thats not sarcasm - that vitriol -

you cry wolf often enough...

I think you need to lighten up a bit.

Certainly looks stronger than this season's squad. Disappointing that we seem to be stuck with a pretend standoff but hopefully it's a burden we can overcome.

You've got good depth in the forwards and X factor players like Lomax, Roby and Manu who can win games on their own. You will certainly challenge the top couple of places. The weaknesses that I can see in the squad are the lack of a good stand off and in the centres. If Walsh can control games though that should allow Hohaia some more freedom and Percival could really make a centre spot his own.

A mixed bag for me.

Big new signings are excellent.
The fringe new signings are interesting and are exciting in their way.

The retentions are absolutely shocking defying both logic and belief.

That's probably why the way they have been announced is so low-key and almost apologetic.

I would imagine Wellens & Gardner are both re-signed on a lot less than their previous contracts and will be used as cover players, which could prove useful if we have injuries similar to last season and are possibly still better than other cover players we could have signed (players like Howarth)

I think it will be interesting to see how Lance goes at 6 alongside Walsh, it will be the first time since he arrived that we have an actual #7 gfor him to play alongside with a good organising and kicking game. If this allows Lance to play as a running #6, or use both him and Lomax as wider runners I think it could be a good move, if not I think we will see Wheeler there for the 5 games he is fit for. Again, unless a top class #6 comes available, I'd rather stick with what we have and look at bringing somebody in for 2015 who is what we need, than be stuck with somebody else for the sake of buying them.

Other than that, glad to see Makinson, Swift & Jones given starting shirts after their performances last year, and think they will also benefit from having Walsh in there (if his kicking game from last season in NRL is anything to go by will lay a lot of tries on for them). also think our forward pack is as good as, if not better, than any other in the league. The depth is great with Masoe, Amor, LMS, Walmsley, Laffranchi, Clough, Beaumont, Wilkin, Flanagan, Soliola and Manu all competing for places in the 17, and the likes of Greenwood, Walker etc as back up with SL experience from last year. For the first time in a good few years, I think we should realistically be challenging to win trophies again with what we have got.

Does "retained for the 2014 season" mean they're on a 1 year contract? I could live with it if so ...

I think lance will go ok next year.
I'm happy with the squad which is the first time I can say that for a while.
Wello is gonna have to perform well to keep a bench spot.
Bring on 2014

COYS

Sad thing is I doubt it. I just cant see what value he adds to the bench, he is a terrible halfback, way too slow to play in the outside backs and we are not short of proven forwards. He gives us a bit of experienced cover for Lomax but tbh I'd rather see us use someone with pace

I said the same thing last year. What's the point of having wello on the bench when he can only play fullback? He's awful at and other position.

It kills me to say but I wouldn't pick him at all. He's just a waste of a cap space.

I think Lance will surprise this year, what a great half back pairing it is.

It will certainly help him. No matter what people say about Lance, he's not come here just for a holiday, he's come to play but it's not just worked out yet.

I think you will be the team to beat this year, recruited really well. Especially in the halfs with plenty of depth in your squad.

tbh anything above terrible would surprise me in a good way. What worries me is our lack of cover for Walsh. Wheeler is a 6 by trade as is Charnock I believe so that leaves us with Wilkin again