Isn't sa going prison next year?

No names on the aussies (naturally). My one concern is that only the Aussie papers seem to to think that Orford isn't coming back for preseason with us. He would be the obvious one to let go if he has expressed an interest in leaving but has been told only if we can get a replacement of similar quality. The rest of the rumours are all a bit of a house of cards - if it all happens perfectly then we would have a good team for next year, unfortunately the best laid plans etc...

Which naturally means signing an average british player who whilst possibly offering an improvement of on what we have in those position (although we DO NOT need a full back) will not make up for the loss of Menzies.

Atm, players we have contracted for next season are:

Full-back: Kearney, Halley, Platt, Finigan

Wing: Halley, Finigan

Centre: Platt, Sykes, Wardle, Crookes

Stand-off: Sykes, Kearney, Addy

Scrum-half: Orford, Southernwood, Kearney

Prop: Lynch, Scruton, Hall, Sculthorpe (for now), G Burgess, T Burgess

Back row: Langley, Hall, Whitehead, Donaldson, Olbison, Andy Tate

Hooker : L'Estrange, Godwin, O'Brien

OOC (but not signed elsewhere yet) : Kopzcak, Crossley, Sheriffe, Reardon, Menzies & Worrincy

I think it's clear that (depending on who resigns) Stand-off, centre, winger, prop are the positions we need to strengthen (in that order)

Personally i'd keep one of Sheriffe or Reardon (whichever will be best value for money), and one or both of Kopzcak & Crossley (as they're both young for props)

It will be an interesting off season as Potter will have the (reportedly) 200k we were under the cap in 2010 plus the wages of Nero, Menzies, Worrincy and possibly Kopzcak, Crossley, Reardon & Sheriffe to work with.

We'll be doing alot of guessing until we've filled our quota spot and got a few more players in.

So looking at the Players we already have for next season and some of the stronger rumored players that Potter will be most definitely looking at i could see the team maybe lining up like this -

FB - Halley / Kearney
W - Finigan / K.Pryce
C - Platt / Chev Walker
C - Sykes
W - Halley / Meli
SO - Kearny / Pryce ( doubtful in my eyes )
SH - Orford
P - Scruton
HK - L'strange
P - Lynch
SR - Flannery / Elima
SR - Whitehead / Donaldson ( I like both of these players so still not sure who to pick! )
LF - Langley

Squad
Addy
Hall
Godwin
Sculthorpe
Olbison
Tom and George Burgess
Tate
O Brian
Wardle
Crookes

Would that team be good enough for next season and are there any positions that could be strengthen by any more new signings?

Why not just say well we could be lining up

1 Greenshields
2 Pelo
3 Meli
4 Reddy
5 Pryce
6 Pryce
7 Orford
8 Fielden
9
10 Sculthorpe
11 Elima
12 Menzies
13 Flannery

Left the 9 blank as that seems to be the only position we haven't heard rumours about. Wouldn't suprise me if we don't see any of the above in a Northern shirt next year.

L'Estrange is staying

Jason Demitriou is on Radio Leeds

He would probably do a steady job as long as he is not o/s counted

Potter is going to have a big job persuading players to come to Odsal next year, or a big contract based on tonights performance and previous ones for that!!

Interesting Hall has been left out for Saints game

If he has been carrying an injury all year then would suspect he should be in better shape for having a week off

Does this mean he has been dropped and is this an indication for next year!!

Micheal Croker latest rumour from South Sydney, not sure about him getting a visa though.

flannery close to new deal at saints,,either 2 years or 1 year with 1 year option,,sorry