If the plan is to improve year on year then clearly we have not yet replaced Tom Amone who has been the best prop in Super League during 2024. AAron Pene is a capable bench prop who is deserving of a place in the seventeen. He is the replacement for Ben Nakubuwai and is nowhere near the quality of Tom Amone.

Overseas players - Lammy and Chezzy have opted not to swap like for like and the biggest change will be one less forward, but gain a specialist Fullback. Asiata, Amone and O'Donnell are a big gap to fill, but they played more than half the season without Asiata.

Instead we have Second-row/Prop in Ben Condon and an all-round forward in Issac Liu. Lammy has shown in the 3 years at the club that he does not require 4 props in the squad, and now we have some kind of flexible in the personnel. Personally I would love the Iceman to be a ball-playing Loose, but I fully expect him to appear in the front-row if needed.

Jack Hughes and Matt Davis have shown utility, especially Jack who has played Prop/Second-row/Loose forward/Centre and Stand-Off. Owen Trout is ready to step-up, but the question is have we got any oven ready forwards capable of being thrown into the match day squad. Dan Norman has been reliable without being dynamic, Brogan has been bloodied in a few games. The problem is that looking at the new signings only Brad Martin is ready to join the match-day squad.

If Mat Moylan does retire then I think it would be advisable to use the cap space created to sign an adequate replacement for Tom Amone.
We have played great rugby when either Gas O’Brien or Ben McNamara have been in the halves. Both are skilful, brave and defensively strong.

Aaron Pene was brought in to replace Amone. We shifted Nakubuwai on to bring him in early because it was simpler to get a visa for him this year, or so I read in some reports. We need players like Brogan to step up and show that they are an improvement on Nakubuwai to give us a stronger 17 than we had at the start of this year. Anyone thinking that we can bring in a prop that is at th elevel that Amone reached is living in a dreamworld.

As for the backs, I would expect Towse to challenge McIntosh for his place, and Hodgson will also provide stronger competition across the backline than we've had for the last couple of years. Lack of a good goal kicker is my biggest concern.

I hope we are not still considering signing Milford. He was rubbish in the first test for Samoa and was dropped to eighteenth man for second test. Enough said.

Agree with that.

If I were Ben McNamara, I'd be putting some serious work into my goalkicking and place kicking to show that the last overseas spot doesn't necessarily need to be on a new stand off.

I believe Towse is a predominantly left sided winger and will be bright in as backup and ultimate replacement for Charnley.

Didn't Charnley play a lot of his career on the right wing though? He could switch over if needed, though then he would lose that finish where he jumps into touch on plonks the ball down just inside with his right hand.

Either way, I think McIntosh's place is the most vulnerable out of all the backline if anyone was to break through next season.

Or could we get one from overseas if the Pryce is right?

Only hearsay on my behalf, but I would certainly like him to come to Leigh.

is he surplus in oz cos of his dodgy d or $400k contract

Yep

I hope there is something in the Pryce rumour, but all I've seen is the so called ITK twitter account, that isn't very in the know.

Ethan O'Neill signed. Another second rower which I think we needed, and not on quota, but no idea if he's any good or not.

Regardless of what the Pie Fans might say, I believe the NRL is stronger than Super League. Super League is stronger than QLD and NSW cups and they in turn are stronger than the Championship. There is obviously a lot of overlap in these statements and plenty of players have bridged the gap when moving up, and everyone remembers the NRL players who flop in Super League.

Without knowing anything about Ethan O'Neill (still not achieved enough to warrant a Wiki page) he does appear to run the edge in the style of Kai O'Donnell. I guess we might not have been so keen if he appeared on the overseas quota. Honestly, I believe he will probably be close to a starting spot and Lammy can use Ben Condon as a Prop instead of second rower.

Moylan's salary can be re-distributed to bring in a half of some quality, and if worthwhile you can see Deggsy dipping into his pockets for a marquee signing.

Hats off to Chezzy for spotting an opportunity of breaking the overseas quota, especially when it will take several years for the academy to bear any fruit.