I guess another headline could've been Kelly and Blair fail to find an NRL side, so they're staying here for 2016. Still, good news innit.

Signing a hooker would be my priority, [sizeas I wastefully typed on the Hull fall out thread.[/size

You have to imagine our plans for the back row next season still involve Blair and McCarthy, so maybe looking @ one new arrival? Larroyer's done a lot of body guard duty this year, but some of his attacking decisions have been stupid, I think we'll want to keep. Horne (still on contract?) Solid+versatile. Cox was obviously unfortunate with his spleen emergency and then whatever his problem was this season. But, his time must be close to be up @ Rovers. Got the size we're all calling for, but doesn't look capable (just 3 carries we got out of him a weekend, did he get injured? Twas' a game I've tried to quickly forget) Ollett, Donaldson, Holker, Esslemont - moving forward probably looking @ keeping 2/3 home grown tags maybe. Assume Burke will be back at Wigan.

Goulding is a blow for all concerned. Welham's return to reasonable form meant he was probably already heading for the retained list, but probably a no brainer now, unless we can snare another decent SL centre.

BC has impressed me recently at fullback. You'd love to find a place for Dixon when you see his express pace, but without injuries I can't see it.

It will be really hard to recruit 4 players in the position mentioned who will improve your squad if you don't have any overseas spots available.

I'm not sure having two overseas props is the best use of quota spots, unless they are top class, their are plenty of good English props and usually a prop only plays half the game, so you would maybe be better using the quota spot on a position that is more pivotal.

Again I'm not convinced by having wingers as overseas players either and you have two. Kelly and Campese are the right players and the right positions to use overseas spots, but I'm not sure on using 4 spots on wingers and props.

Where do you think Lunt will go? Cant see Leeds signing him when they have Aiton, Burrow and Ward on their books.

If Bradford go come up, I'd look at O Brien, Sidlow and Ferguson.

Wakefield could also be an option with Mcshane, Scruton and Kirmond.

Here's my ideal scenarios for 2016: (salary cap / quota spots permitting)

- Lunt commits to a 3 year deal
- Sio moves to fullback
- Dixon stays on the right wing
- We sign a half decent SL right centre to feed him. Leroy Cudjoe is out of favour at the mo
- We sign 2 big, quick, hard running back rowers in the mould of Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook, Benjamin Garcia or Ukuma Tai'i
- We sign another prop/ big back rower on loan assuming Burke goes back to Wigan
- We offer extensions to John Boudebza, Graeme Horne and Ben Cockayne
- Keep Ollett, but get rid of Cox, Esslemont and Donaldson
- Sign Larroyer to a permanent deal

Yeah, I agree about props and wings. No reflection on the non-fed ones we have now. Maybe the more expensive positions are barely affordable on the SL cap? We've had some props from the NRL - Vella, Paea and Weyman. Sio and Mantomato are doing well on the wings. But it'd be good to have a spot free for a centre, or hooker or backrower, where there's not much fed-trained talent available.

On the size of our backrowers, I have to agree with earlier posts. But injuries have knackered things up. Our 2014 'won't be bullied' pack of gnarled old pros hit a similar snag. The current group are brave and hard working, but perhaps they'd have to work less hard if there was a bit more of a mix of styles. In fairness, Chester had his work cut out on recruitment last year. With Kelly and Blair staying (huzzah!)he can perhaps focus on finding a bit more power. And probably a hooker, unfortunately.

Interest from aussie.

Bradford away was 6 weeks & 2 days ago. Hardly half a year now is it?

Half the year he's been available to play for us yes.

Half of a 12 week year?

It's frustrating that he's out injured, as it is with several others, but hooker is the new halfback in terms of quality available in SL. Signing Lunt would be be a no-brainer imo, if it were an option.

I've seen a few say that there must be better than Lee or McShane available... Surely there must be!

But looking around the league at who else we'd have a reasonable chance of getting - cupboard's pretty bare.

There's no one better or more available than Lunt, my talk with connections worry me about his mental toughness, seems to be a player that needs to be constantly reassured that he's top dog.

He is the ideal choice for us but if his mental toughness is in question is does make you wonder if he'll be looking for somewhere closer to home. The worry for me with him was always that why would hudds let someone with his undoubted quality leave mid season? Must be more than just rugby reasons.

There is no doubt tho that we need another hooker in, Boudebza has stepped up and looked really good but needs to be spelled by a more experienced head.