agree with all of your sentiments - Bowden I think may have signed for Donny, boothroyd doesn’t merit an overseas berth , pitts of the old guard is the one player who merits another year, griffin probably, olpherts for me over Croft. Realistically with 2 Aussie berths left we do need to keep 4 or 5 of the unsigned squad,

Do we loan the likes of Shaw , Croft, Law out to Hunslet to keep them match fit next season as I don’t see them getting a starting birth ,just not up to it at present Imo . Definitely Pitt’s and Griffin , Thornley seems to be on the Physio bench more than the field so it’s a no from me . Olpherts is a durable player as is hood and are keeps for me . Gale has a wealth of craft and guile and would keep him fit in case of a calamity but get him involved off field with our new half back partnership ,he’s probably forgot more than they know collectively and will be a tremendous asset around the club as he’s always got plenty to say .

You look at our 17 for next year and I do actually think it'd compete well in Super League:

Jowitt
Johnstone
Scott
Pratt
Walmsley/Olpherts
Russell
Lino
Atoni
Hood
McMeeken
Storton
Pitts
Rodwell

Doyle
Uele
Vagana
Bain

But as a general rule a coach will have a squad of 30-34, essentially with a reserves team to pick from - as Wigan, Hull KR, Catalans all do. And our backup 'squad' at the moment looks like:

Booth
Walmsley/Olpherts
Law
Hall
?
Lawford
Shaw
Smith
?
Boothroyd
?
Kay

So there are obviously some gaps to fill. And if we recruit brilliant players then some of that starting squad will drop into the reserves. I'd personally like to see us recruit a world-beating second rower to fill that gap that Ashurst will leave. The fact I can say that is crazy considering where we were a year ago.

For what it's worth, I'd also sign up Pitts, Hood, and Griffin as transition players, as you say Trojan. But the ones we disagree on are Law, Shaw (I'd keep them and give them another year in development) and Croft. Think Croft's a perfectly adequate stand in at Championship level but centres are supposed to be a running threat and be able to jam people in defence. I don't think I've ever seen him do either, and he's had 5 years.

You look at our 17 for next year and I do actually think it'd compete well in Super League:

Jowitt
Johnstone
Scott
Pratt
Walmsley/Olpherts
Russell
Lino
Atoni
Hood
McMeeken
Storton
Pitts
Rodwell

Doyle
Uele
Vagana
Bain

But as a general rule a coach will have a squad of 30-34, essentially with a reserves team to pick from - as Wigan, Hull KR, Catalans all do. And our backup 'squad' at the moment looks like:

Booth
Walmsley/Olpherts
Law
Hall
?
Lawford
Shaw
Smith
?
Boothroyd
?
Kay

So there are obviously some gaps to fill. And if we recruit brilliant players then some of that starting squad will drop into the reserves. I'd personally like to see us recruit a world-beating second rower to fill that gap that Ashurst will leave. The fact I can say that is crazy considering where we were a year ago.

For what it's worth, I'd also sign up Pitts, Hood, and Griffin as transition players, as you say Trojan. But the ones we disagree on are Law, Shaw (I'd keep them and give them another year in development) and Croft. Think Croft's a perfectly adequate stand in at Championship level but centres are supposed to be a running threat and be able to jam people in defence. I don't think I've ever seen him do either, and he's had 5 years.

Bit harsh on Boothroyd - 'doesn't merit an overseas berth'? Has he had a chance to show whether he merits a berth or not?
He's been injured for the past few weeks but I thought he showed a lot of promise up to then.

He did OK, but nothing that we shouldn't be able to find in the UK/France market. If he didn't count as non fed then perhaps he's worth a punt. He does so expectations will be higher.

He is only 20 and first season playing against men. When you look in contrast to our young forwards of recent years like O’Donnovan and a few others of a similar age he’s streets ahead of those.

I do like the look of him. He’s tough, he’s fit, he tackles well and runs hard. I think it’s hard to find a 20 year old SR or prop in the uk who does the same.

Obviously the injury’s have hampered his ability to showcase what he can do and that’s where the reservation comes in.

I’m 50/50 because of the injuries but if he can get a run of games then he could easily put himself in the frame for next season.

We absolutely must sign 1/2 second rows for next season with potentially Ashurst/Griffin or even Pitts not here. Boothroyd maybe better than what’s available. But it could depend on what’s available in other positions (it appears Clifford is now available for example).

I would like to see more of Boothroyd though. I do like his tough play style.

There’s arguements for and against but I’ll trust the club because I think they’re making the right choices lately in recruitment.

DP will know already of Boothroyd makes the cut. They will have plenty of data on him from the 5 or 6 games he's played. It's easy to forget his age and therefore not acknowledge how he will improve. But he's here, he fits in and appears to have settled in with the squad. He won't be on mega money and won't demand it either after being injured. For me he gets another season to replace one of the older backrowers.

I'd give Griffin another year but let Pitts and Ashurst go. Kay is here another year but I'd him speak to other clubs and if he can secure a longer deal elsewhere then give him the opportunity to move on. If we're serious about top six then need a better hooker than Hood as well.

We can't be fooled by the performances against part time players.

Who do you consider is doing the fooling… to fool or be fooled is a deliberate attempt to mislead or misrepresent.. or the failure to recognise the deception at hand.

I don’t see a deliberate attempt to do this…

I would say we cannot use performances against other championship clubs as a measure of potential success in Super League… but fooled??? That’s an odd perspective.

Watched Wigan v Liegh last night one of the best games of S L i have seen ,pace all over the park,if we are going for top six Think we need more than a better hooker

It'll take something special to be top 6 next year, we need to think more long-term. We need to keep improving off field activities to give us a chance to be in the play offs regularly rather than once in a blue moon. Next year 10th or above should be the target. Season after 8th, season after maybe 6th and so on.

Didn't Mills recently mention top 4?

To get anywhere near top half of SL next year, assuming we're in it, we need some Aussie type quality IMO,in at least 3 positions.Players such as French,Dufty and Moyland to take us to the next level.I am not talking about their positions, just using them as an example.
I think we need a hooker,half back and second row.