There is a lot of salary cap eaten up there.

Which contradicts what their fans are saying with building a culture. They seem to have reverted back to type and brought in big money signings. All which if I’m honest look pretty good on paper but I’m not sure it will work.

Yeah, I think Dufty is a done deal which again I think could be a really good signing. I’m presuming they’ve spent their cash and moving Rashford to the halves with Williams as Truman has obviously signed with Hull which was always the rumour.

I don’t see why they have gone for 2 props with backgrounds like Vaughn and Maguire.

1 I get but not 2.

Both come with significant risks putting their age aside just from a discipline point of view both on and off the field.

All signings are risks but these 2 are higher risk than usual.

I’d anticipate they will be looking to offload some middle forwards in the offseason to follow Cooper out if the door.

Powell had shown his hand early in regards who they are going to play in 2023.

Will they improve? Undoubtedly, but I don’t see the strategy they are proposing to be one that will really take them to the next level.

Bully boy tactics rarely outdo the better teams although I’m sure they will steamroll some of the poorer teams.

End of the day I don’t see anything that makes me envy their set up over ours at the moment.

Good look to them though. Will be a very interesting season for them in 23 and potentially a career defining one for their coach who seems intent on placing lots of eggs in one basket.

Woolf has been confirmed as going to the Dolphins as their assistant, think it will be likely he gets replaced by Wellens, hope he does as well as Cunningham.

surprised at that one

Quote ="CobraCraig"Woolf has been confirmed as going to the Dolphins as their assistant, think it will be likely he gets replaced by Wellens, hope he does as well as Cunningham.'" Not quite. It's been reported that he is going as assistant for 2 years from 2023 to then take over as head coach in 2025 here: https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/sta ... 4dHXklBp4Q However in the following article it says he is staying next year: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/the-mole-s ... e682d1cafb It's obviously inevitable he will get a NRL job at some point, it's just whether we can squeeze another year out of him before he does.

Quote ="CobraCraig"Woolf has been confirmed as going to the Dolphins as their assistant, think it will be likely he gets replaced by Wellens, hope he does as well as Cunningham.'" Not quite. It's been reported that he is going as assistant for 2 years from 2023 to then take over as head coach in 2025 here: https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/sta ... 4dHXklBp4Q However in the following article it says he is staying next year: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/the-mole-s ... e682d1cafb It's obviously inevitable he will get a NRL job at some point, it's just whether we can squeeze another year out of him before he does.

Quote ="The Yellow Giraffe"Not quite. It's been reported that he is going as assistant for 2 years from 2023 to then take over as head coach in 2025 here: https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/sta ... 4dHXklBp4Q However in the following article it says he is staying next year: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/the-mole-s ... e682d1cafb It's obviously inevitable he will get a NRL job at some point, it's just whether we can squeeze another year out of him before he does.'" Apologies, it looked a pretty solid source the news report I saw, potentially correct and they’ve got it wrong with when he will start the job.

Quote ="The Yellow Giraffe"Not quite. It's been reported that he is going as assistant for 2 years from 2023 to then take over as head coach in 2025 here: https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/sta ... 4dHXklBp4Q However in the following article it says he is staying next year: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/the-mole-s ... e682d1cafb It's obviously inevitable he will get a NRL job at some point, it's just whether we can squeeze another year out of him before he does.'" Apologies, it looked a pretty solid source the news report I saw, potentially correct and they’ve got it wrong with when he will start the job.

Quote ="CobraCraig"Apologies, it looked a pretty solid source the news report I saw, potentially correct and they’ve got it wrong with when he will start the job.'" Yeah and I wasn’t having a go, maybe I’m just clinging on to the hope it’s not done and dusted. He’s since come out and said the reports are premature and he hasn’t agreed anything either way. It needs to be put to bed one way or another very soon I think. Comments here from Woolf: https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/202 ... l-reports/

Quote ="CobraCraig"Apologies, it looked a pretty solid source the news report I saw, potentially correct and they’ve got it wrong with when he will start the job.'" Yeah and I wasn’t having a go, maybe I’m just clinging on to the hope it’s not done and dusted. He’s since come out and said the reports are premature and he hasn’t agreed anything either way. It needs to be put to bed one way or another very soon I think. Comments here from Woolf: https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/202 ... l-reports/

Looks like Dufty is coming with immediate affect to Warrington after being released from the Bulldogs.

Looks like next year this their year!

Lauchlan Lam to Leigh - great signing but they better hope they don't screw up the promotion final.

Lachlan Lam is a hell of a signing for Leigh. With all the help we've given Leigh with dual-reg players I wonder if they will return the favour if Welsby or Lomax get injured

Really looking forward to playing them next year. It’s always a tricky one for us at theirs- and the Lam connection will add spice. I may be proved wrong but it will take a very special performance from Fev to beat them to it.

If it means helping you beat us then you can bet your mortgage on it!

It’s all well and good Leigh signing these lads but what happens when they get promoted?

They are up to 15 I think it is now quota players which means they are going to have to release at least 7 of them straight away before they even look to strengthen to fall in line with the SL quota rules.

They then have to replace those lads they release with non quota players in an attempt to get a competitive squad.

It’s a farce and totally unsustainable and damaging to the development of players outside the SL structure.

They seem to have a squad capable of competing next year, although beating Fev in the final isn’t a gimmee. Really interested to see what Lam does, not that I have seen much of him but he has the profile of someone who will go well over here, young and hungry to get another shot at the NRL, certainly didn’t look out of place in the little I saw him for the Roosters.
On another note is there any stipulation with regards to quota spots? Do they get extra time to lower it? Or will they have to carry out a big cull if they get promoted?

Leigh were refused permission to have an Academy Team, so it`s almost impossible for them to develop any young players.

All the talented young RL players migrate to those clubs with Academies.

Good point - I remember Beaumont saying recently that the quota should be scrapped.

an 'elite' academy, they could still run one if they chose to

On second thought is it really as many as 15?

Pretty sure they can have an academy team, they just didn’t get elite status as the infrastructure didn’t meet the criteria, just seems a good excuse not to have one.

Fairly sure LL is non-quota. He certainly played his first jnr rugby at St Pats.

Quota isnt a thing.

Assuming you mean hes non-fed trained, I am not sure thats true. To be fed trained you need to be at an RFL affiliated club (the clubs + the student game) for at least 3 years between the ages of 16-21 - now I admit not to be an avid stalker of the Lam family, but I assume Lam only played junior rugby over here before returning to Aus after his Dad retired? If so, then he is non fed trained, and counts on 7 youre allowed in SL.

(I also agree, its absolutely insane non-SL clubs dont have the same rules on non-fed players...)

no they couldnt....