Abletts confirmed hes still a few weeks away from being fit.

We went from where you finished last season to competing two finals the next season with a very average team so anything is possible! You's will deffo be in and around the top 4/5 this season with the names you have brought in.

Our team is likely to look something like this:

Ratchford

Lineham
Goodwin
Atkins
Charnley

Austin
Patton

Hill
Clark
Cooper
Clarke
Hughes
Murdoch-Massila

Walker
Philbin
Akualoa
Tasi

Question marks over who will play at Scrum Half now we've lost Brown. Could be as simple as Patton straight in or move Ratch to 7 and play Mamo at 1.


Hope its a good turn out in front of the cameras, decent K.O time on a Saturday so should be no excuses from both sets of fans. Safe trip over!

I`m going for a Warrington win by 12.
Hopefully it will be a good crowd but it being on Sky and Leeds United also on Sky might knock the crowd by a thousand or two.
I know there`s a fair bit of negativity around Patton mainly from his own supporters.
But whenever I`ve watched him he has always looked a pretty decent player.
Him and Austin in the halves should be a good combination.

It seems Ablett, Sutcliffe and Crosby will be missing for Saturday. Will Tom Briscoe be available?

Based on squad selections so far, I believe the team will be:-

1. Walker
2. Briscoe (Newman is Briscoe unfit)
3. Watkins
4. Hurrell
5. Handley
6. Lolohea
7. Myler
8. Oledzki
9. Parcell
10. Singleton
11. Ward
12. Ferres
13. Merrin

14. Dwyer
15. Cuthbertson
16. Peteru
17. JJB

Personally, I'd have Smith in ahead of JJB but suspect JJB will get the nod. The only other question will be which props start and which bench.

Looks about right. Agree with Smith over JJB at this point; it depends how well they've trained I suppose. I'm still not entirely convinced with two running hookers in the squad - for me Parcell should be able to play an effective 80 mins. If we have a centre injured, Ward can just about cover. If we get an outside back injured I'd be worried - again maybe prefer Smith on the bench as Tui can play wing or fullback if needed, Smith goes to SO... not really options JJB gives you.

Worry about our wings especially if Briscoe is out. Newman will get destroyed on the wing. Handley is so so.

This whole Handley thing is a disaster.

Needs shipping out asap.

Best accountants in the league at the every least.

‪Walker; Briscoe Watkins Hurrell Handley; Lolohea Myler; Cuthbertson Parcell Singleton; Ward Ferres; Merrin. Dwyer Cuthbertson Peteru JJB‬

Walker,
T Briscoe, Watkins, Hurrell, Golding,
Tui, Richie,
Cuthbertson, Parcell, Singleton,
Ward, Ferres,
Merrin.

Peteru, Oledzki, Cam Smith, Mullally/JJB

Good luck from a wire fan, I think you will get the better of us on Saturday as Kev brown is a massive loss as he has been building a partnership with Blake Austin over the full preseason. Atmosphere should be buzzing and I can’t wait, there are about 500 seats left in the home stands which should get sold on the gate so if it’s a sell out depends on how much you bring

I think Warrington are more of a known quantity, with the exception of Austin.

Leeds also have several players coming back from injury. Plus, the conditions might not be great. Could go either way but I'm not expecting Leeds to hit their straps from Round 1 with the amount of change they've had.

Good luck for the season ahead.

Walker
Handley
Hurrell
Watkins
Briscoe
Lolohea
Myler
Singo
Parcell
Cuthbo
Merrin
Ward
C.Smith

Petaru
Oledzski
Dwyer
Ferres,Jjb,

Walker
T.Briscoe(Golding if Briscoe isn't 100%)
Watkins
Hurrell
Handley
Lolohea
Myler
Peteru
Parcell
Singleton
Ward
Smith
Merrin

Subs
Cuthbertson
Dwyer
Ferres
Oledzki

L.Sutcliffe and JJB 18th and 19th Men.

Can't see Oledzki selected. Think Peteru and Singleton will be starting props. Think Smith will get a bench spot. Final bench spot will be toss up between JJB and Donaldson, probably JJB.

Newman needs to really work on defense its ok being great going forward but should not be anywhere near the first team now or ever unless he starts to look like he wants to tackle. Could be another Kevin Penny if he does not watch it.

i think people are going to be surprised by the team selection, think Sutcliffe will be in Sr starting, can even see a Graham Murray style shock omissions.

Give over he's a centre, and pretty good at it. Nothing wrong with his defence, especially if you are using boxing day as an example. Look at almost every game against Cas over last three years and how and where the try's are scored. Pretty much the same every time.

Well if you review the Saints game at HQ last year and look at where the tries came from it would suggest his defence needs work. However he is young and I would have no issues with him starting on the wing with a view to a run of 4/6 games before a rest. Not sur the next 4 games is when he should be starting though

centre or not, he should not be anywhere near the side at the moment, he was awful defensively against Cas in no mans land for 3 of there tries, not including the ones from kicks which i am fine with as it happens. the others he did not look like he wanted to tackle anybody just ran into space and flaps his arms around. he will lose us games if he plays in super league at the moment, come back in 12 months when he has learned how to mark up and make a tackle or at least try to make a tackle. Not writing if off as he is cracking attacking player, but no where near ready for super league yet, 12 months at Fev then reassess.

What an hilarious and original comment.

Mrs Austin, the best paid cleaner in ALL of Cheshire (Until Mrs Widdop arrives)

Agreed.

The whole right edge was poor including Watkins AND Sutcliffe to put the whole blame on Newman is way OTT and wide of the mark.
Yes he's very raw but he bounced back 2nd half and imo shouldn't be going anywhere if he's in Furners plans.

Lolohea also played a big part in those choices, jumping the line too early.