Ratchford will do a job at Half back.

Not a world beater there. not an out and out half back.

However do out and out half backs exist in the modern game?

Ratch to Half back
6,7 and 1 are pretty much the same going forward now anyway

must admit, from the little that i've seen of both of them, roebuck showed more in that salford game, and i think that if we were to release gelling, there's nothing he couldn't replace directly. Gelling hasn't pulled up any trees this year and if anything i've been very disapointed with parts of his game.

if we can replace an expensive big lad with a cheaper big lad, and put some development on it, its win win.

Overall I've not been disappointed by Gelling and wouldn't be if he stayed on.

However, if he's going I agree with you and Charlie that there is merit beyond creating cap space with having a development pathway for the young lads a bit of a chance a bit of hope and from what we saw, all be it fleetingly, a bit of mettle. Added to that it's a position that we are well covered with good options and if it releases some funds for a freshen up or reinforcements elsewhere then happy days

I suspect most people will think the same as well. He is big and strong and takes a lot of marking, but he has always made daft errors. A straight swap of Gelling with Roebuck will certainly leave you short changed for some time to come - even assuming he kicks on, but I suppose the club has to make a decision and if Gelling is sitting on the sidelines waiting for King or Inglis to get injured it's probably an expensive option.

Yep - as others have said you get good and bad with Gelling, but I think the 'good' outweighs the bad.
Ignoring Inglis and King who will be 1st choice centres imo, none of the other players mentioned poses the same problems that Gelling does in attack (not considering Ratch here because we are likely to need him in other positions, although I am sure he'd do a great job), having said that we don't get to see Charnley at his best with Gelling even though (I think) they played together at Wigan.

Then there's the court case...... not sure about tbe timescale for all that, or whether anything is likely to happen.

Gelling won't want to be 3rd choice centre so I can see why he'd want to leave and it's logical that other clubs would be interested in a player of his quality.

With the cap involved, a lack of reserves and our youth coming through etc etc it makes sense in the bigger picture, BUT next year is SP's last year under contract, so are his thoughts going to be looking to develop the youth or will he 'play safe' and not risk them for fear of not getting another contract......... mmm.....

This. Gelling was mostly good, it often took him a while to settle in to a game but then he would be one of our better players once he had settled. Youngsters need game time and mamo can cover as well as charnley.