That would happen in an ideal world, but even before Myler had his debut, everyone knew he was one of the top prospects around. My fear is that Danny Hulme apart, no-one seems that excited about any others coming through. The size of Mullally would make you think that he could be a very good forward, but probably a little early yet in his career to be playing week in week out. Early this season, no-one was trying harder than Ostick, yet everyone could see going forward we found it very hard going. Thats not a criticism of Ostick, if he continues his development he may end up being a very good player. The point is though, if we are going to rely on more youngsters next year, we need players who are ready now.

Just as a slightly seperate issue, I've never understood this recent obsession with very young props in the team - just in the past 2 or 3 years we've tried about 7 (Morrison (Mike), Ostick, Kavanagh, Nash, Sidlow, Houghton, Thompson) and next year we are reportedly getting Davies from Wigan. Although there is the saying if you're good enough then you're old enough, I would have thought in the forwards, you need a rough, tough experienced pack, maybe with one or two younger players on the fringes to come in every now and again. Look at Leeds - Leuluai, Peacock, Bailey, Lauitiiti, JJB, Kirke, Sinfield, Buderus and previously they had Ellis. Sure they've got Burgess as well, but the point is that they don't rely on youngster in the pack - when will we learn?

I wouldn't say that I was panicking just yet but it would be fair to say that I am concerned.

I realise that the season hasn't finished yet but that hasn't stopped other teams from making acquisitions or announcing re-signings. Even if they haven't got stuff coming out of the club there is enough speculation to make it look like there is plenty of activity.

Of the players that we have signed up there is still some obvious uncertainty with there being at least one report that Thacks is trying to engineer himself a move to a SL club and some reports that Webster was a possible target for a move to Gateshead until recently.

Then lets have a look at the players leaving.. Morrison and Fletcher in particular will be difficult to replace but it is reported that Fletcher has been told that we cannot afford to offer him anything due to the reduced salary cap. On the upside this could mean that there are adequate replacements already lined up and we are simply awaiting to make the announcement! If not then I will not feel that easy about our squad until the make-up of it begins to take shape.

The very real reason for me to feel uncertain is the fact that Leigh have shown this season how easy it is to get relegated from this league.
11 teams, 1 already exempt from relegation and 2 spots.
Look at the other teams in this comp
Barrow will be as strong next season, Fax are going for it again next year, Gateshead will be off from the start instead of the bad beginnings they had this year, Sheffield are a canny side and difficult to beat at home, Fev seem to have Barrow's mathematical genius at the club with the signings they are being linked with. Haven are just Haven. Batley came into some real form once Harrison joined and he will be there next year.
So that leaves Toulouse - exempt, the two newly promoted side.. (who knows how they will go) and us.. currently weaker than we were at the start of next season and possibly following this cap 'stringently'. This isn't to say that we will not make any more announcements. I'm expecting a fair few to be made but who they will be and how they will be better than those leaving is a question which makes me a little nervous.


Of course one thing to remember is that the new regime at the club does seem to be fairly watertight in terms of signings and there has been little in the way of speculation previous to actually making signings. The days of knowing weeks in advance who was coming to the club is pretty much a thing of the past in many cases with signings often being a pleasant surprise..

Fairly upbeat commets from Mr O though which have already lifted my morale..

Excellent article, Cull will be getting together his own squad and were gonna kick ass, also liked the bit about the youngsters bulking up.

Roll on next year.......

People keep refering to Leigh but what they have to remeber is there squad was cak anyway!

I can't think honestly who at the start of the season we whould of said... Ooo wish we'd signed them... can you?

The so called "cak" at Leigh still did the double over your cak though eh?

Dont like the leythers do ya lad? you have took my mantle in terms of winding them up.

But it in the long run you got relegated pal and made yourselves look silly in the process by begging for more cap money even though it was your won fault you got relegated. Deal with it pie face.

Pretty harsh to get relegated on the back of "won" fault don't you think? Maybe Leigh will get a reprieve as a result?

Harsh or not you know the rules before the start of the season, just like when we finished above the frogs but got dropped down.

No I don't mind them actually

Just the 'We should be allowed to spend what we want next year it's not fair' attitude as why not spend this season?


That point on exactly that basis there squad was poor and went down! We wouldn't of took Watson over Webbo, Morrison over Morrison (Lol) etc.

So when people 'comapre' potential sitituations you need to look at what we have SIGNED UP already compared to what they did to make a comparison!

We did okay this season, let's not forget that.. and probably could have done better had we had Morrison and Fletcher available for a few other games but they will not be here next year and we need to replace quality for quality..

Also I honestly think the bar will be lifted next year in terms of quality and the gap between the top clubs and the bottom clubs will narrow dramatically. We weren't all that far from the bottom this time around. It wouldn't take all that much for any team to find themselves in the wrong half of the table when the league is made up of just 11 teams.

I've got all my fingers and toes crossed for next year, so coming from Widnes that should be at least four more than the rest of the country can manage!!
I'm not saying we are at risk, but I agree with the sentiment that the club should be wary of resting on it's laurels,.. not that it necessarily is

It's