It is very strange that we haven't ben linked with a replacement hooker yet. Clearly its one of the most important positions we need to fill and the RFL rumour mill isnt exactly the most secret of societies! To not even hear a whisper of a possible replacement worries me slightly- although it is very early days with clubs 'supposedly' not being able to contact players til Septemeber.

I think i would have Readon back if it was possible, he was very good during his spell here and if we were to sign him im sure here @ salford he would be able to get his game back in order and he wouldnt be the 1st player we have signed who has "sined" in a previous life away from our club so for him it would be viewed as a last chance salloon.

As for the hooking role \ halfback dilemma for me M smith has to stay @ 7 because he has too many bad reads defensively and i wouldnt want any gaping holes up the middle, im sure with the experience M smith has gained this season his defence has improved a little and will improve further the more superleague he plays.
Another reason for keeping m smith @ 7 is the partnership between him and the wizard is begining to click like a athritic hip, why would we change a positive aspect to our game and gamble on the wizard n a new scrum half linking up as well.

The hooking role is a important part of rugby league, Alker and Jezza this season have shared the role and after a question mark over game time and how to break it up it seems the right balance has been struck.

If both are leaving i just hope the club spend the money wisely, Clarke and Higham from warrington may be one option (wire might let one go but not both i suspect ) the hooker from celtic with long hair seems to be getting a few rave reviews too and is only on a short term contract i think might be worth a look.

smith from widnes might be another option, ive always rated him, he seemed to have stood still in his development in recent years and with widnes still at present outside the superleague he might feel salford could be a venture he wants to undertake in the future

I think there are 3 good hookers in the Championship who are very good at acting half back - Liam Finn (v creative), Mark Gleeson (bit injury prone) & Marty Mitchell (Toulouse) though he may be caught in the quota.

Personally I'd be using Fitzy as interchange Hooker next season. Speed off the mark, decent hands and defensively solid. Ticks all the boxes for me. If we can get a decent enough replacement at FB then Fitzy's ability to cover 6,7 & 9 would be invaluable on the bench.

Brisbane
Ashton Sims 25 Prop/SR Fiji*
Will Tupou 19 Centre/Wing New Zealand

Canterbury
Blake Green 23 Half Back Australia
Yileen Gordon 23 Centre/SR Australia
Dene Halatau 27 Utility New Zealand*
Jarrad Hickey 25 Prop Australia
Brett Kimmorley 33 Halfback Australia*
Heka Nanai 21 Wing/Centre Australia
Brad Morrin 28 SR/Prop Australia
Tim Winitana 23 Centre New Zealand
Ryan Tandy 28 Prop/SR Ireland*
Danny Williams 23 Prop/SR Australia

Canberra
Glen Buttriss 24 Hooker/LF Australia
Justin Carney 22 Centre/Wing Australia
Danny Galea 26 Centre/LF Australia
Marc Herbert 23 Half back Australia
Brett Kelly 27 Centre/Wing Australia
Scott Logan 34 Prop Australia
Troy Thompson 30 Prop/SR Australia
Glen Turner 31 SR New Zealand
Adam Mogg 32 Half B/Centre Australia

Cronulla
Chris Armit 26 Prop Scotland*
Luke Covell 28 Wing New Zealand*
Karl Filiga 21 Centre/SR New Zealand
Stuart Flanagan 23 Hooker Australia (Jozsef)
John Mannah 20 Prop Lebanon
Ben Pomeroy 26 Cen/Prop/SR Australia
Reece Williams 24 SR Australia

Gold Coast
Luke Bailey 30 Prop Australia*
Josh Graham 26 Centre/SR Australia
Mat Rogers 34 Utility Back Australia*
Sam Tagataese 23 Prop/SR New Zealand
Shannon Walker 21 Full Back Australia
Clinton Toopi 30 Centre New Zealand*

Manly
Jason King 29 Prop Australia
Steve Matai 25 Centre New Zealand*
Terrence Seu Seu 22 Hooker Samoa*
Glenn Stewart 26 LF/SR Australia*

Melbourne
Brett Anderson 23 Centre/Wing Australia
Ryan Hinchcliffe 25 Hooker/LF Australia
Brett Finch 28 Half Back Australia
Dane Neilsen 25 Centre Australia
Kevin Proctor 21 SR New Zealand

Newcastle
Ben Cross 31 Prop Australia
Matt Duffie 19 Wing New Zealand
Scott Dureau 23 Half B/Hooker Australia
Wes Naiqama 27 Utility Back Fiji*
Justin O'Neill 19 Utility Back Australia
Ben Rogers 25 Half Back/LF Australia
Steve Simpson 30 Back Rower Australia*

North Queensland
Mitchell Achurch 21 SR/LF Australia
Issak Ah Mau 27 SR Samoa
Clint Amos 26 Hooker Australia
Obe Geia 21 Wing Australia
Dane Hogan 21 LF/SR Australia
Jared Kahu
Don Malone 24 Wing Australia
Willie Mason 30 SR/Prop Australia*
Luke O'Donnell 29 LF/SR Australia*
Grant Rovelli 26 Half Back Italy*
Nick Slyney 23 LF Australia
Steve Southern 28 SR Australia
Carl Webb 29 Prop/SR Australia*
John Williams 25 Wing Australia
Ty Williams 29 Centre/Wing Australia
Will Tupou 19 Centre/Wing New Zealand

Parramatta
Eric Grothe 30 Wing Australia*
Jarryd Hayne 22 Utility Back Fiji/Australia*
Brendan Oake 24 SR/Prop Australia
Manase Manuokafoa 25 Prop/SR Tonga*

Penrith
Maurice Blair 25 Half B/Centre Australia
Gavin Cooper 24 Centre/SR Australia
Shane Elford 32 Centre/Wing Australia
Michael Gordon 26 Wing Australia
Joseph Paulo 22 LF Samoa*
Nigel Plum 27 SR Australia
Frank Pritchard 26 SR New Zealand*
Frank Puletua 32 Prop/SR Samoa*
Brad Tighe 26 Centre Australia
Greg Waddell

Souths
Colin Best 31 Wing Australia
Rhys Wesser 31 Wing/Full Back Australia
Luke Capewell 21 Full B/Half B Australia
Kane Cleal 26 Prop/SR Australia
Garret Crossman 27 Prop Australia
Matthew Mundine 20 LF Australia
Fetuli Talanoa 22 Wing/Full B Tonga*
Jaiman Lowe 27 Prop Australia
Craig Stapleton 31 Prop Australia

St George –Illawarra
Michael Greenfield 24 Prop Australia
Luke Priddis 33 Hooker Australia*
Ben Hornby 30 Full B/Half B Australia*

Sydney Roosters
James Aubusson 23 Hooker Australia
Jake Friend 20 Hooker Australia
Anthony Minichiello 30 Full B/Wing Australia/Italy*
Lopini Paea 26 Prop Tonga*
Jason Ryles 31 Prop Australia*
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 21 SR/Prop New Zealand*

Warriors
Jacob Lillyman 26 SR Australia
Ben Matulino 21 SR New Zealand*
Mataupu Poching 22 Prop New Zealand
Brett Seymour 25 Half Back Australia

Wests
Geoff Daniela 23 Centre/Wing New Zealand
Daniel Fitzhenry 30 Utility Back Australia
Liam Fulton 25 LF Australia
Taniela Tuiaki 28 Wing Tonga/New Zealand*
Wade McKinnon 29 Full Back Australia

* Denotes International.

Hmm. Distinct lack of quality hookers in RL land. Jake Friend's pretty useful but don't for one minute imagine he'd come to Super League at just 20 years of age. Loads of decent centres there though.

Couldn't help but notice you've listed Will Tupou as both a Brisbane and a Nth Qld player?

They'll do!

Non Quota
Ashton Sims 25 Prop/SR Fiji*
Terrence Seu Seu 22 Hooker Samoa*
Wes Naiqama 27 Utility Back Fiji*
Chris Armit 26 Prop Scotland*
Jarryd Hayne 22 Utility Back Fiji/Australia*(Not a fookin chance

Though ben Cross yes please, just the type of front rower I have advocated buying for the past couple of seasons, a hard grafting enforcer type to play along side Cashmere, you'd also have to think that the young props would learn such a great deal from someone of his caliber.

And Wesser looks like a fine winger/fullback who is on or slightly better than a try every other game which would do me fine.

Not certain Anderson is a good shout, not a worker more of a Coley type 2nd rower brilliant when things are going his way but then e when not.