Being completely ruthless:

Need replacing in the squad:
Crookes
Yeaman
Horne
Pitts
Kent
Carvell

Need replacing as first 17 players, but fine squad members:
Green
Whiting (on this year’s form, warrants time to command his place back)
Watts

Need to improve quickly or should find themselves in the first category:
Crooks
Miller
Tuson (bordering on 2nd category for him, though, not 1st)
Arundel
Rankin

Houghton is a separate case of his own. Needs to improve his distribution (as he always has done), but better organisation/halves would help him a lot.

This is also on the basis that McDonnell is gone.

That is a very good analysis.

Apart from McDonnell the only players OOC this season are Horne, Pitts, Kent and Heremaia. Carvell and Talanoa are OOC but with options for another year.

I would exercise the option on Talanoa and release Carvell, Horne, Pitts and Kent, although there may still be a role at the club for Horne. I don't know what to do about Heremaia.

This is not going to free up much cap space and to bring in new players we would need to pay off some contracted ones such as Crookes and Yeaman.

Agree on Talanoa and Carvell. I've been impressed with Carvs when he's been on the pitch but he doesn't seem to have been on the pitch that often. And we have a lot of props. We could survive without him. Pitts and Kent should go. If Horne feels he has another year in him I can see him getting an extension simply because of his service to the club. Personally I would wait to see what our plans are with halfback recruitment before offering/releasing him. If we end up bringing in another young halfback then I would keep Horne on for his experience as back up. Like you, not sure about Azza. I like him a lot but with Cunningham returning Azza may be a luxury.

I can see us paying off Crookes but would be very surprised to see Yeamo paid off. I think Yeamo will be with us until he decides to call it a day and then he'll be given a role behind the scenes.

In my opinion, our best props have been the elder statesmen. Feka and Carv's have both been very impressive and look the most likely out of all of them to break a tackle. I was surprised to see them both miss out on games that they've both been fit for.

Plus these two also offload the ball which is what we need to do more as it breaks open a defence easier

Two big decisions are Carvell and Heremia.

Carvell on his day is our best prop, but we well covered there with some very exciting young players, Also at his age, he seems to be picking up too many injuries.

Heremia, is a very good hooker, but will be one of outer top earners and is only playing 40 minutes a game, I have been impressed with Cunningham in the games I have seen and that's in a really poor team.

I hope Horne retires and joins the coaching staff, HTW to come in as our 3rd halfback (although by the end of 2015 I expect him to be first choice) with Rankin and Miller or New signing.

Arundel unless he goes really well at Bradford will be released, along with Crookes unless he really impresses for Hull.

Pitts and Kent, will both go, lots of players in the backrow with a few coming through.

Talanoa is a must.

Anyone know how long HTW signed for?

He's just average, every game his positional sense in D is pants, he's been done at least twice on 40/20s when he should have been anticipating what was happening and hasn't got the pace to get back in time to stop it(at times it seems like he's jogging back for it). Whilst his enthusiam is great for the most part in attack and for sure he is a battler he really just doesn't cut the mustard. There's no nuance, he doesn't have the thinking ability to make up for his lack of pace either..sorry but no thanks..back up winger maybe..but not starting 17 material for a side that wants to aim big..

The HDM says Hull are understood to be making the signing of a high profile prop a priority for next season.

Really? Probably the position we need least, I hope the HDM are wrong, otherwise a baffling decision and again makes you wonder if we have the right man in charge.

Depends who is being shipped out and who is retiring I suppose not a major priority though, I expect it will be a prop who is high profile to a degree myself.

Even if Carvell goes, our front line props will be

Paea
Feka
Bowden
Watts

With Green and BTW as back up and also Thompson.

These set of props are as good as any other props in SL IMO.

Priorities should be a SH, and winger. the first two should be high profile players.

Add Walsh and Moon in our team for example and you would see a world of difference.

Completely agree. He's good at kick returns but his positional play and pace make him a distinctly average winger IMO. Wonder if radford is intending to drop him for his balls up when he made his break on sunday