Currie was brilliant the start of the year but not as effective in the second half.
But still a marked improvement on the past few years and he's put a lot of work in. I've been happy with him this year all in all, Nicholson is another who seems to be overrated by most. He's not a bad player by any means, but people seem to rate his performances much higher than actuality.
I'd argue Holroyd has been more effective than Nicholson in the games he played this year. He's not as big a loss as people are making out.

Holroyd puts on a bit of beef and then I’d say he’ll outshine Nicholson. His defence is excellent, engine is superb and he has a great eye for the line.

Moving on to Toby. Do you think we will give him an extension? His contract is up Nov 2025.

Probably will be offered an extension but nothing like he is already on or even as long 2 years tops be my guess.

I’d agree on Nicholson, and I’m afraid I’d put Bateman into the same bracket which is why the loss of Fitzgibbon was so important, he presented a threat that the other 2 didn’t.
This isn’t a diss in Nicholson, he played an important role in our defence.

On Currie, I think his distribution is great and he seems more comfortable defending in the middle, a full 2024 and off season training and playing at 13 should mean he is even better in 2025, I thought he had a very good 2024 personally.

We have Bateman, Drinkwater, Nicholson and Bruines moving off our cap from the end of 2024, with Russell, Leyland, Bullock coming on to it. We also have to consider increased contracts for several youth players (Lindop, CTW, Thomas, Holroyd etc) and probably a decent rise for Ashton, netted off partially by a lower contract for Ratchford.

The money coming off cap feels much higher to me than those coming on to the cap. I think we have room for a good signing should someone become available (plus some transfer fee funds burning a hole in our pocket from Nicholson).

For King, I'd be happy for him to stay, but on a much reduced deal and probably move him over to the right, as he has got older he provides less strike but is a solid defender and makes decent ground in his carries. Hopefully Lindop will be the choice at left centre if he progresses as we all hope.

My biggest concerns for next year:

- Do we have the strike to trouble teams? Fitzgibbon aside we look pretty toothless in the centres and backrow, they are all solid defensively but don't threaten the line too much. Hopefully Lindop can push Tai out of his spot.

- Prop: Harrison & Yates are good workhorses to have around, Vaughan seems to be diminishing a little 2024 vs 2023 - hopefully he can get back up to 2023 levels. Musgrove is the big disappointment for me, we have 3 props very comfortable to play 60 minutes, we need a prop coming off the bench who can be more dynamic and change the momentum - even if they only play 10 - 15 mins either side of half time, Musgrove just offers more of the same. If it were possible, I'd be trying to swap out Musgrove based on 2024 form. Philbin, Crowther and hopefully Thomas offer good cover, Bullock I think can move on.

- Long kicking game: Not good enough from Drinkwater, hopefully Hayes and Leyland can offer more.

- I keep changing my opinion on this, is Thewlis good enough?

Thewlis would certainly present more of a threat with a different centre partner, I think most wingers threat would be better with a centre who knows when to pass.

I find it odd that we have used 2 of our non fed places on “development” players. Having said that Tai improved considerably over the course of the season, and I can’t see SB signing players he doesn’t rate so…

King - Personally I would not extend him. He has not been good value for us over that ridiculous contract period. I think he can be improved on. He has half the assists of Wardle and nearly 3m less average gain. I'd be looking to recruit a centre that offers something more in attack, and hope that Lindop can break through. Ideally I would like us to attack equally well on both sides of the pitch.

Long kicking - exactly. It's been our weak spot for a while.

Impact forward - exactly. Someone who can do what Mago did in the GF to change the context of the game.

Thewlis - I don't mind him. Sure he's not our best player, but he's not the weakest either. His goal kicking improved a lot during 2024 and he has natural evasiveness and decent, if not blistering, pace. He is no worst than Miski who has won every club honour in the game.

Cap space wise I believe Dufty is getting more per contract agreement. Obviously don’t know the details of that and how much more he is getting.

Leyland from what I have seen as a decent kicking game even kicked a few 40/20 if memory serves his goal kicking will need to improve but I’m sure Ratchford can help with that.

Musgrove just not consistent enough for me and that’s the problem you can’t just turn up in the odd game. Think Vaughan as had that kind of season just not as bad.

Believe the club are trying to move Bullock on.

Thewlis I know a few who really dislike him. I don’t know where I sit with him sometimes really good sometimes really frustrating. But and it is a but if we go with Leyland for goal kicking I could see a reason why some would prefer a different winger.