I think our best bet in the halves is probably Sinfield at 7 and Sutcliffe at 6. Gives Sutty the opportunity to really make his mark at pivot (clearly his best position) while having Kev alongside him to direct. McGuire is excellent cover, and Burrow can come off the bench.

1. Hardaker
2. Briscoe
3. Watkins
4. Moon
5. Hall
6. Sutcliffe
7. Sinfield (C)
8. Cuthbertson
9. Aiton
10. Peacock
11. Achurch
12. Ablett
13. Delaney

14. Burrow
15. Leuluai
16. Singleton/Yates
17. Jones-Buchanan

Agree with G1 regarding Ward. And agree with the poster above who's name I have somehow forgot in the time its taken me to click 'reply' regarding Sutcliffe.

That is all.

While I know there's a significant difference in terms of intensity and opposition between the opposition in the last two games and what can be expected in the SL regular rounds, there has appeared to be more pace and urgency around the team with McGuire and Sutcliffe running things.

It's to be hoped that urgency doesn't disappear when the reins go back to the captain.

I would agree with that, but I also think that is also down to another couple of changes. The ability of having a big forward who can hit the line and move a pass on, very much like in the James Graham mould, and an actual attacking running backrower in Stevie Ward.

As you said, the opposition needs to be taken into account, but regardless of that these are two things which were missing previously against whatever opposition. This has given much more options to the half back pairing.

now that we're half way through the season what do you all think is our best 17 and the side that would play in a cc final or gf if all were fit for selection?

have any of you changed your initial views to your pre season selections?

stevie ward must surely be the first name on the team sheet,he always wins the collision in attack and is making some mammoth defensive stints
paul aiton has also looked very good for us at 9 after his injuries/illness last season

my side would be
1:hardaker
2:briscoe
3:watkins
4:moon
5:hall
6:sinfield
7:mcguire
8:cuthbertson
9:aiton
10:peacock
11:s ward
12:ablett
13:delaney
14:sutcliffe
15:jjb
16:singleton
17:achurch/leuluai

Hardaker
Briscoe
Watkins
Moon
Hall
Sinfield
McGuire
Cuthbertson
Aiton
Peacock
Ward
Ablett
Delaney

Sutcliffe
JJB
Singleton
Achurch

Would be interesting to see Sutcliffe at 6 with Sinfield at loose and see how things go in some league games, that would throw up an issue of who drops to the bench between Ablett or Delaney (as like you Ward is a certain starter ATM)

Hardaker
Briscoe
Watkins
Moon
Hall
Sutcliffe
Mcguire
JP
Aiton
Cuthbo
Ward
Delaney
Sinfield

Ablett
Singleton
Jjb
Achurch

Sinfield was very good yesterday but thus far this season Sutty has the 6 shirt on merit and i disagree with him getting dropped let's not forget when the pack has laid the platform Sutcliffe has done plenty of damage.

True if we'd have gone with Sutcliffe at 6 yesterday and Sinfield 13 we'd have still been successful really going by how the game went. News from the McDermott post match press conference is that Delaney picked up a hamstring injury and he didn't sound confident about it. If JJB is missing still I don't see who else to put at 13 ATM other than Sinfield (Singleton did against Saints but is needed for a better prop rotation on the bench). So for the next few weeks we could see Sinfield at loose with Sutcliffe at 6.

WRT to Stevie Ward, I'm convinced. An injury free off season has clearly benefited the lad. Superb start to the season and thoroughly merited place in the 13.

If Delaney is going to miss some time, I'd be interested to see Achurch get some more game time either starting at loose or in the second row with Ablett at 13.

In terms of "best" side, if I had a game to win tomorrow and everyone was fit it would be:

Hardaker, Briscoe, Watkins, Moon, Hall, Sinfield, McGuire, Peacock, Aiton, Cuthbertson, Ward, Ablett, Delaney. Reps: Sutcliffe, Singleton, JJB, Achurch

I think it will help Sutty more to stay at 6 even if Sinfield plays it worked for years with Mags & Burrow at 6/7.
Either way neither of em are effective behind a beaten pack.

Achurch at prop doesn't work for me so i agree get him back in the SR wrt Ablett apart from yesterday i think he's been off his usual standards more often than not this year his hand injury may be part of that but i hope he kicks on.

Ablett was due a dip at some point. He's been a consistent performer over the last few years and those standards were always going to drop at some time.

Won't happen now because the likes of Ward, Sutcliffe and Cam Smith are coming through, but I would have been interested to see how his career would have developed had Sinfield not been here.

Having watched him as a kid coming through the Academy, he had all the ability to play as a pivot 13 but ended up having to play as a wide running second row instead.

I think the problem with having sinfield at 13 and playing McGuire and sutcliffe aswell, is a bit of 'too many cooks' they all want to do a bit too much, plus I think it takes away from sutcliffes performances, surely even if it's in the slightest, when they all play and sinfield comes in and starts taking over what sutcliffe should/would be doing he's going to feel somewhat undermimed? That's my opinion anyway, I know they're professionals and whenever they'd be asked about it they'd say the right thing, but inside if it was me I'd be screaming!

I've heard this before, but until we try it and see it then I think pre-calling it as a problem is jumping the gun. If we try that line up and and those fears come to fruition then fair enough, but just guessing that's how it'll play out, don't see that as a reason to avoid trying it. It's all very well saying Sinfield has dominated things in recent seasons.....but then again that was his job as a starting HB, if asked to do the role of loose I don't think he'd overtake things.

You do know this has happened? Briefly but it has happened and sinfield did take over quite a bit.....

I really don't understand some fans obsession with what's going to happen next year when we're not even half way through the current season.
I'll continue to moan when we play badly & cheer when we play well.
I may speculate or worry about who's leaving or staying but injuries, loss of form will all determine our team for this year & next.
I'm just looking forward to Friday's game vs Hull KR & hoping for a performance such as last Saturday's rather than that of the previous Sunday.

Exactly.uf there is one thing we all should have learned last few years it is that things change quickly,as do views on players.We are still in the midst of transition and i wouldn't like to second guess anything that maybe yet to happen next 6 to 12 months.Im just going to continue enjoying this season in which we have a strong chance of success on all fronts.

this thread is actually about our best side for this season
the opening post was made on Wed Dec 24, 2014 12:53 pm,so it relates to the current season

i reopened this topic for debate

That's as maybe but most recent posts have been about next season.
Why not start a new topic re this season rather than re-open an old one which has confused more than just me?

Anyone seen the Keith Galloway news?

https://www.facebook.com/NRLInfinite/po ... 2773005320

https://www.facebook.com/NRLInfinite/po ... 2773005320

I've rated him for years, he'd be a great signing for any team.

This would be a good solid signing imo.

What i have seen of him in the past he is a tough,uncompromising prop who has a good go forward, just what we need.And only 29, prime age for a front rower hopefully we are in for him

As predicted by Wheels, Sam Rapira has signed for Hudds.