Hetherington video on the Rhinos youtube channel with the usual overtones of looking to the academy and the limits of the salary cap, so I wouldn't expect high quality signings, especially not the number required to improve the squad.

Doesn’t add up really -

FB - Myler, Hardaker, Hooley, Walker - surely Walker goes.
Wing - Fusitua, Handley, Olpherts, Tindall, Roberts - my thinking is Fusitua is leaving and Olpherts replaces him.
Centre - Newman, Hardaker, Edwards, Simpson, MacDonald?

It all doesn’t add up to me personally as it is above, but I’m guessing there is still a number of changes to be made

We do need the top 20 to be improved but we also need depth. Some of these kids being signed might not end up being stars, but at least they're not 17. Coming from Aus Smith would have been shocked to see that his first reserves in some positions were Academy players who have played hardly any open age rugby.

GH said we were at the cap for this year and next when Smith arrived. If true that is utterly horrendous cap management given the big gaps in the squad and the fact we are clearly some way off Sts standard. He did say that the rebuild was a 2-year plan though, so really only half of what Smith wants for next year.

In that context it makes more sense to only offer Hardaker one year, as we need as much cap flexibility as we can get for 2024 (which could include Hardaker if he signs for a year and is still going well at the end of 2023). Its not just the wages players are on that have caused problems, but the overlong contracts which really restrict us.

When was that decided?
According to GH we are trying to do a deal with Zak and need to release cap space in order to make it happen.
Very bad move if you are right imo.

I think so too that maybe Fusitua is going.
Has Olpherts played centre before.?

GH saying there isnt much cap room, means less agents trying to milk more money, i imagine theres cap available, smoke and mirrors

Im not sure where the Fusitua going home stuff is coming from?

Not sure players will just leave decent contracts without having something lined up, I know we've had a couple in the recent years but they were in different circumstances (family issues for Merrin and Covid reasons for Ava)

Olpherts is definitely not a centre. Pure winger. I hope Fusitua stays and Olpherts comes. As well as Tindall played at the end of the year I think a year on loan in the championship is best way forward for him. Puzzled by the reports about the lad from Leigh, but I do think Smith and GH have a plan - it's just not clear to the rest of us yet.

It's amazing how quickly "in Rohan we trust" is turning into "I hope they know what they're doing" on here.

Well several things -

1. He's not played much
2. Reports of why he's not played recently have been very vague or non-existent
3. When he has played he hasn't been that impressive, certainly not to a marquee level (others may disagree)
4. There's been a bit of off-record chatter about his 2023 contract and whether it's a Leeds option or not. Leeds announced it as a two year deal when he signed so that may be nothing

None of those things mean he is leaving.

If we can get Walker off the Cap I hope that's enough to get Zak on a contract that suits all but if we can't resign Zak it would be a loss but we are stocked in the backs even if we lose him. If we are struggling with Cap Space it wouldn't surprise me if Moved Fusitu'a too Centre full time my only concern would be having him & Newman they are both Very Injury Prone and we would be short if they were both missing as much as they have been in 2022.

FB- Myler, Hooley, Walker (he'd still be our player if needed and i can't see him leaving til his deal expires in 2023)

Wing- Handley, Olpherts, Tindall, Roberts.

Centre- Newman, Fusitu'a, Simpson, Edwards, Martin