So here we go. We've survived another turbulent off-season. Couldn't have asked for a tougher start to the season with London, York and Fev first up.

Think this game is out best chance of the 3 IMO London are much changed and I think the small pitch will suit us as we look good defensively. Hopefully we turn up with the attitude we had against York rather than Dewsbury.

We need to go big on team selection and use the small pitch to our advantage. A lot depends on our D/R players (god I hate D/R but needs must) a couple of young players have impressed in pre-season and put themselves in the frame for a spot in the 17.

Think we'll go with something like below (depending on injuries)

1. Pickersgill
2. Johnson
3. Brown
4. Oakes
5. DFJ
6. Milnes
7. Lilley
8. England
9. Hallas
10. Crossley
11. Rook
12. D/R?
13. Kirk

14. Doyle
15. N'Zoungou
16. D/R?
17. Scurr/Gallagher/DR

God knows what state that pitch will be in after Dewsbury play on it on the Friday.
I still think London will have too much for us. I think we'll be heading into round 4 on zero league points tbh, but then we won't be competing at the top end of the table this season so these aren't really games I'd be expecting to win anyway.

1. Pickersgill
2. Johnson
3. Dawson-Jones
4. Oakes
5. Brown
6. Milnes
7. Lilley
8. England
9. Hallas
10. Crossley
11. Rook
12. Gallagher
13. Kirk

14. Doyle
15. N'Zoungou
16. Big Hull prop with SL experience
17. Scurr

I'd go with that. And on the Dewsbury pitch with JK in charge I'd say it was fairly even odds

is dawson jones available to play? was he signed too late for York or is he injured?. also why hasn't waite pullan featured yet?

Given the weather so far this week and what more we've got to come, I've a feeling that the Dewsbury pitch is going to be in a rough state come Sunday afternoon. Tough game, but maybe the conditions will be to our advantage

MDJ joined too late to learn the systems and structure for the game against York.

DWP was recovering from a knock he picked up whilst playing for Featherstone in the pre-season draw with York.

Both are available for Sunday.

will kirk be played at prop or LF. I would guess its going to be a grind of a game, up the middle percentages game complete sets no mistakes. I am probably putting anybody not sure about going completely off, sorry Nigel, but later this and next season we can play the fancy stuff:

Cameron Berry – Available For Sponsorship
Joe Brown – Sponsored by Jennifer Bennison
Steve Crossley – Sponsored by The Top House
Matty Dawson-Jones - Sponsored by Declan and Lachlan Smith
Thomas Doyle – Sponsored by Mary-Jo Daly
Anthony England - Sponsored by Hudson Foster
David Foggin-Johnston – Sponsored by Dave Green & Anne Fish
Keelan Foster – Sponsored by R Fearnley Builders
Bradley Gallagher – Sponsored by Vicki & Graeme Sharp
Sam Hallas - Sponsored by Bradford Bulls Supporters Group
Evan Hodgson – Sponsored by The Monro Family
Greg Johnson – Sponsored by Ruth Rider, Darren & Gareth Rider-Smith
Liam Kirk – Sponsored by Fab-Tek Installations
Jordan Lilley – Sponsored by 39 Steps Consulting
Rowan Milnes – Sponsored by 39 Steps Consulting
Levy Nzoungou – Sponsored by BMG
Ross Oakes – Sponsored by Geoff and Maureen Hammond
Brandon Pickersgill – Sponsored by Stuart Readyhough @ Maclean and Company Accountants
Adam Rooks – Sponsored by Jan Dunne
Ebon Scurr – Sponsored in memory of Sheila McCormick / Bulltech Solutions
Dan Waite-Pullan - Sponsored by Sedulo

Wait... what.... we name 21-man squads now?

It was very well publicised when the change was announced.

21 man squads but for every player you pick in your 17 that wasn't in the 21, you lose an interchange (except for exceptional circumstances, suspensions that came after the squad announcement and a couple of other situations where you can replace a player).

Link: [urlhttps://www.rugby-league.com/article/56116/-operational-rules-include-changes-to-squad-declaration-system[/url

Thank god weve got these loan players from l***s we have been promised and the dual reg with Hull to help boost the squad.

O wait a minute.........

Cheers.

Somehow I missed the memo, although the bit about losing an interchange sticks in my mind

I did wonder when the Leeds players were going to be announced.

The DR with Hull FC might be geared to a needs only basis (i.e. when Kear has a position that needs strengthening).

With a full squad minus Sam Barlow he may think he wants to go with what we have until he needs re-enforcements?

Brandon Pickersgill
Greg Johnson
Matty Dawson-Jones
Ross Oakes
Joe Brown
Rowan Milnes
Jordan Lilley
Anthony England
Sam Hallas
Steve Crossley
Adam Rooks
Bradley Gallagher
Liam Kirk

Thomas Doyle
Levy Nzoungou
Evan Hodgson
Dan Waite-Pullan

To miss out - Cameron Berry, David Foggin-Johnston, Keelan Foster & Ebon Scurr

and minus Flanagan and Farrel.

tomorrows game might be interesting: will both teams swap shirts at half time?

1 to 13 i agree.
DWP is in the reserve team for Sat . Given hes missed all pre season id imagine he needs at leat 1 game before being considered.

Id have Scurr in over Hodgeson. Scurr had has a brilliant pre seasons whilst Evan has done absolutely nothing. Id have Scurr and Foster above him based on what ive seen since boxing day

Well its not a full squad minus just Barlow is it.
Throw Farrell and Flannagan in there. Plus DWP that hasnt played a single game since he arrived almost a month ago due to injury.

Looking looking at the squad that been announced id say we are needs only basis right now!

Players that were deemed 2nd 3rd 4th choice last season are all of a sudden expected to step up this year

Agree Scurr has to be picked over Hodgson. Scurr looked strong in all the games. Really not seeing what Hodgson brings. He's too small but doesn't seem to have the burst of power Scurr does.

Considering the club's recent issues with the Department for Work and Pensions, I'm not sure referring to the new boy as DWP is entirely appropriate.

Brilliant mate!!!

I think we could do with a really good or really promising centre and have Dawson Jones on the wing. Crying shame we couldn't capture that Scott really.

Joe Brown did well last week

Can pretty much scratch Waite-Pullan & Berry from the squad as they've both just played for the reserves this afternoon.

For those unable to attend we have Matty Dawson-Jones, Rowan Milnes, Joe Brown, Mark Sawyer, Danny Ward and John Kear joining us on Pulse 2 tomorrow.

Welcome back Rugby League.

I'd go with:

1. Pickersgill
2. Johnson
5. Brown
4. Oakes
19. Dawson-Jones
6. Milnes
7. Lilley
8. England
9. Hallas
10. Crossley
11. Rookes
28. Gallagher
15. Kirk

9. Doyle
17. Nzoungou
29. Scurr
30. Foster

I'd reward Gallagher, Scurr and Foster for a good pre-season. Also think Brown went well at Centre and with Dawson-Jones being a good winger I think this would be the best way to line-up.

We're not in odsal anymore... Least it's not raining!