Guess it depends on the injuries we pick up, which is unquantifiable, to be fair. I'd be happy with 26 or 7, and definitely no players that Jimmy just isn't going to play. As I said earlier, we seem to be recruiting with a view to probably still being in the championship next year, which does leave us in limbo to a fair old extent and the uncertainty definitely doesn't help.

I hope that the Bulls start a new reserve team like a number of the SL teams are planning to. If that is the case then we could accommodate a bigger squad but still keep them first team ready.

We've had a massive squad this year, which I think in part was over compensation for last year where we barely had enough players to put out a 17 every week. More focus on quality over quantity is needed for next year, I feel, regardless of what division we are playing in

I can't even begin to comprehend how difficult it must be to try and arrange a playing squad when you have no idea what league you'll be playing in, no idea how much money you'll have to spend and no way of giving anyone any guarantees. It's an absolute nightmare scenario, and it's not something I envy steve ferres for having to do at all.

That's a good point, does anyone have a link to the 'prize money and distribution of central funds please'? What would be the difference between the amounts receieved by ourselves and say, Wakey and Salford or is it purely based on where you finish in the middle 8's?

Lowes likes young players and he and is maybe of the view that being at the bottom of SL and the top of Championship does not represent a huge financial differential and is about no more than 2 or 3 players, on the basis that even in the event of promotion to SL, the type and number of players that could realistically see us challenge for 7th or 8th place are not available to us anyway.

Think that's spot on.

Given that around four or five of this season's squad never even got a game, it's pretty obvious that, given the understandable recruiting dilemma at the end of [ilast[/i year, a few of our recruits were maybe brought in on the evidence of youtube videos, rather than actually having been seen in action. Hopefully that can be avoided this time round.

I see Warrington are releasing Gareth O'Brien, wonder if we have first refusal on him with us letting him go back to them

Where you saw this ?

On the wakie board, releasing 4 players, don't know how true

Ben Evans another rumoured to be on his way out. Would definitely like to see him back.

Can't see GoB still being at Warington next year. Would hope we have some sort of first refusal on him.

With us signing him last year then letting him go back to Wire you would think we would stand a good chance, that's if Jimmy thinks we need a proper scrum half, obviously

If it's true about these 4 getting released, what about Joel Monaghan, we could do with a new winger. It's been a while since we signed one

I would take Ben Evans back in an instant, I'll be amazed if it's true that they are releasing him.
GoB goes without saying. If I was Lowes I would have been in regular contact with Tony Smith throughout the year to keep tabs on Gareth's situation.

I'd have both Gareth O'Brien and Ben Evans. Would be surprised if they released Evans but maybe it's to do with his injuries? He's had some poor luck with injuries in the last 3 years.

To be right, it was Jimmy who signed him in the first place, the bad bit is when he gave backword and it looked like we were up the creek, we gave Harry Siejka a two year deal. It certainly won't be easy to get him fixed elsewhere, unless we get a bit of the old Harry over the next few games. That probably won't happen for two reasons; firstly, it hasn't even remotely looked like happening, and secondly I can't see Danny Addy being replaced at this stage.

If we do for G O'B, I guess it will depend on how the finances and cap stack up.