as fans we can hopefully look forward to a period of success. The foundations are there with the long terms contracts. The last time we looked like having a period of success, all our players wanted to move on and it never happened.

Its now up to the club to manage those contracts and ensure we have a production line of talent to replace players as contracts are expiring alongside some shrewd signings

next year it is likely we will now have Isa and possibly Faz (although he may o again in 26) retiring, so Junior and Walters need to be ready to be our 1st team 2nd row. I think we all agree giving Isa an extra 12 months as a squad player has been good business for next year. Then we have Keighran who is out of contract too, so do we promote Eckersley if he is ready for regular 1st team, so some decisions to be made in the next 12 months

And/or etend AK's contract.

yep but thats sort of what i mean with decisions to be made. We have seen at Wigan in the past and at Leeds / Saints now, that they arent getting it right. Keighran has got more years in him but we need to make that decision about retaining him v potentially losing Eckersley (i know he's just signed a new contract) and thats where i dont envy the guys getting paid to make decisions on players futures / who to retain or let go, it must be a nightmare with the SC in place

When i look back at the 80s/90s and we released Hanley, Bell, Offiah, etc etc, but we got the best out of all of them and had a knack of letting them go at the right time, and i dont recall any of them coming back to bite us on the . Yes, we had someone like Sean Long who couldnt get a 1st team place but thats sometimes the price to pay for having experienced players in the 1st team

I'm fairly relaxed about our succession planning for the first team. You're doing well if you keep all four outside backs fit at the same time for a decent period, so we should be able to fit Eckersley in even if Keighran deserves a new contract.

The thing I'm a bit concerned about - and how good is it to be in the position where this is one of your main problems? - is where our depth will be. I don't watch enough of the youngsters to know which, if any, will be first team ready in 12 months time, and we've given out a few big contracts recently, so I'm not sure what room we'll have to bring in more bodies at centre or second row.

You weren't on your own Zig. I never doubted we would win and was actually more nervous for the semi even though I had us as winners by 12. Strange really.

I think the big caveat for the LLS next season is the Vegas trip and the possible WCC. The disruption around those could scupper our chances as I don't feel KR will drop away in the way Catalans did last year so you're probably still looking at 5 losses maximum to win it.

At centre we have Eckersley and have just promoted Nathan Lowe to the first team.

Second row we have Nsemba, Walters, Farrell, Isa and have just promoted Lukas Mason.