Deacon will not be released as such but next year is almost certain to cease being a player and become an assistant coach only. He is currently player/assistant coach with a view to only playing for this season.

I agree with the most of the rest of them although Phelps getting another year is dependant on the development of Josh Veivers and whether his quota place is needed in another position such as prop or halfback. If Veivers has developed sufficiently to act as Amos Roberts' understudy at FB then Phelps should be let go.

I can't keep track of all the rules etc, but aren't most clubs faced with ongoing reductions in the number of overseas players going forward? I assume that will impact some decisions - e.g. off-quota overseas players being retained when in the past they may not as any new player would be on quota etc?

all clubs except for crusaders and catalans(I think) have to reduce to 5 overseas players, but they are some exceptions.

Willie Manu (Hull Fc) and Ben Fisher (Hull kr) are off quota due to residency rules (more then 4 years playing in uk I believe)

at hull we have to lose one which looks like cusack to retirement.

We also have Wellens, Fa'asavalu, Hargreaves and Matty Smith off contract at the end of the year

Wouldnt mind smith as sherwins replacement.

Deacon wouldn't be a bad shout for your lot.

The kids had 3 ops, recoverys not gone as planned, fingers crossed he'll play again but there's a chance he might not.

Your four props? That would be a concern, especially the way I've seen your pack improve over the past year or so. Realistically, unless your board pull some good moves out the bag, you'd weant to hold onto 3 of these 4.

I wouldn't mind seeing Prescott at Saints, or young Cooper from Warrington.

Saints need to bolster the front row with one good signing, as most fans have commented. Who they replace gidley with is probably the most important move after that. Shenton would be good - pace, good defender and still time to develop further.

Deacon won't be leaving Wigan (at least he will not leave to play elsewhere). He signed for Wigan as a way into coaching. He is currently a player/assistant coach for this year and is expected to retire from playing at the end of the season and will then be an assistant coach for the rest of his contract. I could only see him leaving if a better (from his point of view) coaching opportunity came his way.

Saints

Meli
Flannery
Fozzard
Gidley
Cunningham
Faasavalu
Hargreaves
Matty Smith
Ste Tyrer

so we are now missing this teams
- Catalans Dragons
- Crusaders Rugby League
- Hull Kingston Rovers
- Salford City Reds
- Wakefield Wildcats

I expect Fozzard, Gidley and Cunningham to all leave, probably the two loaned out players aswell, leaving the other four playing for contracts. Hargreaves should be kept on, Fa'asavalu probably will too as we are already short on forwards without releasing these two. Meli and Flannery are both decent players but I'd prefer to replace these from within and pick up another top forward.

my out of contract team would be:-
1. Paul Wellens
2. Scott Donald
3. Michael Shenton
4. Keith Senior
5. Francis Meli
6. Luke Dorn
7. Paul Deacon
8. Andy Coley
9. Kieron Cunningham
10. Iafeta Palea'asina
11. Harrison Hansen
12. Ali Lauitiiti
13. Craig Fitzgibbon

Subs:-
14. Matt Diskin
15. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
16. Mitchell Sargent
18. Steve Menzies