I would be okay with those 5 and I think there?s improvement in most of them too. Lingard seems promising too but young. I think he will get plenty of championship game time next season to develop and we will see more of him in 2026/27 i think. 

Shaw for me would not get a contract extension for next year. He should be far more ahead in his development than he is unfortunately. He is 23 this season. 


Far too many injuries over the years and not enough progression for a forward who?s been in full time set up for almost a handful of years now. 

Also need to factor in the development of Ellis Lingard

It's easy to forget how young our pack is.
Caleb 25
Isaiah 24
Caius 23
Seth 21........21!


Even Renouf at 29 is not old for a prop.

Rodwell is also only 25. A couple of years together and these could be one of the best packs in the league. 

Harvey Smith as a young 9 is looking like a class 9 too. 


Very exciting, we need to keep hold of Faatili though. 

Agree completely about how young and good the pack could get ,and Smith looks like he could end up as one of the best in S L , Let's not forget the lad we got from HKR  he is just 25 .It is in the backs were we are struggling at present.

Yes Storton was immense start of the season. When he returns for last 10 or so games he will be a huge boost to the team. I really liked him in the second row.

Yes Storton was immense start of the season. When he returns for last 10 or so games he will be a huge boost to the team. I really liked him in the second row.

We underestimate how physically tough the game is here in the UK, it is too much for some players to step up from the Championship to SL. For others it takes a long time to acclimatise and adapt to that level of physicality, not just during an 80 minute game but in terms of recovering from a game and the cumulative wear, tear and fatigue of game after game.


I?ve known many NRL forwards that have come over and found our game to be surprisingly more physical than the NRL!
YES I know, shock horror because that?s not the popular narrative.


Many NRL forwards find our players are bigger than they expected, more aggressive, direct, tougher and hurt more in the collision than they?ve been used to. We all watch the NRL and just take it for granted that they?re better in every aspect and for the most part that?s evidently true but not in this aspect. 


I know some will disagree but I?m basing my statement on conversations I?ve had with a lot Southern Hemisphere players who?ve experienced both!


I said before the season started that we had a number of players for whom the jury was out even though they?d gone well in the Championship. I?m hoping that Rodwell has just being unlucky with injuries and not that the step up has proven too much for his body.


In terms of Atoni, we?ve seen him stand up and be dominant in a few games, we know he?s got it in him but the quiet nondescript performances outnumber the dominant ones. It?s not that he doesn?t do his job it?s that he doesn?t impose himself and plays with little impact on the opposition, it?s frustrating when you?ve seen what he can do! Maybe it?s what I mentioned earlier and the week to week stuff erodes his ability to play at his very best in every game.


At the moment I?d resign him but I don?t know who else is out there and available. If an obvious battle proven candidate became available then with top six contention in mind we should be ruthless in our retention/recruitment and make the tough decisions.

Pretty much this, if we can find better we should do, if we can't then we re-sign. My only concern is the quota spot. It's either Atoni or Walmsley who will be making way for Smoothy, and being fully stocked up on the quota spot leave little room for movement next year.