I think we're a good scrumhalf away from a competitive middle 8's squad again.

I think a scrum half is a priority if we're to mount any kind of challenge. Losing Mullaney means we're also missing our best back too. While we should make the 8 I think promotion is out of the question with the current squad.



Looking at Leigh a lot depends on whether some of their loose cannons perform when it matters. On their day they look like realistic SL contenders - unlike anyone else in the championship. However they blew it last year and I wonder if their new guys have yhe right attitude when it gets tough.

There are areas we've improved on. Wings and props are certainly better than what we started with last year, as I would say are centres, even if Nielsen doesn't return.



Key positions are the problem though. Scrum half, fullback and to a lesser extent hooker (with one less cover player than previous) are not as good as last year. The worry is that while we have better cover in some areas, we don't have good first choice in those.



It's going to take at least 1, maybe 2 signings in those areas for me to get confidence back. Not that it'll stop me going, I've already got my season ticket. And not that I'm saying the club should break the bank to do it, I'd much rather the club didn't have financial problems. But purely basing on confidence in the squad, I don't have as much as I did this time 12 months ago.

I still think we'll make the top 4 comfortably, although top 2 is a different matter. We played pretty much the whole season without either Gaskell, Mullaney or Siejka together and on more than one occasion all 3 were missing.



I agree with other posters about feeling deflated, but as others have said, if we can get 1 quality SH, then we're back in with a chance. O'Brien, Gaskell and decent SH would frighten anyone in the middles.



My gut instinct though is that Jimmy isn't in any rush to find one as he seems happy playing Addy or Purtell there which would be curtains for us.

I generally agree. A decent scrum half would completely change my confidence levels. A decent specialist fullback aswell and I'd start to think we may get back into SL. If that SH or FB could also cover hooker in the event O'Brien gets injured, I'd practically mess myself.



I just hope that in the desperation for that quality 7, we don't end up with another Herbert or Siejka.

We managed to reach the MPG last season with an assortment of makeshift halfbacks /fullback. We need to be patient and ensure we get the right people in ..... people that can make a significant difference. It's not like we start the season playing SL opposition. Maybe paying top dollar for 12 weeks would be enough.....when it really matters.

I have wondered for a while if that's the plan with the scrum half. Mentioned it before on here. Go for most of the season using Addy, Purtell and/or Thomas, then come transfer deadline week, go round banging on doors of the good halfbacks who aren't making their Super League 17 most weeks (there's always a couple out there) and throw money at them for 3 months' work. Much like Wakefield did with most of their squad last year.



That worked for them. Although it's always a worry asking a halfback to gel with a team so quickly, and that you make the Middle 8s in the first place.

Quality scrum halfs who can change a squad aren't easy to come by! Bradford will still challenge next year I don't think Sheffield have improved at all! Fax maybe a little bit fev have gone backwards! you will still be up there! If I was lowes I'd got Gaskell/purtell and play behind your pack nice basic rugby! Someone mentioned our depth it isn't as bad you think w Weill line up McNally Kay Armstrong Tonga higson/pownall ridyard chase hock beswick emmit Patterson Hansen Barlow subs higham Hopkins Weston moi moi. Leaving us worthington foster higson/pownall spencer Acton breirley(injured) Dixon matuai pala still got one to come in being announced on Thursday I don't think we will be that bad!

There's also a risk nobody decent is available then or you end up in a bidding war with another club.

I think our base squad is fine - other than the half-back problem and dependent on not losing any more than we already have.



Most of the 'ins' have just replaced the 'outs' who never really featured much anyway, basically just changes in the periphery, though I would agree it certainly isn't the leaner, meaner squad we were led to believe was coming for next season. It does look like Purts is going in the halves and Welham at centre, which is definitely strong enough to finish in the top four, though may be found wanting in the eights - though, I suspect some money will be left for late recruitment as who knows just who may become available up during the season?

I looked back at the 17 that played at Leigh in that first match and we have lost the weaker players and recruited good replacements, but unfortunately we have lost one of our top players. Leigh have also got a better 17. We could do with several other teams being at a similar level as that would create a better league and push our players more. We need tough opposition..

Assuming you're keeping them all, I don't see how anyone questions Leigh's depth. Even in the halves, there's 3 top quality ones, and another who's elsewhere on loan (Reynolds) if it got desperate. The only question of depth will be if Leigh are getting rid of some of those players in order to make the salary cap space for the likes of Chase, Hansen, Paterson & Tonga. That will be confirmed one way or the other when squad numbers go out I suppose.