Opening it up for everone to have their say in terms of releases and retentions for next season. Its quite clear changes are needed. So lets hear it. Who deserves to to stay and who do we let go? Please keep the thread on subject. Keep it to on the field only Let someone else start an off field / coaching thread...
Dfj, Crossley, Fleming (although not possible due to the ludicrous 2 year deal he got) Walker I'm undecided on. Yes he looks a mess fitness wise, but he's still one of the few capable of busting a tackle and an offload. Problem is when we start getting rolled, he's targeted.
Murphy I like but is likely to be one of our highest earners. Doesn't help when he's played in the centres though. I actually think he'd make a decent middle for us.
Mdj as well, sadly just having too many injuries.
I think we're in desperate need of a proper leader, particularly on our discipline. Someone who would calm the likes of Patton and Hallas down who seem to be losing their heads far too easily right now.
Dfj, Crossley, Fleming (although not possible due to the ludicrous 2 year deal he got) Walker I'm undecided on. Yes he looks a mess fitness wise, but he's still one of the few capable of busting a tackle and an offload. Problem is when we start getting rolled, he's targeted.
Murphy I like but is likely to be one of our highest earners. Doesn't help when he's played in the centres though. I actually think he'd make a decent middle for us.
Mdj as well, sadly just having too many injuries.
I think we're in desperate need of a proper leader, particularly on our discipline. Someone who would calm the likes of Patton and Hallas down who seem to be losing their heads far too easily right now.
Probably agree on DFJ who tries hard enough but isn't really of a high enough standard. MDJ is more injured than not as you say.
Murphy is only ok as a backrower. He's far too slow for the centres. Must be knocking on now and I'm not sure what he brings to the side.
Walker could be good but his physique is indicative of a player that won't do what is needed to realise all his potential. He may have some eye catching carries of the ball but the rest of his game is lacking. Crossley isn't the same post covid.
We do need a leader. Neither halfback is a leader which is a problem. Lilley does a lot of talking but it has little effect. He seems to buzz around but gets ignored. Patton can just drift out of a game if he doesn't fancy it. Both have put on too much weight in the last 8months.
Kear (as cover for the centres and is PT) Gill Millar Patton (needs to shed a stone or two)
Walker (needs better fitness for Def)
Doyle (he’ll go to SL to be a back up)
Scott (injured but liked what I saw)
Flanagan (not an abundance of hookers out there so could go into a coaching role, only one who shows passion sometimes)
Baldwinson (been our best prop, solid, reliable, workhorse)
Scurr (even though he’s not been as good this year, he’s a Champ prop, would struggle in SL atm)
England (I’ll give him a pass this year, not sure if he hasn’t been selected or just injured but did enough last year and the limited games this year to stick with him as a SR starter/back up)
Jowitt (thought he looked alright at start of the year, another year of development)
Hall (can’t understand why we loaned him out, look clueless at FB now. Alright his defence wasn’t the best. Neither is who we have there now)
Burton (looked decent when he’s played, home grown too)
Ho (not sure if he did well or not at Keighley but he’s homegrown and young, no harm in giving him a year)
Wallace (been our best SR this year for me, solid, young, give him a year).
Hallas (not been great since his return but is solid, again give him another year)
Hoyle (not seen much of him this year but had a few good games for the reserves, keep him).
Loanees on Perm Deals:
Butler
Pickersgill (can’t see him playing for Fev again. Him and Hall would be solid FB at this level)
Mustapha (looked solid when he played, I’d love to see him at Bulls permanently)
Walters (same as above)
Let go:
MDJ (injury prone) R. Evans Lilley Crossley Murphy B. Evans Kibula (unless he loses some serious timber) DFJ Fleming
Lilley, Patton, Fleming and Scurr are all signed on for next year. I think the majority of the squad are on a one year deals.
Keep: Gill, Millar, R.Evans, Doyle, Scott (spent most of this year injured), England, Baldwinson, Jowitt, Burton, Wallace, Butler and any of the Rhinos lot that we've had on loan. Promote GF Jr to FB.
It's a bit pointless discussing squad retentions untl there is some clarity about aims for next season.
Assuming there is a structural change for 2024, then we need to know what clubs need to do in 2023.
For example, if we would HAVE to finish in the Top 8 of the Championship then that drives squad retentions and acquisations. Because the club couldn't survive NOT finishing in the Top 8.
But if we are going to get parachuted into a new SL 2x10 or 2x12 system in 2024, next season doesn't really matter. We might as well save the budget for the following year.
See what I'm saying? Agonising about whether to offer another year to Sammy Kibula is irrelevant until we know what we're trying to achieve from next season