Losing Manu would be as big a negative as signing Ellis was positive IMO.

He is our best player, and by some distance!

and the club recognize that hence the comments if it is about money another club will be paying astronomical amounts!

Our structure will change/is changing so were not heavily reliant on Manu.

I'm not glad he hasn't signed a deal yet but I don't think it's all doom and gloom jst yet.

Don't forget whiting

I expected Manu, Tickle and Ellis to play as the back three with Westerman off the bench.

If Manu goes I don't think signing Aspinwall etc will do. We need to replace Manu with an impact backrower for the balance to be right. Then play Tickle, Ellis and Westerman as the back three with the impact backrower off the bench.

Still he might yet stay, depends if the new offer is improved enough?

It will be all about money.
It is probably his last big contract, he will be wanting as much as he can get and who can blame him. If we need to offer more then we should, if we are to move to the next level with signing the likes of Ellis we cannot lose players of the quality of Willi.

Sorry but I disagree with that, he's a very good player but he's no more important to us than Lynch, Houghton and Tickle plus a few others. I'd rather he stay, however with Ellis coming in and I would imagine a number of others I still trust in Gentle and McRae to assemble an improved squad for next season and beyond. To many on here get all upset when players leave this club, you would have thought we were dissembling a title winning squad, well we aren't.

Plenty of clubs don't have a 'impact' backrower, I can see the game moving away from itif it already hasn't.

Good mobile players are the key, I do think Manu is one of those players who can do both though.

He is our best player imo. Closely followed by Lynch and houghton. Whing should he in front of aspinwall also, must get him and Sharp signed up soon.

No, we are trying to build one and for me, Manu is an integral part of that. No other player in Super League can offer the particular style that he brings to our side, and we will be a more 'predictable' side if we replace him with a bog standard second rower.

Of course other players are just as important in their perspective positions/roles, however there is only Ellis who I would argue is a on par/better than Manu as a 2nd rower. If we are going to challenge we need the top players in the right positions. However you are right about trusting in AP & Gentle, though I believe they recognize Manus's ability considering AP has basically appealed to the fans to pressure Manu to stay, they know his worth.

Which is precisely why he needs to stay, he is the one player in our back row that offers both. Tickle and Ellis are very similar.