I saw a Tweet by MC asking where or who would fans recruit to replace the likes of Collis, Paea and Sammut, so here's my two penneth.

First of all let's deal with those departures:
Paea-Released
Collis-Released
Sammut-Released

The next players to be removed from the equation IMO should be:
Hall-Possibly back to HKR
Riley-Released
Miller-Released
I know people will say but what about contracts, where's the money to pay them off etc etc but I'm talking ideal scenario here and if we want to survive they've got to go and we have to find a way to do it! If not, then Hey! Let's keep em and get relegated!

If that were done then we move onto acquiring new players.
My priority would be 2 fast and athletic centres with decent defence. Who and from where? I don't really care, Championship/SL squad/Unknown Pacific Islanders/NRL Reserve Graders/ NRL retirees looking to finish their careers with a couple of years in SL. As long as they can do the job for the next 18 months I'm happy and they've got to be better than what we've been watching so far.

So how would that leave us looking by the time we enter the M8s

1. Owen
2. Lynne
3. New Centre
4. New Centre
5. Johnstone
6. Godinet
7. T Smith
8. Anderson
9. McShane
10. Scruton
11. Kirmond
12. Washbrook
13. D Smith

14. Sio
15. Lauitiiti/Crowther
16. Simon
17. Kirke

18. Annakin/Ashurst/Malloy/Ryan

IMO The biggest issue with the team is outside defence, 2 new centres who have a clue about defending on the edge will go a huge way to fixing this issue. Forming a partnership with their respective wingers would achieve two things, firstly it would give confidence for the winger to stay outside and mark his own man. Secondly it would remove some of the anxiety from the middle defenders and stop them from panicking about our vulnerability on the edges. This would allow us to be more composed in the middle and be the beginning of a workable defensive system which would evolve game by game.

Offensively, if Kirmond and Washbrook can forge an understanding with their respective centres then we should see much better attacking shape on both the right and Left edges. This would make us more of a threat in all three attacking channels.
The Left and Right as explained but the Middle would be more effective because teams would not be able to condense their defensive line against us due to the threats out wide. In turn that allows our forwards to get a quicker play the ball and allows McShane/Sio to take greater advantage.

It sounds simple but the addition of two solid centres has a domino effect on the rest of the team both in attack and defence. Confidence then begins to return and performance both individually and collectively raises as a result.

This is just my simplistic opinion, I know it's set in Ideal Scenario and nothing happens to plan in anything we do but for me with the potential to sign a couple of players it's the quickest and best fix we can opt for.

Heard today we could be signing Channing from CAS, only a rumour I must add but I wouldn't be at all surprised if true as he has apparently been at York the last few weeks.
What would we think about him as a collis replacement?

Depends what you are looking for, he's got the heart of a lion and never takes a backwards step, but his centre positioning and service to his winger isn't the best. Attitude wise he's a great signing.

Think of someone with the exact opposite attitude of Ritchie Owen. He punches above his weight but still played his part in a good season for us last year. This year shenton Webster and Gibson have been top picks and Channing isn't at that level. He will be useful in the middle 8s.

Channing has always looked a bit lightweight at superleague level to me. Not sure he is any improvement on those already here to be honest.

Channing is a good lad. Enthusiasm and heart in spades. IMO a lot better than what you currently have.

Don't doubt what you say. However I thought good recruitment means getting better players than the players that are leaving.
Now I know Collis had his problems this season and probably decided to leave before He knew Brian Smith was arriving.

Lets say we could have persuaded Collis to hang on and Smith started to get his old form back, I would then suggest to replace the Collis of old with Channing would be a retrograde step.

Exactly - Channing is not a replacement for Collis but is a better option than the two who played on Sunday - Arundel and Ryan.

Channing is a bit of a fans favourite at Cas, quick feet and good defence. He's as brave as they come but if you're looking for a centre who puts his winger clear he's not for you. Could be some truth in it though as Cas are rumoured to be close to signing Ben Crooks for next season.

I agree he is better than those two. But Collis is a centre that left us 2/3 weeks ago and if Channing is a centre joining us, then to me that is a direct replacement.

Replacing Collis with Channing would be replacing an Aston Martin that breaks down quite often with a Ford Escort which lasts longer.

Channing is average at best, i'd rather go with either of those 2 mentioned who are just as good and we also have Lyne and Hall who are better bets than him. Bit of a waste of a signing if true unless Hall leaves and we need extra cover. If we can't get better than what we have already then go with those here and spend the money elsewhere.

Check out the Salford board, Locke now available after walking out. Owed money apparently.

Channing would do a good job for you, if this proves true. Would be very sad to see him leave Cas- gives 100%, doesn't put a foot wrong. Not the best player on the pitch but makes up for it with his enthusiasm.

Locke for the remainder of the season would be handy...