The half back issue has become a problem more to the fact of Sutcliffe failing to develop his game than poor recruitment IMO. I think the plan was for Sutcliffe to partner McGuire for a couple of seasons, and then have Lilley come in for McGuire, a combination of injuries and poor performances has meant that the coaches look to have given up on Sutcliffe as a half, and are now trying to mould him into a back rower. Add in Lilley's relatively slow development, and Ward's injuries and evolution into a back row now we've been left with a massive hole that we'll have to try and fill from outside the club. I think we will see at least one half signed in the off season, and with the rumours of us signing Moss from KR, I can see Golding being given a bit of time in the halves also.
The fact is, the coaches did have a succession plan in place, it just hasn't worked, obviously they have to shoulder some of the blame for that, but the players have to also take their share of the blame for not taking the chances they've been given
