1 Brett Kearney
2 Adrian Purtell
3 Keith Lulia
4 Chev Walker
5 Elliot Kear
6 Ben Jeffries
7 Luke Gale
8 Nick Scruton
9 Heath L'Estrange
10 Craig Kopczak
11 Olivier Elima
12 Elliott Whitehead
13 Jamie Langley
14 Matt Diskin
15 Bryn Hargreaves
16 Manase Manuokafoa
17 Ian Sibbit
18 Shaun Ainscough
19 Tom Olbison
20 James Donaldson
21 Tom Burgess
22 Jarrod Sammut
23 Danny Addy
24 Jason Crookes
25 Adam O'Brien
26 John Bateman
27 Kyle Briggs
28 Paul Sykes
29 Michael Platt.

According to the T and A 1-17 is Potter's first choice side which is deeply concerning if true. Walker in the left centre and Jeffries at 6 does not fill me with optimism.

phew, Sykes and Platt have really been told!

added to squad list thread.

[urlhttp://viewtopic.php?f=19&t=509092[/url

I had a feeling Potter would have Purtell ear-marked to play on the wing, as he was for much of the season at Penrith...Enabling Chev to play Centre. As for Jeffries at Stand Off, i have to agree thats a little concerning given we have Briggs and Sammut both fit and available...

I was thinking that myself.

They are only numbers, but, if players see their omission from the “17” as a kick in the teeth, it might push one or two of them (like Sammutt) to try harder in training and push the current incumbent?

And Briggs, it would appear?

If thats honestly potters starting 17 then we might aswell pack up now. Jefferies at 6? you must be joking

Yeah, the thing that jumps out is [i'Hey, Sykes and Platt, there's the door' [/i



I mean Platt had the No 1 shirt last season for goodness sake - he's gone from the top of the list to the very bottom

Thought the exact same. What's he done wrong? At the fans forum Potter said Sammut or Briggs would play SO with no mention of BJ now it appears he's one up from Paul Sykes.

I would say that Sammut really does need to be part of the 17 man squad, especially in place of Sibbit as he is an excellent impact player against a tiring defence.

Jeffries probably did enough to deserve keeping the number 6 shirt, rightly or wrongly, as he came in last season and did a better job than any of the other half backs and therefore probs deserves a chance to keep the shirt.

Slightly concerned with Chev in the centres though.

He's not good enough. Simple.

He's closer to good enough than Ben Jeffries and who in their right mind would pick Ian Sibbit on the bench before Tom Burgess.

Well squad numbers mean very little in this day and age. It may give people an idea of what Potter's first choice team may be. However, given the squad depth we have, I wouldn't put too much stock in that.

I'm just hoping we don't end up with the injury list we had this year and Potter can pick a squad based on form rather than squad numbers.

Really, I think the numbers mean more to the players than anyone else. If you've got 1-17 on your back then you're top of the pecking order. Doesn't mean you're guaranteed a spot in the team that takes the field and in fact, can be used as motivation to the players who don't have 1-17 as their squad number to push harder for their inclusion into match day squads

I think people are getting too fixated on 1-17 being Potters first choice line up

If you read the T&A report, its the reporting saying that 'it would appear' that these are the first choice 17, there's nothing specific from Mick Potter at all.

Obviously, Tom Burgess is going to on the bench as the fourth prop over Sibbit. So that shoots down the idea that these are the first picks.

I'm not worried. I expect Sammut or Briggs to force Jeffries out of the 6 position, assuming they play well. Perhaps giving them other squad numbers was a kick up the pants for them? Who knows. And, BTW, wasn't Briggs something like No 32 last season, so at least he's got a lower number this time

Squad numbers are that just a number Fielden had number 29 for years and was best prop in super league. Potter will pick the team on form not numbers.

In fairness, Fielden's was through his own choice.

And the T&A guys new isn't he, I've yet to see anything to give me the same confidence in what he says that I had with Connor.

Agree with all you say, but:1-17 theres already 4 props on pitch and bench. but you do highlight that fourth bench place as a real conundrum. it could be Tom if MnM plays 2nd row, it could be Sammut , it could be Sibbit, Olbison, Addy, Donaldson etc, depending on tactics and form.

I think we're probably reading a bit too much into some of these numbers.

Sibbitt can play as hell of a lot longer than burgess can. 10 mins and Tom looks like he is trying to blow a bonfire out! Sibbitt cut out the penalties and was an asset to the side, burgess needs to learn how to keep a hold of the ball before he gets a bench spot before Sibbitt. Sibbit is solid, reliable and came on great last year. We were stronger when he was on the pitch

Agree completely. I don't care which number a player has on his back as long as they deliver a decent performance on the pitch, that's all that matters.

I would have gone for that exact starting 13 but have Sammut in over Jefferies

Surely they're indicative of something and not just random. The reason I'm making point of it is that we've spent how long looking to sign a stand off (Pryce, Seymour) then we sign Sammut who is going to give us the X factor alongside the more organising Gale and yet when squad numbers are announced we get the decidedly downbeat message that the 6 shirt is given to BJ. It's not the end of the world by any means but it's odd neverthless.