I wonder if OP has mixed up mullaney and nielsen. We know Nielsen is back in oz for personal reasons and I wouldnt be particularly surprised if he gets offers from NRL clubs and doesnt come back. I'd be disapointed if this is case, as I think he'll have a big year next season if he stays but we've already got welham who could drop into his spot. I'd be a bit surprised if mullaney gets offers with his injury record as I was 50/50 whether we should offer him a new deal in that respect.

Definitely no mix up,I am as gutted as you all. I am sure the club will have an adequate replacement lined up.

Almost sure this is correct. Also been assured Nielson is coming back.

If Mullaney isn't going to be here for 2016 I guess Lee Smith would be an attractive proposition for a club looking for an experienced full back. Makes the signing of a scrum half even more crucial than it was previously though.

wasn't there talk of mullaney having an op in offseason to cure his recuring hamstring issues. Wonder if they found they couldnt do it for some reason and decided to part company. seems odd if hes gone so soon after signing a new deal.

If it's true and he's gone then we should be playing Oscar Thomas at fullback, not signing some journeyman like Lee Smith. Clare can be a backup until Campbell is fully fit again.
It also frees up some quota space - and maybe some salary cap - to look for a decent 7 and maybe even another 9 to spell with AoB (Beswick?).

Disappointing, but not the end of the world.

That journeyman Lee Smith did a pretty good job on us when we faced Wakey in the qualifiers. He is clearly better than our current options now Mullaney it seems is no longer likely to be with us.

Smith did ok in that one game, but how can you say he is 'clearly better' than any of our current options? Have you even seen Thomas play fullback?
All Lee Smith did against us was run through the huge defensive hole left open by Gaskell and Purtell. Any of our current FB options would have had a blinder if they had traded places with Smith that day.

Does make sense. Could be when the surgeon's gone in, he's found the damage worse than it was thought and it's pretty much game over.

Shame for the lad if that's the case. Especially given how'd he'd signed a new deal as well.

However, I tend to not put a large amount of stock in any rumour I hear on the internet.

With all due respect... Did you see Ben Evans hamstring injury (I think last year) that required surgery? If not, then tap it in google!! That was repaired... So i'm sure Mullaney's will be.

Mendeika hasn't impressed. Clare is a better winger than fullback for mine. Campbell is currently crocked with a serious leg injury and how long it will take for him to fully recover is unknown.

Smith has bags of SL experience and has played at international level and at 29 I feel he would go well for us in the Championship. Thomas is a bit of an unknown quantity but I'm comfortable in saying that he isn't a better player than Smith.

Interesting that you mention Purtell, I seem to recall you being a leading voice for him to be dropped in favour of Adam Henry. Purtell was probably our stand out player in the qualifiers.

My point is that we already have plenty of Fullbacks on our books. Why sign another one who is approaching the end of his career? Smith is a former international while Thomas is a current international, scoring tries at that level to boot.

I wanted Purtell dropped because at centre he is a defensive liability. The Wakefield game proved my point perfectly, and there were countless other examples throughout the season. He played well when he was at six and his poor defensive reads were not exploited as much.
Having said that, I still hope we don't end up going with Purtell as one of our first choices for the halves. He tries hard but the agility and pace just aren't there anymore.