Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 11:23 am  

Wellens - The team will need to start getting younger at the end of the year and we've got some good potential options at #1 so probably will be the perfect time for his bow. Release.
Gardner - Does a job and still got a few years left in him. If we can't find another winger before the end of the year then he'd be worth another year on the right money. Borderline keep.
Meli - Still our only strike player but just too old to commit another year to now. Reluctant release.
Gaskell - Still has a lot to prove before we commit our future to him, but hard to see many alternatives out there. Probably a keep.
Swift - Not seen that much of him but wouldn't cost much and seems a decent enough prospect. Keep.
Greenwood - As per Swift. Keep.
Laffranchi - Who else are we going to get of the same quality from Oz or elsewhere? Overwhelming keep.
Perry - Unless he has an absolutely sensational season he needs to be on his way. Most disappointing big signing we've made in 25 years. Release.
Puletua - We need to get younger and his best years look to be behind him. Might still be worth another year though and we certainly aren't going to find another player to provide his impact if he does go. Undecided.
Flanagan - An underrated bits and pieces player. Keep.

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:09 pm  

Gaskell, Swift, Greenwood and Flanagan for me. Laffranchi if we can move him to 2nd Row. I also agree with Offside Monkey about rebuilding and being ruthless with our pruning. Wilkin, Wellens, Meli, Perry, Hohaia, Gardner and maybe TP can all go at the end of the season and we need some younger, hungry players coming in.

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:09 pm  

I guarantee Wellens will be our starting FB next season though!

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:12 pm  

Keep Greenwood, Swift, Gaskell, Laffranchi (to play second row) and Flanagan.
Give Puletua another year if he performs this year.
I expect Wello, Meli and Gardner to retire at the end of the year with Wellens and Gardner maybe taking up coaching roles at the club.

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:20 pm  

I don't disagree that we need to release a few of these players but I'd love to know where we are going to sign upto TEN new players from. Laffranchi, Flanagan, Gaskell, Swift, Gardner will most likely get new contracts. Meli and Puletua will retire. Perry will be released for definite and I honestly think that if Wello wants another year, he'll get one. I don't agree that he should but I think he will.

Looking at our starting 17 next year we're going to be looking at:

New FB
New wing
Turner
Jones
Makinson
Gaskell
Lomax
New prop
Roby
New prop
Sia
Manu
Wilkin

LMS
Flanagan
Laffranchi
Greenwood

That's a huge turnover in key positions. Recruitment is critical but if it isn't available what are we going to do? At least 2 new overseas players required but are we going to be able to offer the right wages? If the wages are right, are we going to overpay for another Josh Perry? Exciting but worrying times ahead! I actually think our biggest recruitment need is at half back but I don't see us getting one unless Lomax moves into the no.1 jersey. here's hoping.

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:23 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

That should leave us with a good chunk of Salary Cap to rebuild our team and I'd attempt replace the above as follows from the out of contract SL list -

Perry and Laffranchi - Priority signing of Ben Harrison from Wire and another prop of more modest rep like Andy Raleigh, Ben Davies or even Mace the Ace as back up.
Even if we lose TP, then we'd have starting 4 props of Harrison, LMS, Clough, Walmsley with our youngsters and one of the above in reserve.
Offload Wilkin - Harrison Hansen from Wigan or Greg Mounis from Catalans
Togther with Flash, Manu and Sia, one of the above would make up a really hard back row unit, with Greenwood in reserve.
Wellens - Ryhs Hanbury from Widnes
This would be my most important move. Lomax or Gaskell to play #1 and giving us an organising half that we need. Hanbury's an excellent player.
Gardner - Jodie Broughton
May be some competition for this one, but Dixon from London is also an interesting option for an exciting winger.

1) Ben Harrison will surely stay on at Wire, and I'd rather have Laffranchi over Raleigh/Davies/Mason. Perry can go.

2) Hansen, if he leaves Wigan, will go to a NRL team, but Mounis is a great shout. I'd have him definitely. Wouldn't offload Wilkin though.

3) Hanbury would be a good signing for us, I like that idea. People might laugh, but he's exactly the sort of player we need. We DESPERATELY need another HB. Lomax cannot keep playing 7, IMO.

4) Doubt Salford would want to let Broughton go tbh considering their new big plans. But I'd love us to sign someone with pace like that.

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:32 pm  

Albion wrote:

1) Ben Harrison will surely stay on at Wire, and I'd rather have Laffranchi over Raleigh/Davies/Mason. Perry can go.

I'm a big fan of Harrison, so I'd make a real drive to sign him. Wire also have Morley,Wood and Carvell out of contract, so hopefully won't be able to negotiate strongly with all of them.

The other names mentioned were mearly to pad out the squad, rather than replace Boof in the starting line up - I think LMS should be doing that next year.

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:46 pm  

Paul Wellens - Release, replaced by Lomax.
Ade Gardner - Release, replaced by Keiron Dixon. Dixon stated he would consider a move if it was right for his career.
Meli - Getting on a bit now, release. Promote to the squad from within, Swift / Percival are most likely.
Gaskell - Keep.
Perry - Release, replace with someone like Mace the Ace or Paul Wood who are realistic targets.
Laffranchi - Has a year option in favour of the club, keep as he is good to have around.
Puletua - Depends on form this year, if not up to scratch replace with a powerful SSI. There's plenty around.
Flanagan - Definitely keep, massively underrated IMO.
Swift - Keep.
Greenwood - Keep.

I'd then target a couple of new signings and bin off Wilkin so our lineup would be similar to this next year:

1. Jonny Lomax
2. Kieron Dixon
3. Jordan Turner
4. Josh Jones
5. Tommy Makinson

6. Lee Gaskell
7. Rhys Hanbury

8. LMS
9. James Roby
10. Anthony Laffranchi
11. Sia Soliola
12. Willie Manu
13. Mark Flanagan

14. Lance Hohaia
15. New SSI prop / TP.
16. Alex Walmsley
17. Joe Greenwood

Obviously the bench could change up a lot, depends upon the progression and development of a couple of players, we also may bring in another prop if both Perry and TP are released. It's also worth noting that Swift could put in a challenge for either Full Back or 7. I also expect Percival, a very classy centre, to be pushing for a spot in the next couple of years.

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:16 pm  

I think we should be setting our sights on better props than Mason and Wood to be honest.

Re: Our off contract players, who would you keep? : Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:17 pm  

St. Rughead wrote:

I think we should be setting our sights on better props than Mason and Wood to be honest.

They would be the 5th or even 6th choice prop for me, purely an experienced squad player.