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.

I doubt it not after yesterdays performance!

Going off yesterdays performance Greenwood & Savelio are infront of Vea.

Mose looked overweight again but will get fitter over the season.

Lomax did ok but did not link up well but we did have Wilkin at 7.

Deffo start Thompson he looks like he's playing where he left off from the G/F.

Dawson was a surprise start for me but i guess he won't start the season infront of Swift.

Burns looked a real threat at 6 and can't wait for him to link up with Walsh.

Vea Looked lazy and i'm hoping he'll get better.

Thompson looks and plays like a seasoned pro already. It's so hard to forget he is just 19. I think he is nailed on for a place in the 17 each week, I don't he needs to be rotated or gradually introduced in to the team; he's already there.

We saw glimpses yesterday of what Burns can offer. He made a couple of half-breaks, very nearly scored and put the crab away with 2 nice passes that could and probably should have lead to tries.

Bit early to judge Vea but admittedly he didn't do much. Greenwood looked hungry to make a point which was good to see.

Don't know if you were there yesterday mate but you'll be pleased to know Percy played right centre.

I'd been thinking about Greenwodd lately.
With many of us wanting LMS in the back row, I was worried that Greenwood was going to be starved of chances behind LMS, Vea, Wilkin, Flash, Thompson and Jones.
I was thinking a season long loan might be the answer, but I'm excited by the news he looks to be kicking on and won't need any such remedial treatment to help his development.
He got a big frae on him, so if he's starting to pck on the meat, he could be a very impressive forward.

Whilst I'm tahnkful to Turner for his efforts at first receiver last year, once we've got Walsh, Burns and Wilkin back, his playmaking days should be put on ice. After that, he's not a tough enough player to be a forwards' forward, so I'm quite befuddles by people continuing to pick him at 13.
It could result in a few cute plays, but would leave us short in the armwrestle. Ee have a raft of quality backrows vying for a spot, so leaving them out for Turner seems a nonsense to me.

You need to take one of WIlkin, Flash or Jones (or Walker) in the back row. These are the guys who get the high tackle count. I'd probably go for Jones, but they all have their advantages, Wilkin is obviously top of that pecking order with the coaches.
LMS is surely lined up for one of the other spots, which leaves a starting shirt and a bench spot left.
Vea was apparently underwhelming, whereas Greenwood excellend against Widnes.
Surely Wilkin will not get dropped from the 17?
Everyone is raving about Thompson at the moment, but I wonder whether he'll be used at prop as often as backrow?

While we all think that RIchards is our 4th choice prop and will be in our best 17, maybe we'll just use big back rows and spread the load?

Something like this

Amor Roby Masoe
LMS (back row cone front row)
Wilkin
Thompson (back row come front row)

Hohaia (interchange 9 and utility back)
Walmsley
Vea (back row come front row)
Greenwood (big back row) or Savelio (backrow come front row)

Really hard to pick 17 from the squad we currently have and can imagine KC will have some nice headaches and a few players will be disappointed some weeks. I think overall, the squad is a lot stringer than last year, and I dont think there is a position which we are light of cover - which is good for injuries and also keeps players on top of their game or they will end up getting dropped.

For my first choice 17, I'd go with something like:
Lomax
Makinson
Percival
Turner
Swift
Burns
Walsh
Masoe
Roby
Amor
Wilkin
Thompson
LMS

Walmsley
Vea
Richards
Hohaia

I wasn't at the game but I did hear

I think all 3, Turner Jones and Percy, are SL quality centres at the moment, but Percy holds the most potential, and moving into the 3 position is the next step in his development.

Previously, I thought all 3 could be shoehorned in over Wilkin/ Flanagan, but with the news Greenwood and Savelio are going to really push for places, I'm not sure.

Nice headache to have!

It's nice to have 3 people fighting for the 2 spots, as hopefully the competition will keep them all on their toes. Turner did OK at left centre yesterday and then in the 2nd half Jones and Swift looked good as well.

Personally I would start the season with Turner and Percival as 1st choice. I think Jones will be fighting it out with the likes of Richards, Flanagan, Greenwood,etc for a final bench spot.

At this point I can't see the point of keeping Jones on the bench. We have better second rowers waiting in the wings, and we don't need the utility with Hohaia.

Percival on the right and turner on the left could be good, depends on how the partnerships with Makinson and Swift work out

Is Luke Walsh going to be fit for the start of the season, yeah? For some reason, I thought we wouldn't be seeing him til late April/May.

Lomax
Makinson
Percy
Turner
Swift
Burns
Walsh
Amor
Roby
Walmsley
Jones
Thompson
Wilkin

Hohaia
Masoe
LMS
Vea

Quote ="The Reaper"Is Luke Walsh going to be fit for the start of the season, yeah? For some reason, I thought we wouldn't be seeing him til late April/May.'" www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/117 ... on_return/ Quote Luke Walsh should be ready for the first game of the season and he's looking good," Cunningham said. '"

Quote ="The Reaper"Is Luke Walsh going to be fit for the start of the season, yeah? For some reason, I thought we wouldn't be seeing him til late April/May.'" www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/117 ... on_return/ Quote Luke Walsh should be ready for the first game of the season and he's looking good," Cunningham said. '"