Definites for me would be Ashton, King, Dean and Roebuck (last two shouldn't cost much for a couple of years). I just hope we don't end up in a contract battle for King. I don't want us tying him up for 5 years on marquee money, even if he has been the best SL centre for 12 months.
Maybe: Hill has been pretty solid this season and I'd be happy to keep him for a year on a sensible deal. Doro, Walker decent enough backup at the right price (no pun intended). Mamo might be a decent utility under Powell. He's not a first choice centre or winger but he has decent pace and footwork, and there aren't many backup players I can think of who could do any better. Again it's all about the cap space he'd be taking up.
Moving on: Lineham (pains me to say it, but I think Powell could get more out of a cheaper alternative who doesn't sit out a third of the season. Austin - just too expensive based on the returns, unless Powell could resurrect him. Inglis - he isn't here to stay and his wife will want the Aussie lifestyle back, unless her Cheshire horses and our golden barley fields have won her over.
Moving on: Lineham (pains me to say it, but I think Powell could get more out of a cheaper alternative who doesn't sit out a third of the season. Austin - just too expensive based on the returns, unless Powell could resurrect him. Inglis - he isn't here to stay and his wife will want the Aussie lifestyle back, unless her Cheshire horses and our golden barley fields have won her over.
The annoying thing with Lineham is he has all the attributes you’d want in a winger. He’s at a good age (28), he’s big, strong, powerful, can finish, decent pace, has a good numbers when he does play but the question will always be his discipline. Can we afford to have our first choice winger missing for 10-12 games a season?
The annoying thing with Lineham is he has all the attributes you’d want in a winger. He’s at a good age (28), he’s big, strong, powerful, can finish, decent pace, has a good numbers when he does play but the question will always be his discipline. Can we afford to have our first choice winger missing for 10-12 games a season?
Agree, and his charge sheet means the bans will be north of 3 games. Pity, as he's better than Charnley.
I think it would be handy to know who is off contract at the end of the year. We do need to remember that in a salary cap sport you can't buy everyone. But otherwise blimey ... try and enjoy the season and support who is playing now. Don't wish your life away.
We've a coach who's leaving, a coach who's joining and potentially 12-14 players off contract. Cant blame anyone for wondering, doesn't mean I don't want Jason Clark to score under the sticks at OT to win us the GF
We need to keep King for absolute certain he would be very, very difficult to replace. Ashton and Dean I would like to see given contracts as I think they both have bags of potential that I would like to see under Powells guidance. If hill wants to stay i would definitely be giving him a year deal, if he wants to go to leigh to finish his career then he should be allowed that choice.
Lineham and Mamo I would keep personally but the rest I wouldn't be too upset to lose from a first team perspective.
To go - Inglis, Sita & Clark .. I would be very surprised if they are given new deals. I would anticipate all three to return down to Oz. I would expect Kibula to leave as well given his lack of opportunities and recent long term injury troubles.
Austin, Hill and Lineham I’m quite undecided about.. a lot will depend on whom else we are in for in the market, form of the players given their age and our salary cap restrictions. Plus, they may get better/longer deals elsewhere... we know Leigh have being eyeing up the return of Hill for quite some time.
Ashton, Dean, Doro, King, Mamo, Roebuck & Walker I would expect all to be retained given their youthful ages and hopefully under Powell will get more exposure to first team action. (This doesn’t relate to King & Mamo obviously!)
Austin can go for me, if Widdop goes aswell i'd make a play for Trueman or if that's a no go then Theo Fages is off contract with Saints this year and a handy half. Peter Ma'atautia straight in for Inglis. Keep Hill, King obviously (4 year deal), Ashton, Mamo, Dean and Walker. Lineham if he could stop being an idiot i'd keep in a heartbeat, BUT like someone said elsewhere he's missed something like 28 games through suspension so for me let him go. Cooper and Mulhern starting, with Philbin and Hill off the bench next year with Butler, Doro and a new prop would be good. Hughes to 13 with someone else at 2nd row, robson maybe? Luis Johnson is being played in his actual 2nd row position at Hull KR and is looking good. So again screams what the hell are our coaching team doing, and why are our player getting worse? I can't wait for Powell to come in and assemble a new backroom staff.