Good post. I know chairs and staff talk informally, but any quota rise is speculation until the vote later this month. Could be anywhere between 7 and 10, and different clubs have different reasons for voting for and against. Pros: Increase the overall standard of the league, potentially improve the England team by playing against more good players, give teams with weaker academies the chance to win more. Cons: Choke academy players' chances, lose touch with communities/civic pride, attract journeymen.

As you point out, we're at 7 even without Walmsley, who's the only one out of contract: Rodwell, Lino, Hamlin-Uele, Tevaga, Smoothy, Fa'atili, Nikotemo. 


When looking at signing and contract extensions I like to look at the big picture. Shaw, Atoni, Griffin and Hood won't be here. Walmsley, M Russell, Cozza and Croft are out of contract. Lingard and probably High will get promoted. So if you map out our 2026 squad with contracted players for a first 17 plus 13 in reserve, this is how it looks so far:


Jowitt
Johnstone
Pratt
Hall
?
Trueman
Lino
McMeeken
Smoothy
Hamlin-Uele
Vagana
Storton
Tevaga


Doyle
Rodwell
Fa'atili
Pitts


Rourke
Myers
Scott
?
Tchamambe
O Russell
Lawford
Lingard
Smith
?
Nikotemo
High?
?


So we've got clear gaps. Cozza will get a new deal. Mills is obviously working on a top class prop, which we need badly. But perhaps most crucial is a starting winger - which can only be Walmsley if the quota increases later this month. If that doesn't come through, do we throw money at a British or French winger to transfer? Do we keep Matty Russell and pray he stays fit? It's too early to promote Myers to a starting shirt.


That just leaves us with Croft, which seems like a no-brainer to me - great trainer, super-reliable, probably not that highly paid and buckets of enthusiasm. Yes, I'd rather have a weapon on the edge who scares teams every time they touch the ball. But Croft for me is the ultimate squad player. 


If we do get another quota spot, I'd use it on a winger, whether Walmsley or a big athletic unit from the NRL. I wouldn't be disappointed if we didn't renew Russell's deal - he's seriously targetable under the high ball and gets bundled into touch more often than finds space these days. I'd rather see Myers be first backup next year.

He has indeed, but I just mean that calibre of player really. There aren’t many great wingers off contract either side of the world, and I’m sure that’s in the team’s thoughts. 

Weel, that's a bit like saying we could do with some of the SOO players......

IMO we need a big nasty disruptive hard to handle front rower who can come off the bench and rattle the opposition for 15 minutes a half.


Looking at us next year with a fully fit squad and the additions so far my selection would be
Jowitt
Walmsley
Hall
Pratt
Johnstone
Trueman
Lino
McMeeken
Smoothy 
Uele
Storton
Vangana
Tevaga


Smith
Rodwell
Fa’atili
?????? Signing as prescribed earlier


Got Rourke, Tchimambe, Scott, Myers, to cover 1 to 5
We have good back row cover
Could probably do with another quality half
We have 3 quality hookers
But we are short on front rowers unless we move a back rower up which isn’t ideal

I agree. Except I'd like the big disruptor to be a second row.
Like a better Tanginoa or like Griffin was in hus prime.