That's a good post GFB and a pretty comprehensive assessment to whet the new season's appetite.I expect a hooker to leave sometime soon but don't see an obvious weak area as yet.

who do you expect to be our 2 hookers? From what I've heard the lad fromwire (Maneely) has pace to burn and likes to run from dummy half so has to have a spot. and Holden for me is pure class. Mennell as a half back and Kaye as cover for me

Wouldn't bother me if we got rid of Ben Kaye.

My side would be

Greenwood no relation


Potts
Tyrer
Taylor
Brown
Johnstone
Place
Ambler
Mennell

Tangata
Manning
Divorty
Murrell

Subs

Calahane
Manelee
Bracek
Robbo


May change once I have seen how the new boys go for a couple of games. Plenty of choice on the wing hence no a Tommy. Gone for pace and don't know much about Saltenstall. May Swap the two overseas forwards round too. Could play Tommy at centre if Taylor doesn't do the business or Heaton. What do we do for goal kicker if Ste Tyrer is off form or injured.? Only top goal kicker in squad. Unless one of new boys is a kicker.

Just thought I'd do my team for a bit of fun.

Glad I don't have to pick the squad on a matchday, I can't believe some of the players I've left out but here goes.

Greenwood

Brown
Taylor
Tyrer
Saltonstall

Place
Johnstone

Ambler
Holden
Moore
Manning
Divorty
Murell

Maneeley
Calahane
Tangata
Robinson

I can easily see this side in the top 4


Can't wait for the season to begin.

I agree with your optimism but that's tempered by the fact that we don't really know
how good half the squad is.

Miles Greenwood couldn't tackle a good dinner , has a bit of speed , never rated him at Leigh, however I still hope Fax do okay as I like to see a happy Halifaxjohn and Bentley man.

I did I think he is a very good player.

I would go the same only difference is I would have Mennell start at Hooker and Maneely coming off the bench. I think Holden and Maneely are too alike so I think maybe one will miss out. Nice having 4 props in the team capable of doing 3/4 of the game which could make a big difference.

The main word being DID



I was glad when we showed him the door , he can't tackle but neither could Fieldhouse, the meeting of the Fax pack and the Leigh pack should be good , I can't wait .

Happiness is my middle name, Charlie, and whatever Miles can't eat I will help him.

Good to see the focus turning to the players and the RL, here's my two penneth for what it's worth, without knowing how pre-seasons going?

Greenwood (class act despite what the clown from Lancashire says)

Brown
Tyrer (gets the nod just due to goal kicking ability)
Saltonstall
Saxton

Place
Johnstone

Ambler
Mennell
Calahane

Manning (full 80 mins)
Divorty (full 80 mins)
Murrell

Subs
Maneeley
Tangata
Moore
Taylor

For me it's going to a little nerve wracking to see what standard our Aussies are at, let's hope its the one positive thing we can take from the last regime. Would also be great to see Taylor, Saltonstall and Maneeley make names for themselves.

Looking forward to it.

mine

1.Greenwood
2.Saltonstall
3.Tyrer
4.Taylor
5.Brown
6.Place
7.Johnston
8.Moore
9.Holden
10.Ambler
11.Manning
12.Divorty
13.Murrell (c)

14.Maneely
15.Cahalane
16.Tangata
17.Bracek

think Murrell at 13 gives us more options when kicking in general play and better with ball in hand as well

agree

Why couldn't KH see that Murrell wasn't a half back? Although tbf Murrell picked himself in the halves.

Big season for Murrell.When he first arrived thought he was quality and first name on teamsheet,by end of last season i didn't care whether he was in team or not.Hope the
new regime has envigorated him.

Yes, I agree with that.

My only concern playing Murrell at loose forward is that he might be too small if we come up against a big pack. Maybe wiser having a forward there when we play on narrow fields.

Yes Ross Divorty.

I'm sure I read that RM saw Murrell as a 6 rather than a 13, knowing me though it could have been the other way round, but either way there are options.

Your right. He did. Hopefully he will change his mind though. Need to see how good Mat Place is first.

Yep, and with only the 2 friendlies against HKR and Hudds we will likely be a few games into the season before we know as with the other lads.

Lets hope we get off to a good start and get people turning up and coming back.

It is difficult to judge without seeing them. Hopefully RM will be giving them all a run out over the next couple of friendly games so that we can see them all in action. I think even some of the players we think we know will be different under the new coaching regime.

Think in general we have a cracking squad with some great choice, but we are going to need it over what will be probably the hardest season we have had for a long time. I think we might be seeing more rotation rather than a static first team, but given you can't put a bus ticket in between the quality of some of our players this could work better than the KH in favour/out of favour approach.

I agree with others that we look a bit light in the centre so I hope Saltonstall is a decent centre

Nigel I respect your opinion but I have mine on miles greenwood and I just don't rate him he is just an average player he stood out last season in a poor Batley team and I think in a decent team he wouldn't be seen, he has a bit of pace but can't tackle, still time will tell, won't be long before the Mighty Leyt hers come to the Shay.

In my humble opinion, RM will want to see how the 3 Antipodeans shape up in a match.
He will have seen them in training but will know all the others from past seasons.
Can't agree with Charlie on Miles, but hey that's what's great about opinions.
Hope we have a good following on Sunday, important season, the whole of the club needs every supporters to get behind the team irrespective of petty issues, be interesting to see whether the anti dual reg person/s attends,
Looking forward to it,

Sam Tomkins cannot tackle either and he's not doing too badly. Billy Slater often gets shown up in defence too. The modern day full back is much more about attack than defence and you cannot deny that Miles is a potent attacking threat.