clearly not or people wouldn't respond

Do you honestly think we could have recruited players and competed with the top teams in one recruitment cycle? We're a mess of a club and this is going to take some time getting out of. I'm sorry but that is the reality we find ourselves in after years of being in a downward spiral. We are officially bottom of the table now. Expecting us to recruit and compete with the top teams straight away is ridiculous and was never going to happen. And you dare call others deluded.

is there much scope to improve the squad in 2026? Who is OOC next year? Lane, Sao, Briscoe, cartwright jr? Any more?

Sums us up really. Already looking to the next next season!

other off field improvements away from the playing side

Supporter engagement
Communication
Marketing
Corporate engagement
Match day experience

Its not just poor recruitment there is no strategy
The signing of Asiata should have been the benchmark but its just gone backwards after that
we have signed Hardaker as a centre when he clearly is a better full back
We have signed Rapana as a full back when he is a winger
We have signed Sezer in desperation who was mostly poor in S/L having been knocked back by other players
We have signed three players who cant get into their clubs first team squads yet deemed good enough for this club
Think we have seen enough of Chamberlain to say he is just a poor utility player yet he is on a three year contract and likely to be a first choice centre.
Abdull we know there is a player in there but his indiscipline towards food and his injury record doesnt inspire confidence.
Anyone who thinks this recruitment is anything more than poor is deluded

'Hardaker clearly a better full back ' despite Adrian Lam (SL coach of the year 2023) selecting him consistently at centre, as well as Ivan Cleary who played him there for Penrith.

'Rapana clearly a better winger' perhaps he hasn't got the acrobatic ability, or acceleration required to be a modern winger. Maybe Ricky Stuart, a pretty good coach by the way, saw his current better position to be full back. His ball return on exit sets, his ability under the high ball, his support play up the middle, his communication in numbering up the defensive line, and his defensive commitment as a last line of defence must mean he is now a better 1 than he is a 2 or a 5.

Is this the same Sezer that came 2nd in MoS rankings at Hudds, or got leeds to a GF? Better CV in SL than a lot of half backs currently playing here

Unfortunately Cleary, Ponga and Staggs weren't willing to come to SL to appease you

I really don’t understand your logic with Rapana. We don’t know for certain that the coach wants him to play fullback, but he’s played well there this season and there’s absolutely loads of top players who’ve been able to play both wing and fullback at the very highest level like NRL origin and international.

I’d argue Bevan French most ‘natural’ position is fullback but he’s gone into 4 different seasons at Wigan as the starting 6, fullback, winger and back to 6 again. There’s no rule in RL that you have to stick to one position. Cartwright knows Rapana well, and if he wants him at fullback it’s likely because he thinks he has the skill set for that, kick returns likely one key area we are weak on.

A lesser extent the same applies to Hardaker. I don’t think it’s a great signing given his age, but he’s a better option then what we’ve mostly been able to field at centre or fullback this season so for me it’s irrelevant what his best position is, he’s a decent centre I’d be happier if we still added another centre though.

Released players list announced, no real surprises, ones rumoured plus Mitch and a few young kids.

I liked Hodgson and the two halfbacks, but they have been overtaken by Charles and Hutchison.

Good to see Armstrong getting another year.

I'm surprised at Hodgson, looked to have good service from acting half

Walker not being on the list is interesting, also means Rapana surely down to be a winger not a full back

He won't be here, his agent has said so, guessing the deal for him leaving isn't sorted, expect Smith,Tindall and maybe Sao to follow.