Out of the three you mention I think only Widnes will struggle
Catalan are still a good side and Castleford have recruited 2 good half backs.Wouldnt surprise me to see Cas around the top 4 again
The team though for next season is Warrington.

Loosing Clarke could be huge for Cas . And TWO good halfs , would you call Gale good if we had signed him ?

Too light and too small for centre.If anywhere on the pitch apart from Full back his most effective position would be 9.
To think we have just binned a class full back who scored two tries in his first first team match for Saints.

Shaul who's in the final 4 for POTY at fullback? Yes, offloading McDonnell on an inflated contract sure is our biggest issue.

I not sure some who post on here watch Hull.

Shaul has been excellent this season a improved so much on last year, he certainly is safer under the high ball and has better positioning. His one on one defence is very good in open play, maybe lacks a bit of strenght near the line though

His biggest weakness is his link up play near there line when acting as a pivot, his passing can be inaccurate and he sometimes makes the wrong option, but I am sure that this will all be improved on other the years.

Personally I think Shaul is a better FB than Mccdonell already and will only get better, he is also less injury prone and miles better value for money.

Why anyone would consider moving him from there (especially for a player who has only played a couple of games for us at FB and looked nothing special there.) is madness.

Has Huby signed for anyone yet ? My minds gone blank (easily done like)

Huddersfield I believe but it hasn`t been announced yet

Thats the rumour and it seems nailed on, he is a good player, but would have wanted big money on a long term deal, so not why are priority was/is .

On the money, Dave. I'd like to see him sniping off Pryce like Shaun Briscoe did off Horne through the middle.

Ben Roberts might be good though

You think? I don't, I've also watched him time and again afraid to get his hands dirty near our line and not even bother attempting to stop a try..his commitment in defence is questionable at times. In attack that's a different matter but then it's far easier to attack than defend as a FB.
He cetainly isn't a better FB than SM , but then you and certain others would say that wouldn't you? The kid has talent, bags of speed and enthusiasm in attack but he's plenty to go before he steps up to the next level, he's not even in the the top 5 of SL fullbacks.

VFM, sure he is, potential to get better, yup, totally agree, at fullback, I'm not convinced personally. He won't be moved for sure and his attitude of not wanting to be moved early doors to the wing when we actually needed someone kinda put us in a spot tbh but that's down to whatever he & the coach have discussed. I just don't think his commitment in defence has what it takes to make an exceptional all round FB.

not many fb's bother to tackle these days so Shauls not on his own.

I dont believe that.

Wire kept Clarke quiet for a year. shows nobody at all is #intheknow

Tackling is a fairly overrated asset for a full back imo. It's a bonus if they can tackle, but really how many tackles are full backs called on to make? If they are making a lot then that means the pack are getting dominated and it is largely irrelevant whether the fullback can prevent a couple of tries or not. If a guy is a poor tackler he will cost you more tries by playing at centre than full back.

In fact maybe full back will be Ben Crooks' long term position?

When he's played wing he's been awful under the bomb, & although they are both tricky positions nowadays he would get mullered by kickers like Brough & co, IMO he would just suffer.