Sao and Satae didn't get a great deal of NRL game time, so their bodies should be good for another couple of seasons, the other two have a lot to prove this year if they are to be retained, in my opinion.
There is little doubt that their was a fractious and toxic culture within the club under Hodgson, which may or may not have been down to him personally, but under Smith it already feels better and I actually think we will do well this year if injuries do not kill the squad.

Jesus wept- I typed their in that post when it should have read there! That's age , sorry to anyone of the grammar brigade, unforgivable sin, for which I always chide my offspring!

I know everyone has an opinion but how you can say that about the guy is beyond me . At times he was the only one who took the fight to opposition packs last year and he’s been our best forward for the last two seasons in my opinion.
If he were available now , there’d be a clamour for his signature , even forgetting his World Cup heroics , Warrington have just broken the bank for 4 props , none of whom are as good as him.

Radford would be first in line to sign Ligi if he became available

I keep seeing alot on this forum and around social media regarding certain players branding them some of the best props or best centre in the league.

These players have finished in the play offs once in the last 5 seasons. Just digest that. None of them are irreplaceable and we shouldnt be breaking the bank to keep them. Some weeks above average, some weeks injured/suspended and some weeks tackling shadows.

I agree, to an extent, but, it only takes 3 or 4 underperforming or , worse, lacking effort and the team is finished. Three players, out of 13 is nearly a quarter. I defy many players to shine in that scenario and suspensions are part of the game now that we take more careful consideration to long term head injury, although the World cup was refereed in a more liberal fashion , I'd say.

I can accept 1 or 2 match bans every now and then but the same player keeps getting put before the committee.

Whilst I agree that its hard for players to shine in a poor team it also works the other way. Sometimes average performances can look better then they actually are.

If Smith gets us to a grand final, i would put my life on it that no more then 2 from the first choice line up of 2020-2022 in it.

But Sao gives too many penalties away for that reason so not always a good thing

Vaughan is class been good for years in nrl and played for Australia would have him anyday

Maguire although getting on is still decent enough

Vaughan is definitely better than any of our props

Totally agree prime example been Carlos

People bang the drum about him been one of the best in the league but likes of percival, Goodwin, najaima, hurrell, gildert etc are all better than him last few years

The last player we had who was the top 2 or 3 in the league was Kelly in 2017

I'm not sure anyone is or has suggested breaking the bank to keep some players merely like myself expressed their thoughts. I agree that no player is irreplaceable and a whole host of considerations have to be taken when it comes to new deals on any player.

Yes these players have only finished in the playoffs once in 5 years but whilst the players have to shoulder their poor performances and lack of effort they are not the only ones to shoulder it as the coaching over that period has left a lot to be desired hence why we are on our 3rd Coach in less than 3 years.

As for suspensions etc I think its fair to say that many of the bans and cards over the last 2 seasons and in particular this past season had been pretty excessive and this was borne out with the intervention between clubs, officials & RFL earlier in the season as it was ridiculous. However the disciplinary panel is still pretty much the biggest joke of all.

All that aside though for me Sao based on playing for Hull (not the world cup as hardly watched it) is an integral part of the team. Yes his discipline has been questionable and hes picked up bans but for me they've been due to frustration from what was going on (or rather wasn't) around him. They guys effort and determination I don't think can be questioned and whilst Satae gets a lot of plaudits because of his tackle busts etc, Sao's work goes under the radar. Also the fact that Houghton got flogged for 80mins, Taylor has been MIA for best part of 2 seasons and Evans has only really been a bit part so far, Mau missing for a lot of the season show how much Sao has had to work along with Brad Fash particularly this season and Jack Brown.

As GB said it only takes 3-4 under performing or not giving 100% and the team will struggle and we all know there were a few that just haven't been putting the effort in and Sao certainly hasn't been one of them.

I think we will certainly see the value both Sao & Satae have under the new Coaching set up with a Head Coach that knows what he is doing.