Singleton has brought us a steadiness and a bit of backbone that we have been lacking. Bateman has the x factor but if we lose Hastings, French, Burgess and Gildart we will be weaker in the backs. Hopefully Smith will be able to step up but I cannot help but feel that the edges are going to be a worry. Unfortunately we look to be carrying some players who have made minimal impact for a while and so we will be limited in our purchases. If all of those players go we might be awash with space on the cap but, given the circumstances, lacking in cash.
If French goes and Zak moves back to fullback we will be a strike centre short and I cannot see either Bibby or Hankinson being able to play anything other than a holding role. If past experience is anything to go by then Bateman would cover there. If I were Hankinson I would be looking to go somewhere that would give me a bit of game time because I doubt that he will get a contract extension at Wigan.
At the moment I cannot work out if we will look weaker at the start of next season than we did at the start of this one.