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.

I suppose it depends on the calibre of player Blease is trying to sign. There should be a decent amount with the rumoured players that are leaving but if both players are NRL players funds may fall short.

Fair points.
Just think it sounds more like they are saying the cap is tight so it will restrict signings rather than they have cap to spend but it will gwt eaten up quickly if you get me.

Fusi, Martin,Donaldson, Hooley, Olpherts, Roberts, Hudson and maybe more leaving ( Ruan / CJ etc) and only Hall confirmed who is on a one year deal iirc and has academy trained dispensation on cap.
If we are close to the cap after those outs snd in then we are clearly up a creek

We never replaced Myler either did we, who surely demanded a modest salary.

If we are genuinely looking to sign 2-3 players for next season, I'm excited by the quality they will bring given how much cap space we actually have available...

Why would he come out and say we've got loads of money to spend? As soon as agents hears that, they will be upping the money the player wants.

Sangare still quite young for a prop isn't he... i think there's a good player in there and he has shown it at times (granted before he joined Leeds).. i'm surprised Arthur doesn't think he can make him any better.. it's pretty damning of Smiths recruitment though.. deary me, we've another pickle left to sort out. .

I shared your optimism for the Sangare signing at the time, but that's long gone I'm afraid. I've got no problem with clearing out some of the dead wood, but my only concern is that we might go down the road of bolstering the squad with another set of journeyman, which is exactly how we ended up with the two French lads, Roberts etc. Hope we target 3 (as a minimum) signings of real quality, trim the squad size and focus on giving the likes of TNW, McCormack, Sinfield and others a proper pathway.

Exactly, there's no chance he's going to say that, no matter what the reality is.