I'm not sure if there is a thread on this as I could not find one so I apologise if there is.

Aside from the fact we have no idea what league we will be playing (the signs are looking good for us to stay in SL mind) I just wanted your opinions on how we can build on a successful on-field season.

Players Out (Officially Confirmed)

Tom Burgess - [iSouth Sydney Rabbitohs[/i
Kyle Briggs - [iFeatherstone Rovers[/i
Olivier Elima - [iCatalan Dragons[/i
Ben Jeffries - Retirement
Ian Sibbit - Retirement


Players Out (Not Officially Confirmed)

Bryn Hargreaves - [iUnknown[/i
Jason Crookes - [iHull FC[/i
Paul Sykes - [iWakefield Wildcats[/i


Unsure?

Adrian Purtell - [iMay be told he can't play again.[/i
Luke Gale - [iHuddersfield Giants/Castleford Tigers[/i
Matt Diskin - Retirement?
Jarrod Sammut - [iPenrith Panthers[/i


Others Out Of Contract

Chev Walker
Manase Manuokafoa - [iwants to re-sign with the Bulls.[/i
Shaun Ainscough
James Donaldson
Jarrod Sammut
Danny Addy
Liam McAvoy
Jobe Murphy
Alex Ball
Karl Pryce
Phil Joseph


With this in mind. I just want to find out your opinions on the people who have left. The people who could be leaving. Who would you re-sign for next season and why and also who do you think will improve the squad? This is based on if we stay in SL btw.


EDITED - to include Elima's confirmed departure. And included a note saying Manuokafoa wants to stay

Diskin - retirement? How old is he?

Confirmed

Ben Jeffries - Retirement
Ian Sibbit - Retirement
Tom Burgess - South Sydney Rabbitohs
Kyle Briggs - Featherstone Rovers
Olivier Elima - Catalan Dragons

Out of Contract

Jason Crookes - Hull FC
Jarrod Sammut - Rumours of Penrith Panthers interest
Chev Walker
Bryn Hargreaves
Shaun Ainscough - *option for 2013
James Donaldson
Danny Addy
Liam McAvoy
Karl Pryce
Phil Joseph
Jonny Payne
Manase Manuokafoa

Under contract

Adrian Purtell - May have to retire
Luke Gale - Rumours of Castleford & Huddersfield interest
Caig Kopczak - Rumours of Huddersfield interest
Elliott Whitehead - Rumours of Hull FC / Leeds / Warrington interest
John Bateman - Rumours of Hull FC / Warrington Wolves interest
Paul Sykes - Wakefield interest after Season long loan
Michael Platt - Rumous of Salford City Reds interest
Alex Ball
Cain Southernwood
Jordan Aitchison
Jobe Murphy
Adam O'Brien
Thomas Olbison
Elliot Kear
Nick Scruton
Heath L'Estrange
Jamie Langley
Matt Diskin
Brett Kearney
Keith Lulia
Jay Rossi

bit of a misleading list that as the ones I've highlighted are under contract for next year even though other clubs are showing interest. also manuokafoa is out of contract. a lot depends on whether players under contract agree to be tupe'd across to new operating company or use change in ownership as a method to get out of there current deals in order to take up more lucrative deals elsewhere. Wouldn't blame any of them for doing that TBH, but this is where we find how much of a bond has developed between this group of players.

Ollies tweeted he is going back to Catalans

No surprise there.

didn't elima say a while ago he was off to catalan next year as he wants his young children to go to school in France?

from the lists above I would expect any or all of the higher paid players who are off contract to leave, but the rest will depend on which league we're in in the first instance I'd guess.

If you look at our contracted players we have;

FB - Kearney
WG - Kear
CE - Lulia, Putell (fingers crossed)
SH - Gale
PR - Kopczak, Scruton
HK - L'Estrange, Diskin
SR - Whitehead, Bateman, Olbison
LF - Langley

Who IMO should provide a great nucleus for a SL team. Plus our youngsters - Southernwood, Atchinson, Murphey, O'Brien and Rossi. And then surely some contract extensions.

I hope and don't think next years team if we are in SL will have to be drastically different to this years team.

Unfortunately the players and fans are consigned to a further spell in purgatory until we get a decision on which league we will be in next year.

But reading through the list the area which makes me most nervous is the half-backs - Jeffries and Briggs we know are on their way to pastures new, and there seems to be big question marks over Gale and Sammut's status next year. If you don't have 6 and 7 right it will always be a struggle - and this is from someone who was always too tall and good-looking to play in the half-backsicon_smile.gif

Need to be careful with comments like that it could cause several members of the forum to collapse and die of apoplexy! So if you were going to give him a punt I would make sure it was a leaky one and hope he drowns!

Certainly sounds like punt.

I would hope donaldson will be given a deal for next year.

Interesting to read that everyone seems to think that "Building for 2013", means players,players and more players !.

Bulls have been in SL as long as anyone, AND longer than many .

Ignoring the mess there is now. Wasn't the SL sky money back in 1995 meant to drag RL out of the grim dark ages into modern age into nice new stadiums.
Some" clubs now have new stadiums, and some still trying...... a few of those clubs now not in SL?). guess they were not winning on the field ?

To the uneducated eye ..........
Is seems the Bulls Sky millions have gone into the back pockets of players , for short term success.

If you really want to "Build for 2013". I am sure the other clubs who voted for you / kept you alive would appreciate it, if, "as a start" you were to BUILD a roof in 2013. most clubs have one.

Players Out (Not Officially Confirmed)

Olivier Elima - [iCatalan Dragons[/i Confirmed.
Bryn Hargreaves - [iUnknown[/i I'd like him to stay, but read somewhere he may want to play part-time.
Jason Crookes - [iHull FC[/i Gone.
Paul Sykes - [iWakefield Wildcats[/i I actually like him as a player and feel that he gets a harsh rap from our fans, but I understand he's one of the higher earners, so if Wakefield were willing to take him off our hand then maybe it's best for all parties.


Unsure?

Adrian Purtell - [iMay be told he can't play again.[/i Out of our hands. Hopefully we'll see him on the field again. On the other hand, without wanting to sound too harsh, it could relieve Mr Khan of quite a large salary if we don't.
Luke Gale - [iHuddersfield Giants/Castleford Tigers[/i From what i understand, his proposed move to Huddersfield was dependant on us getting the boot.
Matt Diskin - Retirement? Hopefully we can get another year out of him whilst bringing O'Brien along, or maybe dual registering him to get some gametime in the Championship (O'Brien that is, not Diskin. Obviously)
Jarrod Sammut - [iPenrith Panthers[/i Let him leave, he doesn't feature much at the moment.


Others Out Of Contract

Chev Walker Probably won't cost much, an effective squad player. Keep him.
Manase Manuokafoa 100% keep, especially with 2 props leaving. 2 year deal minimum.
Shaun Ainscough 100% at all times, but suspect in defence. 1 year deal with an option of another year. Make or break time.
James Donaldson Loads of potential and has shown glimpses of quality. Keep him.
Jarrod Sammut See above.
Danny Addy 2 year deal. Handy utility player, which may be useful on a tight budget.
Liam McAvoy Keep. Haven't seen much of him myself but I've heard good things.
Jobe Murphy I don't know enough about him to comment.
Alex Ball As above.
Karl Pryce Home grown, shown some decent form, worth keeping.
Phil Joseph 100% but IMO not good enough for this level i'm afraid.

*Edited to include Ollie's confirmed move.