On Currie, I think his distribution is great and he seems more comfortable defending in the middle, a full 2024 and off season training and playing at 13 should mean he is even better in 2025, I thought he had a very good 2024 personally.

We have Bateman, Drinkwater, Nicholson and Bruines moving off our cap from the end of 2024, with Russell, Leyland, Bullock coming on to it. We also have to consider increased contracts for several youth players (Lindop, CTW, Thomas, Holroyd etc) and probably a decent rise for Ashton, netted off partially by a lower contract for Ratchford.

The money coming off cap feels much higher to me than those coming on to the cap. I think we have room for a good signing should someone become available (plus some transfer fee funds burning a hole in our pocket from Nicholson).

For King, I'd be happy for him to stay, but on a much reduced deal and probably move him over to the right, as he has got older he provides less strike but is a solid defender and makes decent ground in his carries. Hopefully Lindop will be the choice at left centre if he progresses as we all hope.

My biggest concerns for next year:

- Do we have the strike to trouble teams? Fitzgibbon aside we look pretty toothless in the centres and backrow, they are all solid defensively but don't threaten the line too much. Hopefully Lindop can push Tai out of his spot.

- Prop: Harrison & Yates are good workhorses to have around, Vaughan seems to be diminishing a little 2024 vs 2023 - hopefully he can get back up to 2023 levels. Musgrove is the big disappointment for me, we have 3 props very comfortable to play 60 minutes, we need a prop coming off the bench who can be more dynamic and change the momentum - even if they only play 10 - 15 mins either side of half time, Musgrove just offers more of the same. If it were possible, I'd be trying to swap out Musgrove based on 2024 form. Philbin, Crowther and hopefully Thomas offer good cover, Bullock I think can move on.

- Long kicking game: Not good enough from Drinkwater, hopefully Hayes and Leyland can offer more.

- I keep changing my opinion on this, is Thewlis good enough?

I find it odd that we have used 2 of our non fed places on “development” players. Having said that Tai improved considerably over the course of the season, and I can’t see SB signing players he doesn’t rate so…

King - Personally I would not extend him. He has not been good value for us over that ridiculous contract period. I think he can be improved on. He has half the assists of Wardle and nearly 3m less average gain. I'd be looking to recruit a centre that offers something more in attack, and hope that Lindop can break through. Ideally I would like us to attack equally well on both sides of the pitch.

Long kicking - exactly. It's been our weak spot for a while.

Impact forward - exactly. Someone who can do what Mago did in the GF to change the context of the game.

Thewlis - I don't mind him. Sure he's not our best player, but he's not the weakest either. His goal kicking improved a lot during 2024 and he has natural evasiveness and decent, if not blistering, pace. He is no worst than Miski who has won every club honour in the game.

Dufty signed a 2 year extension half way through the season, but his wage increases significantly for 2025/26 against what he's been earning. The clubs highest non marquee wage.

Now I remember it was you who said this a while back. Are we still looking for players do you know.