Wests are such a shambles it's harsh to judge any player there. Bateman looked pretty good for England at the weekend but I would say Leeds need props more than anything.

I wouldn't want Blease's job. He's got to balance recruitment between getting it right "now" to win round a fan base that has had enough of persistent underachievement, and leaving himself with enough wriggle room on the cap to move forward in 26 and beyond. As fans we are all great at what pointing out type of players would make a difference, but ask us to come up with specific names and we struggle. In order to strengthen the pack we're all sure we need a big senior prop or a big senior second row, but where are the available English/French players who tick that box?

Its not a bad idea though is it?

We need to be gone of the days recently where we are too 'nice' and get the p taken out of us by the likes of Welsby, Lees, Knowles, Farrell, Currie, Satae, latterly Bateman etc

Even the likes of Luckley, Bullock, Vuniyayawa and Whitbread ripped us a new one.

We need some bite, aggression and nastiness. Parra had that with RCG, Paulo, Matterson, Lane etc

Maybe that's Athurs way of thinking with is too

Did anyone ever really FEAR facing Oledzki, Sangare, Tetevano, Martin, Leeming, Donaldson, O'Connor, Goudemond.

They are all good, honest players - but none had any real fear factor.

There is only Lisone with any kind of agression - and thats 5 minutes a game.

.

I'm not too panicked about that missing prop if none's available now, providing we go big for 2026. Still too much needs changing for 25 to be a big year so I'd rather take more time to get in the right players than cobbling a side together in haste.
For me, a lightweight backrower seems to be spaffing out on a contract for what we already have.

Who are our 2nd rowers beyond McDonnell, Bentley, and Gannon. 2 of those have had injury problems in recent years, so a back row is probably where the squad is the thinest, at the moment.

I get the interest on our part. We’re short in the back row imo, and he’s a good pedigree without taking a quota spot. If it’s a loan to see how he goes I can get behind that.

Would imo still need another prop.

Same here. He’s a classic Blease target I can see this being true. If no other prop options I wouldn’t be against it. He’s NRL hardened and tough as nails. I bet Brad Arthur would get a tune out of him and I think the lad would be pleased to be back home. A loan or cheap deal be a no brainier imo

Not sure if he's the second rower we need, but it could work.

We're potentially setting ourselves up to give a lot of penalties and yellow cards away if Bateman does sign alongside Connor, Newman, Bentley etc. The balance still needs shifting towards more power and size instead of having lots of small ferrety aggressive types, IMO.

I salute Blease's desire to give Arthur a squad with enough talent and depth to make us competitive again. The league is going to be harder next year - Wigan, Wire, KR and Saints will be as strong if not stronger; Catalans will be massively improved; Leigh and Salford (as previous seasons have shown)
will have a minimum of top six aspirations. If part of the remit is landing Arthur for 26 the hook will need to be baited with tastier stuff than "maybe next year" promises. Bateman, on loan, with Wests contributing to his wages, would be the the kind of smart move other clubs have been accomplishing under our noses for years now.

Top 6, like it was last season, is the absolute minimum we should be aiming for.