So with the departure of Luke Gale we will again be looking for a new club captain next season.

In his various absences this season we've had Houghton, Ma'u and Lane. I think Griffin may have been captain once as well?

I'm concerned at the lack of natural leaders in the squad as it stands. I think it would be a backwards step giving the armband back to Houghton. He didn't stand out in the role last year and I imagine 2023 will be his last season anyway. Similarly Taylor was a poor captain, in my opinion.

Any other candidates? Connor possibly or what about Liam Sutcliffe as a fresh start?

Wouldn't be against giving it to Connor. Briers captained wire and he was a gobe on the pitch.

Hodgson has used Lane at various points too.

Carlos, always leads by example but doesn't seem a massive talker.

A left field one but Savelio? He's a big player for us. Brings energy and always geeing people up.

Brad Fash for me.

Connor

Connor
Potentially see how Trueman acts when he joins the club and if he has any leadership abilities, although maybe not ideal picking a captain who won't be fit for a while.

Alternatively, I wouldn't be opposed to Brad Fash getting it. Plays the game with the right attitude and one that other players could do with following.

Connor.

I was hoping a couple more would be released myself not much wiggle room to bring any more payers in and we at least need a good second row for me.

Think most agree on that.
Still carrying too much deadwood
Really need to offload Griffin and Taylor if we can.
We go into 2023 with a team nowhere near good enough to challenge the top 6 and without a player in the whole squad who stands out as Captain material

Let's see what happens early next week.

Only announced OOC players. I still expect us to attempt to try and move Shaul and Griffin out. That is some big earners out the club this year. Even someone like Bowden was on 80k

Regardless of recruitment, we won't trouble top 6 next season.
IF Hodgson continues his policy, of relying on 1 player , for our attack, we are in serious trouble.
We have already seen without Connor we are as a team, unable to score tries & create opportunities.
The quality teams, such as St Helens, Melbourne, all have a rigid attack system, whereby if a pivot is missing, another player seamlessly slots in, and the structure remains intact., and all players know their roles.
I would have hoped Hodgson would've learnt his lesson.. but he hasn't..

Looking at our recruitment, it seems that he is trying to sign more creative players, Hoy, Truman and Dywer should take alot of pressure and responsibility away from Connor. Think Sutcliffe is an upgrade too, if we can add in two more forwards, Longstaff and an overseas forward, then I think we will finish in the play offs.

Need some luck with injuries too.

I think a lot will depend on when and how Truman recovers from his injury.

He could be a big player for us and take some pressure off Connor but how much of the season is he going to miss and how will he be mentally after injury. A lot of questions around him and it could go either way.

In Hoy and Dwyer we have added much needed pace to two critical pivot positions which increases our attacking threat.

The bit in bold is what concerns me the most in that we still seem to lack any real structures in our play. It’s something that I’d hoped Hodgson would have addressed as soon as he came in but we still rely on the talent on Connor and the open admission by Hodgson that he leaves the attacking stuff to the players.
I struggle to see what Purtill does too. Whilst we have made some improvements to the squad we are still so far behind regular contenders.
We also look very weak and light weight in the second row.
It’s all well and good bringing Truman & Hoy in but unless Hodgson implements real structure to our play, same with pushing youth in all honesty can’t see things being too much different next season. Both Hodgson & Purtill have been at the club more than long enough to have put their stamp on things and give the team an identity but for me there’s very little evidence of that at all which is the biggest disappointment.

I see on this forum a lot of criticism of Hodges and Purtill but i was under the impression that Gareth Ellis was the defence coach, and in all honesty there has been no other team in Super League this season who have been on the end of the sort of hammerings frequented upon your team.