Hayes kept th far more experienced Drinkwater out, so I can’t see him waving Leyland through. No doubt they will both be busting a gut in pre season!

I am looking forward positively to a bit of healthy competition and the realisation that players get injured & need to rest. What is not to like ... we fans do seem to fret a bit & want positions clear cut. The only thing that I would not wish to do, prior to the season, is give out half back squad numbers.
I am of the view that Leyland may have the stronger kicking game.

Victor Radley has said he's 100% going to play in super league at some point. He'll only be 28 when currie's contract is up. I sincerely hope we are already talking to him.

Seen that post, I would think he would be somebody we would make an offer to him.

Competition is healthy.
Hayes and Leyland will bring out the best of each other.
It could be, that the two of them sit around Drinkwater’s yearly salary too.

Speaking of Drinky.
It was rumoured that Wire were considering a years extension in summer, but talk of him taking up a 3/4 year deal possibly at Salford.
Not heard anything since then.

Heard Oldham were interested in him

So we have Bullock, Dudson, Nicholson, Bruines, Drinkwater, Bateman & Matty Russell gone. Not sure if I've missed any there.

And we've brought in Dan Russell, Leyland and the guy from union 7's.

I'm assuming that some of our squad have had contract uplifts but I'm intrigued whether we have anything left in the pot for further signings, particularly in relation to a 'Big Bopper'. All quiet at the moment in terms of rumours but still think we look a little light in the pack both in terms of size and depth.

This something I have already spoken about regarding the pack. We have no quota spots available and I’m not sure who is available over here that we could look to bring in. Even if there is someone available it would be cheaper than an NRL signing.

Front rowers we have - Vaughan, Harrison, Wood, Thomas, Philbin, Yates, Musgrove and Okoro - probably missed someone. Need a large unit off the bench but can't see where that would come from in this country.

Sam Kasiano too.

I'd like to think Max Wood will get more game time next year, He's had a good solid first year so looking forward to him develop more.
I think Burgess will be after someone propwise already, or there would be no real reason to offload Bullock if we aren't actively trying to sign a replacement. Unless we just wanted free cap space in case someone becomes available later in the year, Having Bullock as back up rather than nobody at all would be the better option, so i think we'll see another forward come in.
Unless like i've said before, Okoro and Wood and maybe Thomas/Whitehead are having faith put in them to step up and make the difference?

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... s-30266571

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... s-30266571

By some rough salary cap maths I reckon we have space for one more (starting 13) signing, For me it has to go on a back rower, we still look light there to me, Fitzgibbon could well suffer an injury recurrence and Russell hasn't got a great pedigree (so far). I think going in to the season with those two and Holroyd is a risk.

In terms of props, Vaughan & Yates starting with Musgrove, Harrision and Philbin coming off the bench looks 'ok' but I agree having someone who could cause some disruption in the opposition defence would be useful. If I was playing Fantasy Super League I'd swap out Musgrove for another NRL prop - but I can't see it happening and I don't think we have the cap space to do both (unless the salary dispensations mentioned earlier do come off, but seems to have gone quiet on that front).

Quote: Big lads mate "Heard Oldham were interested in him'" About his level. https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... s-30266571

Quote: Big lads mate "Heard Oldham were interested in him'" About his level. https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... s-30266571

I honestly think Drinkwater in tge championship will see him back to his best.
He's got a good skill level and rigby brain but not the speed, but the championship is a bit slower than Super league so i think it will give him that extra second to react and make plays.
Same with Dec pattern, apart from the odd game here and there at this level he was always just slightly off tge pace for me. He's done better in the championship