Higher than almost everybody else?

The thing is, we've got 4 half backs in the side for 2012. That gives us 6 different combinations. So let's see which one clicks the best before bemoaning player selections hmmm?

There is always one person who has to spoil it all by being sensible...

Ten games!

That old chestnut lol

Ah, but is that 10 games of the season or 10 games for each permutation?

Platt was given number 1 last year but played no games at fullback didn't he?

Fact is our squad has a few weaknesses so we can quibble about selections in a few areas. Take Jeffries at stand off, I'm certainly no fan but he is the incumbent. The onus is on Briggs and Sammut to put pressure on him and that's exactly what he needs as I think his performances get stale eithout pressure from others. I fully expect Sammut to figure off the bench at the very least.

In the backs we're short of a specialist centre, Purtell is rated by almost all that have seen him as a better winger than centre so it makes some sense to give him the number 2 jersey. The rumours about Platt and Sykes made it more likely Walker would get the other centre jersey. I think Walker is a much better second row but we are where we are with the squad we have. Ainscough still has a bit to prove though that's more down to him being unlucky with injury and being quite young and not really finding consistency yet in his career.

I guess it is an honour really, though didn't Danny Addy have Karl Fairbank's old number last season? Strangely he's dropped to 23 this time round, which must mean that ability hasn't much to do with many of the ups and downs in squad numbers, or he'd have gone the other way.

Think sammuts low number reflects the one year deal he is on, if he shines this coming season a new deal will be offered, along with maybe a starting number on his back! Same could be said for ainscough!

Has 21 been un-retired then?

maybe the number 21 shirt should go to the young player of the year?

A bit of a status shirt that shows that even though the player might not be an automatic pick, they're wearing the mighty number 21 on their back and are highly thought of by the club.

That's a nice idea.

Yes, Danny Addy wore it last season.

Yes I realise that now. What a div I am.

i shouldn't worry, Il Divo have apparently made quite a bit of money so it can't be all bad. Can you sing?

certainly going to be interesting to see how sammut and manuokafose go this year. Their both on one yr deals and sammut will no longer be off the quota in 2013. So effectively their in direct competition with each other for an extension. Of course they could both be flops and we bring someone totally different in for 2013 but if they are both hits club will have to decide which bring most to team as we can only extend one.

Forgot about manuokafose's one year deal, hopefully Sammut fulfils his undoubted potential and shines and Burgess cleans up his rough edge's, so loseing manuokafose shouldn't be an issue, as you say its certainly going to interesting!

bear in mind that its pretty likely burgess will follow his brothers to OZ at end of 2012, and crossleys departure. If manuokafose proves to be a hit then it may make more sense to lose a half (assuming some combination of gales,briggs,BJ is capable of performing to a decent level) than a prop. Whats happened to liam mcavoy in squad numbers?. Is it like last year where theres a few youngsters also in 1st team squad but not assigned numbers until potter feels theyve earned them?. seem to think mcavoy was only one of the un-numbered youngsters last year who didnt get any gametime and hence a number.

Yes Mat, isnt Jobe Murphy on a full contract? Hes not been given a number either

So again where nurturing a future international just so he can sod off and fore full his potential somewhere else? fantastic!

Think its a good incentive by Potter to do it that way, Doesn't get them too big for there boots too early!

certainly dont think it what we want. but in this case think family pressure combined with an agent with ulterior motives will see tom go. Hope we can pull out all the stops and persuade him to stay though.

agree with you about potters strategy of witholding squad numbers. doesnt seem to have hurt any of the first batch he tried it on.

His name is Manase Manuokafoa by the way. Plenty of time for you to get it right before the season starts

but not enough time for his iphone predictive text! MnM is quite enough for me.

This article seems to imply Sammut off quota as Fed Trained, and doesnt mention dispensation from Cru collapse - is it wrong? Am i getting wrong end of stick (as usual)


[urlhttp://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbulls/9297279.Bradford_Bulls_close_in_on_NRL_prop_star/[/url

Sammut is only classed as fed trained because of the whole business with Crusaders. Once his current deal runs out (ie at the end of the 2012 season) he will revert back to being non-fed trained. Meaning we will need to get rid of either him or Manase (the only 2 quota players who are on 1 year deals).