Sounds like Smith is staying, somehow Pearson has to back him.

This is what I would do
Bring in Bullock, Russell, Storton, Ben Davies, Corey Johnson.
Release Sao and Okunbor
That would give us 5 quota places, sign the following positions from the NRL try to avoid teams like Titans, Wests, Dragons and the Bulldogs, sign players who come from teams that are use to winning.

Centre (Iro)
Scrum half (Hawkins)
Hooker (Woolford)
2nd row (Alick, goes against what I said above, couldn't think of any one else, but that type of player )
Loose forward (Nathan Brown)

Walker
Martin
Iro
Sutcliffe
Russell
Trueman
Hawkins
Ese Ese
Woolford
Bullock
Staveley
Allick
Brown

Pele
Ashworth
Storton
Johnston

Wouldn't cost too much, just the paying off of the two overseas players.

Out would be

Hoy
McInhtosh
Scott
F Brown
Sao
J Brown
Cator
Houghton
Balmforth (I'd keep)
Ockunbor
Carlos
Barron
Laidlaw

If we keep getting pumped Smith can't get a new deal. I'd love to see the spin from the club if we announce an extension.

April 1st coming up, another Agar style announcement

I cannot see any external replacement for Smith. Reason is any reputable Manager would want to bring his own backroom staff. This is why Watson preferred Huddersfield , because Pearson refused Watson's request.
The interesting part, is IF we utilise the marquee player rule....as Pearson has stated,financially we should be ok,after the covid loan has been repaid.

Going to struggle to attract the better domestic players until we can start competing again or we pay way over the odds.

This is why it's massive we have 7 very good overseas players.

However we do it, we definitely need the 5 following things.

Strike centre
Controlling half, who can kick
Attacking hooker
Line breaking backrower
Tough ball handling 13

Also we need more of our academy players like Martin and Staveley to establish themselves as first teamers.

I agree, I'd like to think that had Armstrong and Wainhouse not had injuries they'd both would've made their debut by now, they could both be absolutely outstanding players.

Think Jack Broadbent is off contract but he may be on the radar of a few clubs. If we could add him and/or Iro our backline would have more strike.

And at least two of them need to be on-field leaders who the rest of the squad look up to and respect.

Yep 100% agree, probably one of the most important aspects on recruitment this year.

That’s going to be hard when most of the players don’t even have respect for themselves if the last 2 games is anything to go by.

so am I the only one that wants to make the out of contract Shaun Johnson our number 1 target?

I'd even throw the combined wages of Mint and Carlos (probably our two biggest earners) at him. He'd be worth every penny.

He has people he knows like Hargreaves and SKD living in the area. And we could also sell him on the Kiwi legends like Kemble, O'Hara, jimmy, Swainy and the legendary Kearny that have represented our club.

If the club has any ambition and wants to keep the fans onside, then they should be all in for this legend. He'll be as influential as Kearny was on the class of 2005 lifting silverware and going on to reach the grand final the following year, because of the influence he left on the team..

We talk about changing culture. It's the calibre of a player like a Shaun Johnson out on the field for us that can change a culture of a team.

I was talking to someone connected to the club yesterday, they said that the club new this season would be a right off, particularly if they picked up a few injuries. Next season, club are in a better position to recruit and will look to spend the full cap and at least one marquee player (would have been one this year of Clifford excepted his improved deal). This person is usually spot on with his info.

If this is true, I don't know why Pearson just doesn't come out and say that, say this season is about consolidating financially with an aim of bringing more local players through, well below the cap, with the aim of spending at cap and above next season.

I could get along with this season a lot more if this was the case and was told to fans.