With Powell now looking likely to take over, my view is very optimistic. Powell won't be cheap and I don't think he will want another fail on his CV/record. I personally (with zero inside knowledge ) think this deal is already done and dusted. What better time to announce it, after:
1) Players have gone (some we will miss, others we won't
2) the season is over and we announce season tickets for next year. The new owner, optimistic bounce will encourage renewals. Not to mention maybe some 'Hit taking' deals to help hit the target figure. Spending on a squad with ME money, that the rest of the league can only dream of.

Spot on Avenger, that'd be my first 17 as it stands too. 


Listening to Ste Mills' great interview on the Heritage podcast and putting reports together, it looks like Atoni (Cas), Hood (Oldham), Griffin (York) and Matty Russell (TBC) are on their way out. I'm comfortable with all those - they've been quality for us, particularly in the last 18 months, but we can look to the future now. 


The only other two out of contract are Croft and Cozza, and with '3 or 4' more coming through the door (including tonight's announcement), you'd imagine they'll drop down the pecking order or have to go elsewhere. So if you look at our depth, we definitely need a couple of props and, as PT says, a second rower:



Rourke
Myers
Scott
?
Tchamambe
Lawford
Russell
Lingard
Doyle
High
?
?
Pitts


If I were playing Fantasy RL, I'd also want to sign a world-class halfback in the Lachlan Lam mould, a weapon of a centre like Tesi Niu, and a gamebreaking winger like Xavier Savage, which would leave us with a team full of threats and take us to finals. However, that's more for 2027, and I'm more than happy to see how Lawford, Hall, Myers and Tchamambe develop in that time.

For me only Rourke, Scott, Russell, Doyle and Pitts are viable regular options 
The others are developing. Some may come through quickly but I think they have another year at least.


So we definitely need more middles and Second rowers.
The backs I'd like to strengthen but I'm reasonably happy with Rourke, Scott and Russell covering.....and possibly Myers soon.

I agree - and when you put it like that it shows how light we are in the pack. Two props and a second rower for next season would do nicely. 

Hood on his way to Cas?!

That's how it goes, I'd have been more than happy if he'd stayed but only for another year. But you've no control when players leave and where they go.Hood will go well for them if he signs, but he's another year older and we know full well what he's capable of.