So it looks like our recruitment is finished from all the vibes comming from within the club.

So what do people make of our recruitment:

Out Carmont - In Thornley
Out Finch - In Black Green
Out Tommy - In Matty Smith
Out Lima - In Scott Taylor

Out Fielden & Amos, - In Improved contracts for some of the young lads plus some spare cash for mid season signings.

In the circumstances it's not too bad, although you can never be sure exactly which players are available and for what price. Leuluai and Finch are difficult to replace but Smith and Green look like a balanced combination and they have shown some good stuff for their old clubs. There will hopefully be some opportunities for Powell, Hampshire and Williams in there too and if things really aren't working out then Tomkins is still an option in the halves.

Carmont was probably the best all round centre in Super League but it seems intelligent centres are largely becoming a thing of the past anyway. Ryan Atkins is one of the best centres in the league but a smart centre he is not and he seems to do better when he doesn't have to pass the ball.

If Thornley or Gelling are quick enough to make a few breaks and sort their decision making out a little they shouldn't be that bad in Super League. It's not like there is an abundance of quality centres.

Taylor replacing Lima is obviously a signing made for the future. I think it's a worry that there is a lack of experience in the front row but it seems Lenegan and Wane are hoping that last years recruits (Lauaki, Flower, Dudson) can show some more improvement, that Mossop can regain his early season form and then maintain it and that Prescott can get through more than a dozen games next season.

The team on the whole isn't stronger, but that was inevitable anyway. Most teams are going to be a little weaker with the ins and outs, while those that are keeping hold of ageing stars because there's little quality available might find that those players don't quite keep up a high level of performance.

I think next year will be difficult but there's no real way of knowing how well certain players will adapt or the form that others might find/lose next season.

The squad depth looks like this -

Fullback - S Tomkins, Murphy, [Tierney]
Winger - Charnley, Richards, (Thornley), [Burgess]
Centre - Goulding, Thornley, Gelling, (Hughes)
Halfback - Green, Smith, Powell, [Williams], [Hampshire]
Prop - Mossop, Prescott, Lauaki, Taylor, Flower, Dudson, Crosby, Spencer, (Burke)
Hooker - McIlorum, L Tomkins, Carberry
Back Row - Hansen, Hock, L Farrell, Hughes, Lloyd, [C Farrell]
Loose - O'Loughlin, Tuson, Burke

is chris tuson signed then? i thought he was out of contract?

I think there could be one or two more surprises in store.

Heard whispers we're chasing a young prop from Leeds.

We need to fill out the squad a little so a move forthis young Leeds prop would be welcome. If we are after a young prop though I presume that means one of Spencer or Crosby is included in this Taylor deal.

We need an outside back IMO to not just cover but apply pressure to the lads in those slots. A player I wouldn't mind having a go for would be Jodie Broughton. He's rapid and improving all the time and would open up some options for us enabling us to shift Charnley in to fullback/centre and Tomkinsin to halfback if we needed a shake up.

I hope Big Bad Bailey is getting on a bit.

Rumour on twitter about a 2 year swap deal for Sam Burgess with Mossop going the other way

I think that only really applies to young inexperienced players. Experienced players will usually show the same kind of skills and form they showed at their previous club whereas younger players always have the potential to improve. Dudson was a pleasant surprise for example and he certainly has the potential to improve. On the other hand Lauaki has been the same for us as he was for Hull. Average at best. Laukai is an experienced player who has done with his learning if you see what I mean. What potential he has, he already shows. We know quite a lot about Smith and so should know what to expect there. Green is a bit of an unknown quantity but he has big boots to fill.

The bottom line is I think if people are expecting revelations in the performances of the new recruits they will be disappointed.

Hahaha ridiculous rumours I've heard. We'd be laughing all year long if it were to happen because Mossop is a shadow of Burgess. Daft to even suggest though

Couldn't agree more

I think it'll only be a matter of time that Craig Kopczak will sign for us. The RFL are currently disputing the contract issue with Bradford and he tried to be released from it last season. If it goes through I think we'll be signing him with the Harris Welsh connection etc. Could turn out to be useful once he's under better coaches, conditioning etc. Only 25 but experienced

Huddersfield bound isn't he?

Oh I duno, hadn't heard out just thought we might have gone in for him if he was available

Taylor confirmed on 2 yr deal. Good work for a 21 yr old prop!

He's already a good player and will improve with more experience.
Big, mobile and can run hard. A good signing and whatever we've paid it could well turn out to be value for money.
Our front row now really has some size to it.
Taylor 6'4", Prescott 6'3", Mossop 6'4" together with Lauaki and Dudson both over 6' is excellent.
Also I noticed at the awards dinner when Crosby was talking to Gaz Hock, Crosby was taller than Hock so he must be a fair size too.
With Spencer and Burke who are hardly small, behind those guys, we have a front row that could do us very well for some years.