a rumour, but just a thought - would Mike Eccles be a good assistant to groom for the head coach role? Always very impressive in press conferences, and has got a part-time team to be ultra committed and put the effort in, despite being beaten most weeks.

I wouldn't be surprised if Ian Watson was brought in as an assistant.

On a London theme I thought Lewis Beinek was the best prop on the field on Sunday. If we are planning to give Hudson and potentially Sangare/Goudemand the heave ho, we could do far worse in my opinion. That would be in addition to two senior props of course.

I sincerely hope not

Yes I suggested the same in an earlier post and would much prefer him to Danny McGuire tbh.

Bienek would be a good choice and also Fenton Rogers at Huddersfield.
Both an improvement on Sangare and Goudemand.

Who knows who’d be best. Brad Arthur is a top coach, yet looks at the performance vs London!

Ian Blease in the YEP confirming we are looking at strengthening backs and forwards. Says they hope to announce a new signing before the end of the season. Your source seems pretty well informed.

Still moaning cap is an issue.
Don't see how

Easy excuse to allow them not to actually do what they need to do

I don't think it's a moan, it's a reality. The official line is always that it will be tight, at least until the likes of Fus and co are officially announced as leaving. If I was Blease I'd be singing the same tune. Under promising and over delivering has always been a shrewd strategy. Let's see what he comes up with.

So got another update after that woeful win against London. Brad Arthur wants to make big changes to the playing roster for 2025 and he's trying to free up as much cap space as he can. He's apparently held meetings with players telling them he doesn't see them as a Leeds player in 2025, it seems he's trying to ship out majority of the signings that Rohan Smith brought in his time as coach, which isn't surprising as Smith & Arthur are completely opposites as coaches and definitely like different players for their playing styles and systems.

A few players we're named to me who Arthur has spoken to them being Sangare, Goudemand, Hudson, Ruan, & Roberts. All these we're brought in by Smith and are our fringe players you would say it seems Arthur wants to try upgrade the depth we have in the squad especially in the pack. The only player I would disappointed losing is Ruan, just as he's still young and not been given a lot of chances at 1st team level and when he's played I don't think he's looked out of place, plus we are losing Martin in the back row so he'd be good to have as an option imo, but just depends on what Brad Arthur is going for next season he may well be looking at a like for like signing to replace Martin.

Agree on Ruan, rest could go for sure

If true, that's interesting. All depends on who we bring in, and whether these players want to see out their contracts or not.

Ruan is interesting. I've not seen much from him to show he'll be a starter in the next couple of years, but I think we do have a problem at the club not being patient enough with young forwards. Maybe if we'd shown Mulhern or Dupree a bit more patience (even throw Harrison and Ormondroyd in there), we wouldn't have the front row issues we have now.