So with the 1st game just over a week away, what are people's thoughts on who plays in place of BJB? I like Kershaw, he's whole hearted, makes good yards, and obviously has the enthusiasm someone should have at his age.

I'm not sure he should start though, has he done enough to warrant a starting place, or should Rocky play there, with the likelihood of Miller & Brough being the starting halves??

Up until last night would have said that Hampshire would probably play on wing but given we now have no walker , bjb, fafita arona green king crowther - looks like we are in a hole already

Does anyone know how bad Walker is??

Personally id play bill on wing for a few weeks he seems low on confidence msybe little scared of getting hurt again a few weeon the wing to bring him back up will in my mind do him good and this will enable us to get atkins out on the park he still got plenty of abilty and plenty of experience too

Is Arona still injured from last season or has he picked up a new injury in pre-season.

No as with fifita not fit from last season but it was his ACL

I would go with Rocky on the wing....he has pace, is good under the high ball having already played at full back and has more experience/confidence than Kershaw. As people have said, we need to hit the ground running and as we are obviously struggling in the pack then we need to have our strongest back line possible out on the park.
That's assuming Miller is fit to play at 6 of course.

Me too and if Walker isn't fit Max at FB.
We have flexibility in the backs and there's no panic there yet.

I think Lee has done nothing wrong in the games he’s played and happy for him to be on the left edge, one of the best players in the Boxing Day game and managed decent metres last night. More games more improvement is my motto.

I think we have to go with Kershaw tbh, Rocky is wasted on the wing and he'll be peppered with contested high balls there.
Not that Kershaw won't be but Rocky has other strings to his bow, I just think he'd be more effective elsewhere.
Bjb is without doubt a substantial loss.
I can only really place Rocky at 7 or 1, but there's just so much fannying about with players out of their slots and good fb's not getting game time.
I'm going Kershaw on the wing, Rocky at FB, those that miss out will just have to suck it up..


The rest of team selection is a long truncated coin toss when so many 1st choices are unavailable.

If Walker is out injured then my starting backs line-up would be

Hampshire
Lyne
Arundel
Tupou
Johnstone
Jowitt
Brough

Rocky is better at joining the line from the fullback position than playing at half back in my opinion, and I thought Jowitt looked pretty good there last night
Arundel is probably our best "passing" centre and deserves a shot, Lyne is quick enough to play on the wing.
Ashurst/Tupou/Johnstone was too potent a force when all fit to not put them together.
I am also assuming that Miller will not be ready, however if he is that could change things slightly

I thought Lee was outstanding against Hull KR with the hard yards especially, he looks to match Tom in this area who is one of the strongest wingers in the comp IMO.

Re: Kershaw. My fear is he is prone to some knock ons and fumbles. I know it was a friendly but put us right under pressure with a knock Wednesday. It’s something I hope he can eliminate from his game and I do get nervous when a high ball goes to him.

Don’t want to bag him though as he does make good yardage on return but I don’t see him as starting winger this year if we have Tupou, Hampshire as possible options.

I like Arundel but, I believe that Atkins will be ahead of him in the queue, either at centre or on the wing

Thanks mate, hope he's back soon as I think you're a different team with him on the pitch. Hope he continues where he left off.

Not really as far as I’ve seen.

His only weakness for me is getting caught out of position, a common issue with young players. Game time is the only cure for that.

The wingers have been exposed because of the way we defend for several seasons. This is why BJB had to try for interceptions because he was always out numbered.
I would hope this season it would be different but history suggests not.

I'd go with Jowitt at FB, he and Hampshire are about equal at FB IMHO. I know it's not Hampshires favoured position but I thought he was brilliant on the wing, easily our most potent attacking player for most of the season. His pace on the wing and his footwork scares the opposition.

I don't think Tupou looks ready but TJ does.

I'd go

Jowitt
Hampshire
Lyne
Arundel
TJ

Miller (didn't know he had an issue?)
Brough.

There is real pace out wide and two solid Centres.

Atkins in front of Arundel if need be . But hope Tupou ok to play

Keep forgetting about him, yeah I'd go with that. Both look in better shape than Tupou, who looked a bit overweight to me. Reserves for Bill to get him up to speed, no shame in that.