2012 squad is taking shape now, and most of the backs are under contract for next year. Assuming O'Meley and Moa sign, which seems to be the general view, this is what we've got signed up.

2012 Squad

Starting 13
1 McKinnon
2 Sharp
3 Gleeson
4 Yeaman
5 Briscoe
6
7
8 O'Meley (assuming the option is exercised)
9 Houghton
10 Moa (assuming he signs)
11 Tickle
12 Manu
13 Westerman

Forwards
Radford

Backs
Whiting
Turner
Lyne?

Halves
Obst
Ellis

OOC
Horne
Long
Fitz
Lauaki
Dowes
Phelps
Burnett

As it stands, then, we've obviously got big gaps in the starting halves. Asked on the Leigh board about what they think of Ellis and whether he's ready, the answer was "almost". (He has a great kicking game and kicks 40/20s for fun as well). So I reckon Long will get another year with Ellis stepping up for most of it. Could see us keeping Horne on a reduced deal as cover, but we really need a top drawer 6, hence our interest in Chase, I suppose.

In the forwards, our cover is non-existent as it stands, for a club that jokes about a squad of back rowers, we've only got the starting back 3 in places for next year, and only one prop outside the 13, and this assumes O'Meley signs. Makes sense that we were serious about bringing Hock in, really. Given there is so little movement in the market, I'd give Dowes another year. Not sure how Burnett is going at Harlequins? Is it time to promote from the academy? We've not had a serious promotion since Houghton, which is a bit rubbish IMO.

Lynes got another couple of years to run.

Kent and Williams are ooc.

Washy's OOC too.

Think if Horne and Dowes keep playing the way they are they're worth a new deal.

Think Washy Hame and Burnett will be released to be replaced internally by Cunningham, Green and Kent.

Danny Nicklas coming back in too, giving us genuine depth in the halves, and I'd give Longy one more year on much lower money to move as a coach the year after. Phelps is gone now that McKinnon has signed.

Phelps is gone now that McKinnon has signed.

I'd leave the decision up to Fitz if he signs again, but I think we'll see Tickle play loose man if Fitz goes with Westy playing second row again unless he sharpens up in defence.

1. McKinnon
2. Sharp
3. Gleeson
4. Yeaman
5. Briscoe
6. Horne*
7. New Signing/Long*
8. O'Meley
9. Houghton
10. Radford
11. Manu
12. Tickle
13. Westerman
14. Moa*
15. Dowes*
16. Fitzgibbon*/Lauaki*/New signing
17. Obst

Other squad players

Whiting, Lyne, Crooks, Turner, Briscoe, Nicklas, Ellis, Adlous, Newton, Pearce, Green, Cunningham, new signing (prop).

1.McKinnon
2.
3.gleeson
4.yeamen
5.briscoe
6.horne - reduced contract
7.long - reduced contract
8.omeley
9.houghton
10.moa
11.tickle
12.manu
13.westy
subs
14.lauaki - reduced contract
15.radders
16.obst
17.turner/whiting
ellis,nicklas,lyne,williams,kent,green,cunningham,crooks,aldous,burnett,briscoe.
release
fitzgibbon
phelps
washy
sharp?

Think Horne, Long and Dowes will get one year deals. We need to replace Lauaki and Fitz with a prop and backrower, I think they will both leave.

I don't think any other halves will come in as we have Horne, Long, Obst and Ellis.

Fitzgibbon will take some replacing. Stating the bleeding obvious but what a cracking, hard player.

dont you think lauaki should be kept?

50/50 for me. I like him but it depends who else is available really. As I said the others will get one year deals I feel and Fitz will call it a day which means we need a backrower with Westy taking the 13 role.

Lauaki could be kept to play prop or back row depending on who we replace Fitz with but if we think we can get a better option then we may well take it.

No for me, he's not consistent enough, you can count on one hand the amount of good games he's had over the two years he's been here. Sad but true.

id liek to see him playing backrow thats where you see the best of him and with fitz most probs leaving i think keeping lauaki would be a wise move on a reduced wage with westy,tickle,manu,lauaki,burnett and then the young uns as our backrowers

I can't see Burnett coming back, more likely Kent and Cunningham will get gametime.

but what if kent and cunningham arnt good enough at this level and we do let burnett go then we could be short ion that area, burnett is playing really well at quins and i think i would give him 1 more year but woundt be dissapointed if he went

Tbh not really impressed with Burnett, would rather use the other two. They would only be back up. Manu, Ticks, Westy would start with Lauaki/new signing as the bench option. Kent and Cunningham would come after that.

And Green, don't forget about Green!