Just on rumours, I am told Mckmeekan has not taken a marquee spot but I am told that we have used one, and it`s not for Johnstone either.

Assumed Johnstone taking a club trained marquee spot would be a no brainer.

Johnstone will 100% be a club-trained marquee. There's not another possible signing who would deliver the same dispensation on the salary cap for the club.



And if the figures bandied about by current players are true, then McMeeken is another marquee spot too.



That of course leaves 1 more spot available, however I personally think we'd need to see someone special come onto the market unexpectedly for us to fill all marquee spots in 2025. We're coming from an advantaged position of having a lot of flexibility in the cap for next year, however I suspect we'll be paying overs to secure certain players due to the uncertainty around IMG. Steve Mills will probably have his sights on 2026 targets which could be a very different market should all go to plan for us next year.

When we talk marquee signings, it only really applies if you are up at the salary cap limit.

We've a long way to go before we are there.

Hewitt has resigned for Huddersfield on a three year deal

Both MM and TJ are on marquee money.

Marquee signing isn't just big money.

This is what I was trying to get at PT, apparently the club haven't used the marquee dispensation for MM, I wasn't saying he wasn't on big money, but they do plan on using for a player. It maybe that later down the line they put his salary against one of the marquee spots, or maybe they are holding out to see where we are at against the cap and who is available, I'm not too sure how it works from that side.

Not Hardaker anyway. He's off to Hull

How much is the cap nowadays. I don't know because it never affected us.

Hardaker to Hull really glad we didn't get him at BV

I may be wrong but I thought if you declare a player to be marquee then whatever their salary they only impact £100,000 against the overall cap.

Agree RWB don’t know what Hull are thinking

I'd hate to be a Hull fan right now. Looks like it's open season - not much thought into strength of character or team dynamics. I suppose you could argue it'll be better than winning two or three games all season though.

Submitting this updated list here again as hopefully it's useful. British or French off-contract established SL players, as Matt Ellis mentioned. McMeeken over the line, Russell and Johnstone obviously very close. Storton and Scott rumoured. So who are the other three we've tabled offers for?



Since I last posted Gaz O'Brien, Charnley, Hardaker, Sneyd, Dodd, Bennison, Hewitt, Holmes, Brown, Aydin and Partington had all signed elsewhere. So that leaves:



Full backs: Ryan Hampshire

Wingers: Fouad Yaha, Matty Russell

Centres: Mathieu Laguerre, Cameron Scott, Ben Hellewell, Ben Davies

Halves: Danny Richardson, Jordan Abdull

Hookers: Adam Milner, Amir Borouh

Back rowers: Alex Mellor, James Donaldson, Jack Hughes, Matty Storton

Middles: Joe Cator, Matt Davis, Adam Sidlow, Andrew Dixon, Gil Dudson, Mike Cooper



I'd sooner keep our middle as-is than bring in anyone from that list for next season. Still think Mellor could add something. We obviously need a winger to provide cover - but is Matty Russell the answer? The one I'm most keen on is Abdull, obviously. If we could get him paired and firing with Lino/Lawford we'd trouble most SL teams.

I've always liked Hughes, he might be an option to look at considering Ashurst and Griffin are not likely to be here next year

Think griffen got another year in him ashurst not,for me centre and another back rower are needed

Abdul would make us some team.

Also Hughes would be good

Like Cator but he seem to get injured a lot

Laguerre probably better of the



Discounted possible already signed but would really push for Abdul

I'd definitely keep Griffin, he's been great this season.

Not so sure. He’ll be 35 and while he’s been great at championship level I’m not sure. I’m not sure if any of our second rowers will be stepping back up to SL. The list other than Storton doesn’t look inspiring though.

Abdull out of that lot would be a cracking addition to the squad and it’s the one position that is looming large with Gale looking like it’s his last hurrah, and young Lawford some way off in his development imo ,it’s a must we have a quality established half playing behind our pack

Don't understand peoples obsession with age. Josh Griffin is the best backrower we've had at the club in a long time and was the best backrower at FC before he came to us. He looks in great condition, arguably one of the best at this club right now. He has atleast another 2 seasons in the top flight which will help us tick over for some replacements.

I understand were championship right now but you can see his quality just by how much he reads the game, scoring trys and making breaks - he makes it look easy.

Ashurst has been a great servant but doesn't offer us what he used to and I would be looking to replace.

Imagine if we could bring both Batchelors to the club. That would be nice...

That's how I see it re Griffin.

He looks fit and he's doing everything and more asked of him.

ATEOTD there's only one person who knows if he got another season in him and that's Josh Griffin .

Isn't that the reason he said that this would be his last season though, he felt his body was telling him it was time to quit.

I agree tbh, I'd try persuade Griffin to stay for another year, simply because I think he's a better player than the other available back rowers.



Just seen Abdull isn't out of contract, but he is out of favour obviously, so will probably move. According to League Express Catalans are in pole position to sign him, which makes sense. So it's looking a bit tight isn't it.