I can see Myler hardly getting a game next year and is it not better to give a chance to a young player at this stage anyway?



I’d say Hooley gives us more of what we need from a FB already never mind about Miller. Edgell and Lumb are decent prospects too.



Myker in the halves again fills me with dread his kicking game is terrible and he’s not quick enough to offer much of a running threat. RS obviously agrees because we’re clearly trying to sign a 7 as well as the 6

In the past he shared a house with Rohan, so you could well be right here.

It's actually a surprise triple swoop for Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Phoenix Laulu-Togaga'e & Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Bentley has signed for two year extension and Fusitua has signed 1 year

Can someone please explain to me why Bentley?

Might be following an agent's advice: stay out of it lad and I'll get the clubs to sort it

Rohan said in his presser they've had no contact with Lee or his mgmt other than being made aware he is available. Rohan quite adamant it won't be happening. Guess your source knows otherwise

I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't sign a centre at all. They could move Martin to centre (when did he last play second row) and use the three quota spots on a half, a hooker and a prop. I know Levi turned us down, but so (allegedly) did Lachie Miller. That would address our spine issues ( I know this is a risk but what do we have to lose?)in one fell swoop and also bolster our front row. This assumes Burgess to Leeds is pure fans speculation, which I think it probably is.

I am assuming Brenko Lee will come to Leeds, but I know Cats can be persuasive for Aussies. It's not like they are a duffer team any more either.



Maybe signing Bentley is a sign that we are not in for a centre as you say, because when you move Martin out to centre (perhaps Simpson coming through, I think the club rate him - we also have good depth at centre in the academy over the next 2-3 years)... that then makes an extra seat in the back row or 17 for Bentley.



Again though, how can we carry Bentley, McDonnell, Donaldson in the same squad? Martin isn't huge either. I know we've had JJB/Delaney but both were pretty physical and aggressive, and Ablett was IMO very good and underrated. None of these players are a Mozza and Gannon is still very young to play to enforcer/strike role.

Just don’t think big enforcer type second rows are that important to the way Smith wants them to play. In my opinion his philosophy relies on clever players in the spine positions. We would have won a load more games this year if we had the kind of personnel. There is no way we can address all the perceived weaknesses in one off season, and I think raising the teams IQ might be deemed the most effective action with the constraints of the dreaded cap.

Yes and I can't disagree re the spine positions - and not just there.



Again though Nene I don't think is the smartest although a great athlete and instinctive rugby brain in some ways... Olpherts don't get me on him... so mixed bag in terms of who he's brought in so far.



The problem with a competitive but light second row is that is puts all the pressure on your centres in attack, and too much pressure on your props in the middle. If you look at the amount of D Tommy Holroyd gets through, it's no wonder he has lost impact in his carries he'll be knackered. There is a kinetic reality to rugby league where size and power does count - I think having a terrier in the back row is great to tidy up and scrap for stuff, but I wouldn't have more than one of them ideally were it me.

Agree. The sad thing is that the only reliable place to get players of the size and power you refer to is the NRL, and we only have so many spots.

Yes also true - to contradict myself Bentley is a decent player and still only 25?, so he can and should get better... I just like McDonnell so much this year I want him starting and not having his head turned because he has some real quality about him at times.

It won’t let me quote your message FGB. But I also remember Rohan saying there was nothing in the Frawley claims, multiple times. So your comment was pointless, Rohan never gives anything away, that’s the way he plays things.

I hope signing Fuzzy was in his contract in his favour for the last year?



Because i can't for the life of me think why you'd give him another contract? MENTAL.

I don’t think he flat out said that’s not happening though like has with Lee

It sounds like talks with Lee broke down quickly?



So lemme get this right: Austin, Sezer, Tet, probably Nene leaving gives us 4x quota spots and we have Miller and Frawley confirmed, so just two left? 7 is a must so the other could be centre, 9 or maybe prop.

It more sounds like there never were any talks

The key difference being that with Frawley, Smith said I won't comment on any speculation. Then with Lee he said that move won't be happening and we've not spoken to him. Theres a big difference between the two. If he refuses to comment chances are they're interested, he also took a very different stance with milnes too and flat out rejected that one, so there's a pattern.

That's right. I said three earlier but appear to have had problems counting. The sun's getting to me.

Have to bronze the Adonis Clueso.

A half back ,prop and centre are musts imo.

What does everyone think about hooker? Linked with Levi a few weeks ago.. might be nothing in it but O’Connor and Johnson going to do what we need next year?

Which sounded pretty definitive, similar to RS comments when asked about Milnes. Though in an earlier post Sharky also states milnes is less sure about moving to Leeds now as he may not be first choice, and now he has us putting an offer in for Abdul. Are we just chucking money at KR and seeing what sticks?



I think sharkys in the know contact runs one of the burger vans at Headingley.

I'd be OK with O'Connor and CJ having another season if it means we sort the must haves first.