I'm just assuming Trueman and Mellor have signed.
Bowden - Ellis Robson
Take a punt on Robson or a champ forward on an initial 12-month deal. If it works out great! we've got another forward on a cheap deal. It's not the end of the world if it doesn't work out. Burrell probably won’t be ready for another 2/3 seasons
JJ - Mellor
If he's signed, I hope it’s as a squad player, but we'll wait and see. Hopefully, he would be signed to cover injuries and bridge the gap until someone like Severs is ready.
Houghton - Jayden Berrell.
Berrell won the Q Cup player of the year last season. He's at the Sharks stuck behind 2/3 hookers. I'd like to see us go into the season with a new hooker plus Lovodua and Balmforth
Reynolds - Trueman
Plenty has been said about this. Would be an upgrade on what we currently have. 24/25, international honours already. A type of player we should be able to build a team around.
Shaul - Broadbent
Covers 1-5, good age with plenty of scope to improve. Rovers are sniffing around apparently. Would complement Wynne, Scott, Litten etc. Could set us up nicely when Swift/Carlos/Griffin eventually leave.
Ma'u - Benjamin Jullien.
Manu has been in fine form recently, however at 33/34 I’d be reluctant to re-sign him. He picks up his share of niggles too. Jullien is younger, a good line runner and looks to fit into the BH mould. Quicker/consistent/athletic. Would he swap the south of France for Hull? Probably not...
Gale - Lachlan Lam/Brandon Wakeham
Struggled to find any attainable SH. I'm not against the idea of Gale staying 1 more season, but we've been here before with aging half backs (Long & Dykes spring to mind). Take a punt on Lam. He's 24, can't quiet break into the Rooster first team, does well in NSW Cup, been linked to SL before. Or try and get an equivalent type of player... Brandon Wakeham with our Fiji connections?
Plenty of versatility & competition in this team. SL Champs 2023
Connor
Swift
Wynne
Carlos
Mcintosh
Trueman
Lam/Wakeham
Sao
Berrell
Evans
Lane
Savelio
Lovodua
Satae
Taylor
Griffin
Cator
Brown
Robson
Fash
Burrell
Mellor
Julien
McNamara
Hookem
Balmforth
Broadbent
Scott
Mitch
Litten
Walker