Yeah, should be interesting. We will have the full cap to play with, but that's half the story. It's about which players we can realistically tempt to us, either ooc players or players we would pay a fee for (That's presuming that a Club would accept) I'm hoping that the likes of Lowe/Vievers/Long/Chalmers have a firm vision of what we need and who can provide it for us then be capable of bringing them in.

I think the gradual approach is the more likely option, but we could still have some bigger names with us next year, names we will need if we are to progress.

Whilst I do not wish to denigrate any members of our current squad, if we are to realise the success that Dr Koukash envisages, then we should be asking, "How many of our current squad would get into the Warrington, Wigan or Leeds teams?"

I fear it's a small number at the moment.

I think it's about working towards getting the right balance in a squad. I think Leeds have an effective system of categorising player pay levels.

Why not both ... keep the younger players and use them judiciously but a top up of older players with 2/4 years left of the standard of Fielden as of three years ago: still big names and still got it to win games.

The time to be discussing the merits of our OOC players maybe is towards August - Sept , Usually performances tend to improve ( See V Anderson ) when a new deal is beckoning.
I tend to agree with Barton Flyer, 10+ of our existing squad OOC may be too big a temptation , especially with the promise of going to 1.65M on wage cap in 2014.
New deals for Broughton - Veivers - Long will probably happen quickly .
for the rest it may be sink or swim time for these players as much as the Young guns.

Middleman - Talking of the Young Guns - I really feel we could break new ground here by approaching old Salford players now involved with Rugby Union. Dai Young & David Watfins for starters.

We should capitalise on those who look the part - Varndell for instance - who would put 2,000 bums on seats from Sale.

Relations between SCR & SS should be improved and if so both clubs would benefit. Powell for instance is out of favour at Sale yet has the makings of a RL player. Cipriani too would be another to put stacks on the attendance. Just feel we should think laterally.

That's you getting shot down in flames, but in effect your right about Powell I think he'd go we'll at prop and Ciprianni is a hugely talented rugby player who'd make a decent centre. Watching the 6 nations the other day and BOD from Ireland playing his last event and if there's RU who'd make the switch instantly its him but think he's a Saints fan and friend of the chairman so think he'd go there.

Looking at how many are out of contract next season I can see us signing some quality players all over the park! Spending full cap and getting rid of the deadwood! Cant wait for next season! Just hope phil and longy get their chance to be in charge next season, to see how they get on with a better quality team!

howarths awful , Nero and wild prob last season. get rid of Boyle id keep the rest on a 1 year deal just to bed the rest of the new players in i would rather play mcgoldrick at 13

also id sign broughton jewitt and sneyd on for longer and neal coz i think given game time could be a good prop/2nd row

I wouldn't say Howarth is awful but hes not a hooker thats for sure. Probably a 13 if he can bulk up. Out of the list of out of contract players only two to be kept for me, Jewitt is easily our best prop and is good enough for a top 8 team, and Jodie obviously. The rest can go, Sneyd and Neal will never be good enough so let them go else where to ply there trade. Out of last years contracts handed out, wtf were we doing giving Gibson and Williams 2 yr deals??

he is not good enough for where we want to be imo and i dont get why people think mcphersons a 2nd row he is a prop. plus few comments about ashurst bizzare me as i thought he was one of our most consistant player last year and for me our best forward

Yeah totally agree about ashurst, I rate him as I do McPhearson at prop. All I meant with Howarth was hes not awful but he is not playing in his natural position I think. Either way I agree he isn't a top 8 player so this should be his last seasonw ith us. With regards to Ashurst, I think he wasn't far off our player of the year last year, hes got a good size to him, can shift and has good hands. People forget he is still only young and that was his first full season as a first team regular. I think McPhearsons problem is his fitness, I would love to watch him get a real run of games under his belt, but even now he looks heavily strapped which is a worry. Don't think he is a 2nd row as I don't think he has the hands for it.

Gibson was our top try scorer last year with 16 and Williams was only 3 behind Broughton and bagged 12.

Gibson is a liabilty in defence and has no size, power or speed to him and Williams makes loads of mistakes. Its all very well and good putting your hand up saying my fault, but how many times does it happen? He is terrible under the bomb and isn't that quick! Neither are good enough for top 8 team or even a SL team to mention it. Name another team where these two would get a game? no one, we have carried them a season too long