I am relaxed petal.

Who are these replacements then? Id like someone to throw some names about that are out of contract, cheap and available, oh and can fit under the cap.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it, not gonna trawl through a lot of the drivel discussed, but what really nags me about the 'we should have room under the salary cap, where are our world class players' bridgade is the following.

Surely the likes of Josh Charnley, Liam Farrell et al will have contract upgrades this season as they are now regular first graders and who are expected in due course to step up to the likes of Hoffman, Joel?

Surely its a good thing? It is blindingly obvious the hypocrisy of some on here who on the one hand complain about the quality of recruitment for next season from Lenaghan, meaning more kids wll get a run out next year and on the other complaining about us not offering more money to the kids to keep them in RL. Maybe Sam has had a contract upgrade to keep him here, who knows? And this is what some of the people calling for high profile signings will complain about if Sam does go!

IN lLenaghan and Wane we trust

Spot on.

I completely disagree with that last sentence.

Although Hock can be great on the day I doubt he will ever show the consistency that Hoffman had and I doubt he will be able to work with Finch as well. He just isn't as smart a player. If Joel were staying and was moving back to the pack then I'd be less concerned because I think people have forgotten how good a back row forward he is. He was outstanding in 2010.

Fielden. He's been out a year and if he can match Coley's work rate and get back up to speed OK but there must be doubts about that.

Dudson - O'Carroll. Well I think everyine says Dudson has potential but needs work and I think O'Carroll was well underrated here. So in the short term I don't think Dudson matches up but he could be there pretty quick.

Flower just look poor.

Gleeson - Tomkins. Even if Joel stays playing at centre again will be the compromise it was last season. He needs to go back to the pack if he stays to make up for Hoffman going. So at centre we are not goods enough either way.

Deacon- Mellor/Powell/L Tomkins. Definitely not on a par at all. Even if it were a good ides to go from zero SL experience to holding down a half back slot full time which it isn't they just have not got the experience of a player like Deacon.

It is simply not credible to lose players of the calibre of Hoffman, Deacon, Joel and Coley form a squad, replace them with Lauaki and the two Crusaders players and say we are no weaker.

You are also making a rod for Wane's back because to say he has a squad no weaker puts the expectation as high as last season. It is not fair to expect Wane to do as well with this squad.

Upgraded contracts are probably a big reason why there is not major recruit. It doesn't mean the squad isn't weaker though does it?

Have the two Welsh lads actually signed for you yet?

It is widely rumoured that they have but nothing confirmed as of yet. Personally i don't expect us to announce any players that are involved in the 4 nations as signings before the comp is over.

At last, someone who "get's it"

Half the time I don't know why I bother on here.

bill arthur certainly announced it on commentary today...

What's Lauaki's quota situation? Have we got any quota spaces left?

I thought it was reduced by one for next season so losing Hoffman and gaining Lauaki would mean we have no room available, so we obviously wouldnt be able to get a replacement for Joel from the NRL.

Hock will replace Hoffman as the left sided 2nd row. He is not as consistent as the Hoff but Hock is an explosive player. He can explode through tackles that Hoff couldn't but can have a brain explosion where Ryan would not.
Fielden back in the squad to replace Coley as starting prop.
Joel will go to be replaced by, who knows? My preference would be Josh to right centre and Roberts right wing. Unless a 3 is signed.
Lauaki was billed as a prop in the press release but can play 2nd row.
Deacon cannot be replaced by younger players at the club. They can take his place but it's impossible to have the experience Deacs had. He was a terrific signing for us.
Next season our props could be Fielden, Lima, Prescott, Mossop, Lauaki, Dudson then Crosby and Spencer from dr and U20s.
Back row, Lockers, Hock, Hansen, Farrell, Tuson, Hughes and Flower.
If SW goes with the first four props above then Lauaki will go to the back row.
That set of forwards is greater in number than last season, bigger and more aggressive. We won't go into a game 2012 with only three props and lacking size that's for sure.
Behind that lot i'd risk Mellor with Finch as half backs. Mellor adds pace and Finch has all the class you'd want.
Ideally we need a right centre but I do think if Roberts shows up in training then he could go to 2 and Josh to 3. It's Roberts last season on his contract and now he's fit needs to show what he can do.

Big season for Amos hopefully, as SW said on Tuesday.

Lauaki is quota and we have four quota players for next season. I am not sure if it is down to four or still at five.

[iIf [/isigning Lauaki means we can't go looking for a centre in the NRL (given there are none available here) then that is another reason why he should not have been signed.

So does anyone know if it is still at five?

EDIT: it remains at 5. Looked it up on the RFL web site so Lauaki has not stopped us signing an NRL centre if we can find one.