If I was Harris these would be the areas I'd be looking at improving on for next year.

1. Another Winger with natural pace like Johnson.
2. Two quicker and younger centres who can defend much better against pace.
3. Quality Hooker or two if Tomkins returns to Wigan.
4. Big Powerful Prop to replace Morley who's retiring.
5. A decent Goal kicker or fit Sneyd into the team.
6. A proven defence coach and mountain of hard work on it.
7. Improve agility and speed. Much quicker ruck speed needed.
8. Work on reducing silly unforced errors that keep costing us dearly.
9. Instill more enthusiasm, belief and team spirit into the players. (Body language of players is evidently very poor at times)
10. A class fullback who's safe under a high ball and also a decent attacker
11. A proper loose forward rather than playing a player out of position.
12. Work harder on legally slowing down the oppositions ruck speed.
13. Look to develop and integrate more young players in the 17 going forward.

You don't ask for much do you?



Most of the points you've mentioned are what nearly all teams would list as priorities.

So another new team & coaching staff basically?

Not at all. 6/7 players and a proper defence coach. This isn't any more than other SL club would usually sign.

Barker at it again :-

`Theo Fages also started at scrum-half and is said to be interesting the Dragons.`

Quite frankly I don't give two hoots about what other clubs priorities are. I am just suggesting these are the area's I believe would improve us as a team.

To start you need to chop out the dead wood, Gleeson, Meli, Puletua, Howarth, McPherson (not dead wood but too injury prone), Lee (not dead wood but we can get much better), Smith (unless he pulls up trees for the rest of the season) Rapira (like McPherson is too injury prone) and then obviously Morley is calling it a day. There is a significant amount of money to be spent there.

On the winger still say Dixon will be a Salford player next season.

I think S'au is a very good signing and don't know if Williams would make a decent centre, think Ford is well worth a shot at SL rugby as we see other teams blooding centres of his age.

Think we'll end up with Tomkins and again like Ford think Owen is well worth a shot at SL.

I have heard of a few people that Moi Moi will be a Salford player next season and think he is more than capable of being a hit in SL.

I think Sneyd will be scrum halve next season has he has proven he can play at the very highest level and doesn't look out of place in a top of the table team. He also fits the bill as an excellent kicker.

As for the full back if we do manage (is the 48 hours up yet?) to sign Locke there's just about the best full back in SL right there. If we don't sign him and Les Catalan are really interested in Theo try and get Escare from them in the deal as he looks like a quality young player. Not sure if Mullaney is that bad but do think he is nervous as hell behind a team of players who look allergic to tackling.

I think the problem at lose forward is we have chopped and changed, pick one from Dixon, Ashurst or Walton (for me when he played in the back row at Widnes he was immense) and stick with them allowing them to grow into the position.


Said in a different thread that there looks to be a real lack of self belief in the squad so maybe getting a sports psychologist involved could be a solution. Can only think the pressure being put on the players behind the scenes is having a negative effect.

I think possibly the most important signing is a director of football, think if we get the right one he might try and educate the Doc that a successful super league team isn't created overnight and hopefully also be used more as a front for the club rather than the Doc seemingly doing things via twitter and facebook.

In answer to your latter comment: you need to be; other clubs will be buying in the market you defined. Therefore it becomes a sellers' market and difficult.

Personally I think we need another winger, another centre, Tomkin's to stay, sneyd back & kicking, probably a couple of new props. Then it needs to be decided if our kids are staying and provide cover for injuries or we need more squad players (interchange hooker, backup for the rest).

Mullaney is a good fullback IMO, most of his errors handling kicks have been either because he's had to run all the way across the pitch, in which case the blame is more on the winger, or due to miscommunication with wingers over who's going for the balls. This can be sorted out in training & with time gelling with wingers. He isn't first choice kicker quality but would do as backup for sneyd. He's also one of our best attacking players and actually has pace!

I suggested a lot more than simply player recruitment. But on the subject of player recruitment are you suggesting it will very difficult to make improvements on what we have, despite the Doc's backing?

I'm starting to think this more & more. I think the doc needs to back off a bit and give the coach and team some breathing space for a while and see how they do. No twitter comments, no dressing room visits, no press leaks etc.

Also agree with most of the rest of your post, with the possible exceptions of Lee & Mullaney.

I agree it's just not right for an owner to be stood on the touchline pointing fingers at players it's just ridiculous.