Looking around at al other clubs its noticeable they are already strengthening their squads for 2014. I havent as yet heard any news from GH/BMcD about our recruitment aims/wishes.
It seems we're arrogantly saying we dont need strengthening as we have the best team, results over the last few Grand Finals suggest thats correct but with aging props and the likes of Kirke,McShane ad Moore never seemingly improving its a worry.
I realise with Ward Sutcliffe Singleton we have some tremendous talent comng through but I am worried as to our forward strength for the next 2 years
Anyone any news/thoughts ?

For many years the Leeds policy has been generally promote from within, and supplement it with a few bargains, and a few star players. Now with, the market to the NRL now effectively closed, we are left with the choice of some very expensive Brits, who would require a fee, or we just continue to promote from within. Sutcliffe and Singleton have gone from being stop gaps to being regulars. They are our new signings.

Though I am still concerned about Hooker but it seems Sinfield / Burrow is the answer here until something better comes along

I'd think Moore will be released come season end. He's now behind Leuluai, Peacock, Bailey, Singleton & Kirke for a spot in the front row, and it would make no sense to play him except in a really bad injury crisis. Would expect to see him heading off to Wakefield as a cheap replacement for Amor for them.

Given that JP, Kylie, TMFMISL, Singo & James T are signed up for next year, additional signings in the front row don't make sense, though GH should definitely be cultivating some options for the end of 2014. I'd expect we'll see more young players brought through in the front row during next season, as Singleton has this year.

Back row we have JJB, Delaney, Ablett, Achurch, Clarkson & Ward. No problem here, steady away with Achurch & Clarkson needing to step it up in 2014 or face replacement.

Halves & hooker we now seem to be going with Sinfield & Burrow rotating at hooker with McGuire at standoff. All will need replacing soon but not for 2014, and Sutcliffe & Ward are ready to step up. Next year is make or break for McShane. Either he's got to force his way into the team & nail down the 9 jersey or he'll be on his way out.

Threequarters are fine. At 26, Hall is the oldest. No change here for 5 years hopefully.

I'd say our recruitment plans should look something like this over the next few seasons:

end of 2014: Peacock & Leuluai (Singleton + signing)
end of 2015: Kirke, Sinfield (Sutcliffe + signing / youth)
end of 2016: JJB, McGuire (Ward + signing)
end of 2017: Burrow, Bailey (2 signings)

so by 2017 we'll look something like

1. Hardaker
2. BJB / Briscoe if true
3. Watkins
4. Moon
5. Hall
6. Sutcliffe
7. New Face
8. Singleton
9. McShane / New Face
10. New Face
11. Delaney
12. Ablett
13. Ward

14. New Face
15. New Face
16. Achurch
17. Clarkson

Also, if GH is looking in the direction I hope he is, Luke Burgess' contract at Souths expires in 2015, with Sam's expiring in 2016. Overtures hopefully are being made in their direction about a return to SL around that time.

Not a cat in hell's chance of any of the Burgess boys coming back to SL IMO. They're settled in Australia, getting well paid and enjoying the lifestyle. Only way I could see any of them coming back in the short term would be if they got released by Souths and nobody else picked them up, which is highly unlikely to happen.

In the intervening period there will be other good juniors coming through at Leeds, looking to establish themselves in the same way that Sutcliffe and Singleton have done. Jordan Lilley and Sam Hallas spring to mind as two straight away, in positions of medium-term need.

There is another English prop who, according to reports, would be more likely to return from the NRL over the next couple of years. It would take a bit of a sea-change for him to come to Leeds though.

FGB will be 29 at the start of the 2015 season, probably the prime age for a front-rower. His next contract will probably be the last multi-year deal on the table, so it's one he'd need to think carefully about whether it is in the NRL or back in SL.

I would be surprised if he came back to SL to sign for anyone other than Saints though.

I agree but he would be the nearest we are ever going to get to replace JP

Looking around the other squads for next year against ours i dont see anything to make me worry about us not contending for the trophys again.wigan will lose tomkins and richards which automaticaly makes them weaker.wire are losing a host of big names.Hudds will be similar.Saints will probably be much improved but thats to be expected.

We certainly do need a proper hooker and will need a quality prop or two very soon.apart from that im very happy with the squad on the whole going forward.

Leeds haven't strengthened their squad for several seasons and there's no urgent need for them to do so right now. They'd still be a comfortable Top 5 side if they played half the academy squad each week. Genuine competition in SL does not exist. Whipping Boy SL rabble does exist in abundance however.

Fans need to accept that SL playing standards and quality have been on the slide for years and this downward levelling-out trajectory applies to every club in SL. Leeds squad isn't nearly as good as it was 5 to 10 years ago but neither is anyone else's.

Nothing is about to change any time soon... expect standards to fall even further... as most SL clubs are in a financial mess. Of the small handful of SL clubs like Leeds who aren't, even they can no longer afford to entice genuine top class talent from the NRL these days.

All very true william.although i do think most fans have accepted this in recent times.

Leeds wouldn't have finished top 5 this season without Peacock, that's the bottom line. They would have had a battle for top 8, he has been that bloody important and influential.

I doubt he will be here after next season, how the hell do you replace that? there should have been a plan and the replacement should be playing with him next season. Yates is not the answer.

Leeds could easily afford to bring over the top talent from the NRL, it’s the SC which stops it. Large parts of SL aren’t in a financial mess, most clubs are perfectly fine, strong even. It’s only a few that aren’t.