First team expected for this. Looking forward to seeing how the lads all get going.

Walker
Briscoe Watkins Hurrell Handley
Lolohea Myler
Cuthbertson Parcell Singleton
Ferres Ward
Merrin

Dwyer Peteru Crosby Smith Jones-Buchanan Sutcliffe

Furner has already said Ablett misses out due to ankle surgery.
Also no way Cam Smith shouldnt start in our 1st choice BR

Cam won't start ahead of that back row. He will be on the bench and for me that's where he should be all season long. He's got versatility and impact value.

Personally don`t think Watkins will play.

Walker
Briscoe Hurrell Handley Golding
Lolohea Myler
Crosby Parcell Singleton
Ferres Ward
Merrin

Dwyer Peteru Cuthbertson Holroyd Jones-Buchanan Sutcliffe

On the basis that Smith played last week and Holroyd deserves a shot

Agree re Watkins but think Sutcliffe will get the centre berth. Furner is an Aussie, after all, and I think he'll opt for the least-flappable option wherever one exists.

I hope we don't see Merrin wasted at prop. Be interesting to see if Golding plays 1st team or gets sent to Coventry. Given that he can defend and take a high ball, there is an argument for him to take the wing spot outside Hurrell. It's the pack selection which will be the real flag: we're minus Ablett but other than that, we should get to pretty much see what Furner has in mind.

Both will play this week either way with us having a game at Coventry on Friday night and then this one on Sunday.

Of course forgot about that.
Although I would like to see Holroyd play against a decent pack with no offence to Coventry.

For me it's his time to take a regular starting spot in the BR he's ready & playing alongside Merrin & Ward he'll have more than enough to look after him.
The likes of Ablett Ferres & Jjb should be bench/rotation players all are past it.

Not sure what impact Ferres, Ablett or JJB would have off the bench Mark to be honest.

I feel sure Ferres will start in back row with Ward and Merrin to be honest rightly or wrongly.

Personally I've no quibble with Ferres as others have.

My issue with Ferres is we signed an England BR & have ended up with an overweight average bit part player.

yes but to be fair, he looked unlike some to be digging in and havinga go last season, and by all accounst been pretty much fully fit in off season and in good shape. needs a huge, huge season or he is out next year, and even then not sure he will be with us, but needs to pay back the last 2 years.

Ferres wasn't mentioned/rumoured to be available in the closed season like some others, despite being injury-riddled. I can't imagine he's on a low salary so if he's not a starting BR you'd have to question why.
Cam Smith on the bench for me, stepping up to the first 13 when the inevitable injuries to Ward/Merrin/Ferres happen...

Ferres didn’t look fully fit when I saw him with a cast on his arm the other week. He also looked like he still had the odd burger or three.

Ferres is going to have to produce some fantastic performances and consistently too throughout 2019 in order to warrant a new contract.

He will be only too aware of this fact and the ball is now firmly in his court.
IMO there is still a good player there and if he can show this in 2019 then he is going to give Kev and Furner some tough decisions regarding offering him a new deal for 2020 onward

Ferres simply has to re produce the performances and form that he was in when we signed him from Huddersfield (When he was probably England's best back rower) or he will be gone as there are plenty of young and very talented players chomping at the bit behind him currently in the pecking order.

Your kidding. I saw him in Boxing Day and he looked as good as he has looked in years, in real good shape. I have heavily criticised him, especially last year, but I can see a big year coming from him, surprising a few.

I agree mate, mega frustrating. I have given him a fair go and stuck up for him at times but 3 years gone now and he has not had any games i can think of where i have thought ' yeah that is why we got him' taking into account he was first name on the sheet back row wise for england at the time.

Hmmm there's also a good chance it'll be " Look like Tarzan play like Jane".

There is, but he certainly looked the part the other week. Certainly not the fatty Ferres we have been used to seeing.

It might also work in our favour as it`s the last year of his contract and he will certainly be wanting to extend that or at least put himself in the shop window for other clubs in SL.
As long as he can stay fit he should be in the 17 most weeks.

I think we are light in the front row this year, especially with Garbutt gone. If you look at the balance of the side, having a back row of Ferres, Ward and Merrin stiffens the pack up considerably. With Cam Smith featuring as back up (he now has some fantastic players and coach to learn from in his position), we're looking okay there. I'd have Ferres starting because I think he's too high profile a player not to be - if he's not a first choice back rower then I'd rather ship him on and give a young lad the chance. If he's on the bench, well what makes him value as compared to Ablett, JJB, possibly Cuthbo, Donaldson, maybe now Sutcliffe... ?

I'd like to see him cut the penalties out of his game - he plays aggressive which is fine, but he's a bit like JJB at giving mindless penalties away in crap situations which drives me bonkers.

Yes agree with all that and I too would like another prop with Seb whatever his name is from Huddersfield up there as one I would like to see.
But doubt this will happen and we go with what we have got for now.

2020 is a different kettle of fish, we should have loads of salary space available when Phase 2 of the Great Rebuild is on.

I do think we'll struggle to win anything this year without a harder front row, which is frustrating because we're close otherwise, but c'est la vie. Sinfield and Furner had a lot to change and they've done the best they can, I think.

We might even snag someone better than Ikahihifo. If we feed Holroyd, Dupree and Oledzski on spinach and live goats for a year I reckon they'll all be close for 1st grade in 2020. We really need to sort out which from Singleton, Crosby, Peteru, Cuthbertson, Mullally we are running with for 2020, look at where the academy lads are at and maybe add 1 or 2 senior props.

Oledzki is good enough for 1st grade now, he was a stand out for England Knights.

Could Ferres play prop?