It's aprox 3 weeks until super league and league leaders shield winners kick off 2015, so what would be your strongest 17 to start against a very strong Catalan team ?

I'll have a go!

1 J-Lo
2 T-Mak
3 Turner
4 Percival
5 Swift
6 Burns
7 Walsh
8 Amor
9 Roby
10 Walmesley
11 Wilkin
12 Vea
13 Jones

14 Masoe
15 LMS
16 Savellio
17 Thompson


No doubt though Wello will be on that bench, but theres plenty cover for injuries in our squad

I think lance will make bench. He's one of the best utility players in super league. He can cover all back positions and hooker.

Very true, the first 10 plus Mose and LMS picks itself. After that theres a bit of a log jam of players for places. Id like to see more of Sav this year too

I would probably put LMS in at loose forward, putting Lance on the bench which means Jones is just outside the 17. Get the feeling Richards will still be playing more games than Sav.
Its well overdue for a season that isn't injury ravaged, if that happens our best 17 is probably good enough for a top 2 position.

Lomax
Tommy
Turner
Percy
Swift
Burns
Walsh
Amor
Robes
Walmsley
Vea
Jones
Wilkin

Lance
Mose
Thompson
Lms

I really wanted to find a place for Richards as I really like him so maybe we couid manage him and Thompson thru the season if all stay fit.

I think injuries are fairly inevitable, so the young lads will get their chance. The young forwards will know in all likelyhood Mose will go after this year so a first team prop place is up for grabs if they impress

Me too, I really like the attitude of the lad, solid and durable. The grand final win will have matured the younger ones a bit quicker mentally, once they have that confidence (Richards + Thompson) they can start to make "forward plays" instead of 100% basic grafting.

Who will be out team captain by the way !

Lomax
Makinson
Turner
Percival
Swift
Burns
Walsh
Amor
Roby
Walmsley
Vea
Wilkin
Thompson

LMS
Masoe
Richards
Hohaia

I think Richards has to be in that 17 to keep LMS away from the prop position. He is a much better player out wide.

Jones and Flanagan the unluckiest ones to miss out but there'll be plenty rotation throughout the year.

I do wonder whether we will put our strongest 17 out against Catalan and then drop a few the following week for Salford?

For me without seeing the team play it's a tough choice, but if I had to pick

Lomax
Makinson
Turner
Percival
Swift
Burns
Walsh (have to say that is a refreshing quality back line)
Masoe
Roby
Amor
Vea
Wilkin
LMS (up to this point 1-13 exactly as squad numbers baring Jones and Percival)

Walmsley
Lance
Thompson
Sevelio

I think it would be a case of rotating Masoe / Walmsley and Sevelio to keep the impact and the pace high. Amor and Thompson putting in the big minutes.

eg

10 mins sub Masoe for Walmsley
20 mins sub Walmsley for Sevelio
30 mins sub Sevelio/Amor/Roby for Masoe/Thompson/Lance
50 mins sub Masoe/Thompson/Lance for Walmsley/Amor/Roby
60 mins sub Walmsley for Sevelio
1 sub left for injury or 70 mins.

I don't see how Saveilio can be in people's first strongest 17 of the new season based on something like 3 games.

I personally think Andre should be brought in gradually as the season goes on in games that suit him leading up to maybe finishing the last 8 weeks if the year and playoffs as first choice.

Lomax
Makinson Turner Jones Swift
Burns Walsh
Amor Roby Masoe
Wilkin Vea
LMS

Hohaia Flanagan Walmsley Thompson

... Is what I'd imagine we'll go with (Pete'll lynch me for the team I'd like to see

)

No Percy ?

Your team will have Turner at 13, he will be captain, on field kicker and goal kicker lol

Let's see your team

I prefer percy on the right, as I think it's his stronger side, and I still have question marks over the defensive frailty of a Percy - swift combo... To get Percy in (and if it's not this year it's next year) it means Turner simple has to move - and I still believe that he showed his utility value in the side at the end of last year.

Lomax
Makinson Percival Jones Swift
Burns Walsh
Amor Roby Masoe
LMS Thompson
Turner

Hohaia Vea Walmsley Richards

Would be my absolute prefered line up. Wilkin and Flanagan just don't have the size to play in the pack for me, and we saw how destructive that pack can be, as it single handed got us through the playoffs. Burns and Walsh working off that pack, feeding those outside backs would be devastating imo! Turner doesn't have to be involved as a playmaker, but I think he'd be great at working off the spine poking at gaps through the middle, and running support off the shoulders of the big guys (aka the role Wellens played for us for so many years) while Lomax works with Walsh and Burns to dictate play.

Not sure who'd be captain in that team though LMS or Walsh at a guess

Turner either centre or not in 17 for me.

Not a hope of Jones replacing Percival. Not in the same league.

Lomax
Makinson
Turner
Percival
Swift
Burns
Walsh
Amor
Roby
Walmsley
Wilkin
Vea
Thompson

LMS
Masoe
Richards
Hohaia

Because I like him.

I did go to some length to say he would be having an impact role. He would not play more than 20 minutes in my set up and the first time he comes on he would be coming on with 2 other sets of fresh legs.

I also said without seeing the players in a game it's hard to call, but it's certainly a line up I'd like to see.

I think we know what the rest can do as all but Burns and Vea was here last year.

Like I said, I'd ease Saveilo in gradually with hope of him being a first team regular come the business end. The kid played two super league games so he's still not up to the speed of super league and being gradually brought in will ease him in and hopefully build confidence.

Seems to be that the Percival Makinson partnership is being favoured today.

The new match update is pretty good. Very up to the minute

What's this on?

I'm home with ankle injury so can't go

www.saintsrlfc.com/match-centre/match/4518

www.saintsrlfc.com/match-centre/match/4518

1. Jonny Lomax
2. Tommy Makinson
3. Mark Percival
4. Jordan Turner
5. Adam Swift

6. Travis Burns
7. Luke Walsh

8. Mose Masoe
9. James Roby
10. Kyle Amor
11. Atelea Vea
12. Jon Wilkin
13. Luke Thompson

14. Lance Hohaia
15. Alex Walmsley
16. LMS
17. Greg Richards

1. Lomax
2. Makinson
3. Percival
4. Turner
5. Swift
6. Burns
7. Walsh
8. Amor
9. Roby
10. Walmsley
11. LMS
12. Wilkin
13. Thompson

14. Hohaia
15. Vea
16. Masoe
17. Richards

I'm a believer in LMS as a wide-running back rower, so I'd have Vea on the bench as an impact forward. I've put Richards in the 17 shirt as I think he's a really good grafting front rower, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Savelio challenge him for that spot.

Interesting that Dawson started today. I hope to god we don't go with him over swift.