Whilst I'll not yet completely write of 2016 (I think the core group of this team have earned the right not to be written off until it's mathematically impossible to reach the top 4), I am now looking at how we can be better in 2017, and what recruitment options we may have.

So, this starts with who's potentially going to be leaving and freeing up more cap space;

Achurch - Definitely gone, will free up a huge amount of cap space for a world class signing, or a couple of very decent signings
Falloon - difficult to measure as he's pretty much been injured the whole time, but if there are better options available, I think he'll be gone too
Ferres - apparently on a relatively low salary for this year, but will expect a big rise (probably taking the Achurch money). On his performances so far, I'd be inclined to say thanks, but no thanks and spend the money elsewhere.
JJB - I believe this is his last year, but wouldn't be against having around for another year as a squad pack man - brings some much needed leadership and enthusiasm

I'm not sure if we have any others off contract. I'd quite like Galloway to request an early release home as I don't feel he's offering much at all, but get the feeling he's enjoying his time living here.

So, with a reasonable amount of cap space available, and a marquee spot too, who should we be targeting? I think everyone would like as a minimum a top draw hooker and half....

Hookers - it was our approach to Wests for Farah as our marquee player last year that caused the whole issue between Wests and Farah. They thought it was an opportunity he should take and were already spending the spare cap expecting him to take the deal. When he said 'No, I want to stay in the NRL and Origin for now' they tried to force the issue.... He's most definitely the best hooker on the market this year and is exactly the type of player that we're missing. Excellent defensive work rate and attitude, a creative spark and leader of men. Gets some bad press for his relationships with coaches, but a lot of that is unfair in my eyes - he's a competitor and just wants the best for his team. I'd be willing to go all out for him... I'd certainly rather break the bank for Farah than settle for some of the other off contract 9's like Falloon, Kostjacyn, De Gois etc

Halves - Cronk is the only top half on the market, but will be staying at Melbourne by all accounts, so I don't think he's a goer.... So, what other halves could we target? Benji Marshall - not thanks... Peter Wallace - maybe, certainly not inspiring, but would bring a calm, old head, get us around the park type skillset without ever challenging the line, which is a big negative for me. But he'd do a job, come relatively cheap, and is a fantastic defender - could also do a shift at hooker - he's currently playing there and doing around 40 tackles a game. Could see him and Burrow alternating between 9 and 7.... There are some younger halves on the market in Keary, Brooks, Moses, but all will be staying in the NRL and couldn't come and do the job Leeds need of leading the team.

So, in terms of hookers/halves, With what's actually available, I'd be tempted to go all out for a Farah type hooker signing and go with a McGuire and Lilley combination, with Sutcliffe as back up. If Farah is still a no goer, could chase someone like Mitch Rein, but again he's likely to stay in Oz, so then you're looking at Wallace or a lower quality 9.

Other signings I'd possibly like to see us chasing who are off contract and realistic;

Luke Lewis - yes he's old and past his best, but he'd still add some much needed starch to the defence, a professional old head approach, some X-factor and speed around the ruck in attack - if certainly take him over Ferres.

Sam Moa - Like for like replacement for Kylie, and actually capable of quite big minutes

Ben Hannant - again, an older head, but a real workhorse front rower

Brenton Lawrence - likely to be in demand, but a good, hard and most important for me, fast prop - would be worth throwing a decent wedge at.

Unfortunately, I think of those available the type of signings most likely would be people like Jeff Robson, Kostjacyn, Nathan Friend, Ben Creagh, Dene Halatau all of which would be very much 'meh' signings....

Are there any players who are not off contract you think we should be chasing?

Can Farrah play in the halfs?

Think he would be an amazing signing for us. Is it at all realistic though?

I'd prefer us to stick with Lilley & Sutcliffe rather than bring in a 'meh' HB from Oz. I'm certain both will be future legends for us.

That's a pretty good summing up of the NRL market. There's not a lot of the requisite quality who'd be willing to come, though there may be a few Dave Taylor like players who have stopped fitting in there we could look at. Konrad Hurrell is in that category, maybe Jamie Soward.

Domestically, the player I'd like us to sign is the same one I've wanted us to sign for five years - Darryl Clark. O'Brien from the Bulls is apparently an option, but don't know enough about him. Holmes or McMeekan could be other targets, given the back-row I'd really want (Ben Currie) will not be attainable.

Would anyone be interested in Pelissier? Aggressive defence, quick, good hands and he can kick. I think he's also out of contract at the end of the year.

I'd be over the moon with Soward! He's had some questions about his desire, but he'd be a great fit for what we're lacking on the pitch. Im not sure he'd want to leave Sydney again though - seems to be at a stage in his life where he's wanting to settle. He's said he'd stop playing and move into coaching to stay at the Panthers previously...

Tony Williams could be a potential signing of a similar ilk to Dave Taylor, but he wouldn't have the same impact, and is dare I say it even lazier!

Pellisier is also a good shout - always impressed by him when I've seen him... And has a bit of mongrel in him - I always like that in a player.

What about someone like John Sutton? Equally adept in the halves or backrow/lock, so would allow us to go with McGuire/Lilley/Sutcliffe but switch it up if it's not working.

I wouldn't be looking for overseas players! Break the bank to fetch in Stefan ratchford! Sandow and gidley kept him out of the starting 13 at the begging of the season and when they're both fit it will probably be the same again. Matty Russell is playing out of his skin at full back so ratchfords game time would be limited. I'd go ratchford and lilley in the halves. Move sutty to loose forward and put stevie ward in the second row. As for hooker I wouldn't mind someone like Adam Milner from cas or even Brad Dwyer from Warrington. We've got to look at signing British players otherwise we will be changing players in key positions every 2/3 years!!

Sutton's a good player but tends to spend 3/4 of the season injured.

I would like to see us go for Clarke at hooker and let Falloon go.
Also happy to let Achurch go and I think we need to make a choice to release Delaney. He puts in effort but seems to be injured or carrying injuries in a large amount of games.
If we are keeping JJB and hopefully Ferres for another year and have Ablett and keinhorst we just don't need him.

Half back is a bit harder. With sutcliffe and Lilley both needing time on the pitch and some wins to improve confidence it's hard to suggest replacing them.
McGuire hasn't really had a chance yet and still hasn't settled into the captaincy given injuries.
Burrow has a skill set and some utility value but can't fill the gaps we are missing at 7 or 9.
If we signed Clarke and then a HB as well it would mean one bench spot between Burrow, sutty and Lilley so one would have to go and given his age, salary and etc I could only see Burrow leaving as the sensible option.

I'd say that some sort of steady eddie half back in the Dunemann mould would really benefit you.

A decent hooker/dummy half and a couple of decent forwards are also needed.

Leeds Rhinos are the best run club in SL with an academy system and world class sports science facilities second to none. That is the infrastructure upon which their success is based.

Surely it would be unwise to overlook all that by replacing it with a policy of knee-jerk signings? Leeds do not buy success. That's what other less well run SL clubs do. Leeds invest in longer term plans instead. In that regard, they are the SL benchmark which every other SL club must aspire to.

Leeds are not a Salford or Warrington or any other fanciful SL club whose mission statements rarely persist beyond the week after next.

One or two key signings perhaps but no more than that. Please allow Leeds famed academy system the time and space to continue producing the next golden generation.

Patience is required.

Lots of it.

I see you got your e-mail from Gary,William