Manu (our Player of the Year) has had an outstanding season and should have made the Dream Team.

Moa has had a good season too.

Only Lauaki is the weak link.

Of course, after watching the likes of Jason Netherton every week, you should know all about great forward play.

People use silly names at times, Andreas Bauer was a 'rough diamond' according to Morgs!

When we played decent packs without Fitz our balance was all wrong. We could afford to have O'Meley and Moa starting when we had Fitz available but without him for the last 20 mins of the first half a pack containing Radford,Dowes, Lauaki and Washbrook offered nothing.

Totally agree Hollywood, even a full compliment of international centres and halves will look distinctly average behind a toothless pack, which I honestly think is what we have had this year. It only takes 3 new names and the whole look and feel is different. Easier said than done I know, but if we can believe Adams November promise ?

But without doubt we need more grunt and aggression. Even if we can't dominate every forward battle against the present top 6 we at least need to be going in against them toe to toe, with the same firepower.

Adam please buy us 2 big bruising battering rams. and lets get a pack thats really feared, then we can build a real team.

I still think Sunday showed that the pack isn't our main problem, we got into as many positions as Leeds to score, but we couldn't convert them.

Halfbacks is the main issue, hopefully this will be addressed with the 2 halfback signings needed.

Our attacking options and last play kicking against the big sides this year has been pathetic.

Next year's pack does look a little light so far though, we need at least 2 more signings there.

I agree with that also Dave, The pack is definitely not our only weakness. We simply run out of ideas in the last 1/3rd on 5th 6th tackles. We do need that key to unlock the defence and hopefully Seymour will do it for us. If we bust the bank for Chase then I think it's a deffo we'll find the missing key which is why we're so desperate for his unique skills. He can transform us just the way Topliss did. Also, Seymour is very highly praised in NRL for his defence so would be a great partner for the attack minded Chase. I think Ellis has his best days to come and will learn off Seymour. Whilst with Rich Horne, for me, the sun is starting to set on his great service to Hull FC and I feel even with a successful hernia op I'm seeing next year as his first as a non starter on the team sheet even when fully fit if we are serious about breaking the top 4.

Only guessing but the fact we now have Bowden, Pearce, Green, Kent, Crooks and Cunningham on ft deals may indicate Gentle will give the kids a chance.

A prop and right centre seem to be our priority.

I think McRae's 'two definitely' are exactly what you say, prop and centre, as they're the most pressing. The one depending on circumstances, I reckon that's a backrower if we can offload Obst.

That would point to a British centre and an overseas backrower.

It will be Lynch, and NRL centre and a british backrow I think.

I'd say that it will be Lynch and an NRL centre. The maybe will be an english back rower depending on how much cap is left after we sign our centre.

What back rowers would people be happy with??

Patrick?
Scott Taylor
Mariano?

I would have liked Lloyd White from Crusaders as a back rower

I know I've mentioned him a few times, but if it's the cap space that the 3rd player is dependent upon and not Obst's quota spot we could do a lot worse than signing Paul Johnson. Use him in the back row for next year and then he could move up to prop to replace Moa in 2013, as hopefully at least one of the youngsters will get enough game time to be pushing for a regular 2nd row place then.

Obst + a small fee for Johnson?

Why not do what we have all berated Agar for not doing and give youth a chance?

Manu, Tickle and Westerman to start with Whiting on the bench so that he can go to 13 allowing the backrow to be rotated. Then if we get injuries you have Kent, Cunningham and probably Pearce who could all do a good job of filling in in the second row.

Assuming we get Lynch that should leave us with a nice chunk of cap to allow us to go out a sign a classy centre.

I think that's exactly why Bomber has said they want at least 2, maybe 3. The 2 priorities being prop (Lynch) and centre, then backrow if they can. If they can't I would suggest they would be looking to the youth, which is why they have just extended 3 young forwards' contracts. Bases covered.

Much better to ease the youth in, with an established team that is playing well and winning games.