I seem to remember last season that I asked if Ratchford had ever played 7 and the general census what that he hadnt and wouldnt be suited to the position, but i'm noticeing that most people here seem to have him at 7, for me i'd leave him at 6 as he will be our most effective creater this comeing season and then see who between the Smiths and Houldsworth and is better inside him.

I'd personally give Alker the first and last 25 minutes of the game, from the kick off you need him to tire out the opposition forwards with his insesant tackling and then for the final 25 he can sure up the defence when traditionally last year we were tiring. When he goes off put J Smith at hooker and hope that his more agile play creates space for both him and his pack.

Agree 100% with you M.R.

me too

My devoted followers

.

Think Alker would have a longer career if he was to be used this way rather than having him tackle himself to a standstill and risking injury that even his miraculous healing powers can't help with.

Fitz
McGilvery
Henry
Talau
Gibson
Holdsworth
Ratchford
Cashmere
J. Smith
Jewitt
Swain
Adamson
Alker

M.Smith
Boyle
Parker
Sidlow

Is it just me, How small is our back line? take the halves out Gibson is 6ft and he's the tallest? Hopefully we sign broughton add abit of height

BROUGHTONS TRAINING WITH THE TEAM

1. gibson
2. broughton
3. talau
4. tyrer
5. henry
6. ratchford
7. j smith
8. cashmere
9. alker
10. parker
11. adamson
12. swain
13. holdsworth

14. big phil
15. boyle
16. m smith
17. sibbit

The dream 17 would be

1) Fitzy
2) McGilvary
3)Talau
4)Tyer
5)Broughton
6)Holsworth
7) Rachford


Cashmere
9)J Smith
10)Boyle
11)Adamson
12)Parker
13)Swain

14)Big PHIL
15)M Smith
16)Sidlow
17)Gibson

But we'll probably end up with:

1-8 the same
9)Alker
10)Parker
11)Adamson
12)Sibbit
13)Swain

14)Big Phil
15)Jewitt
16)Littler
17)J Smith

Difficult to say until the friendlies are out of the way, then ill decide

no place for henry?

Absolutely no idea ! the 17 that play the best


In a strange way because it's not obvious the younger squad may work this season , last season with the injuries and the fringe members of the squad too inexperienced to truly hold a place the squad picked itself
Now?

Full Back
Fitzpatrick, ( +Henry , Broughton , Gibson , Ratchford )
Winger
Mcgilvray , Tyrer (+ Broughton , Gibson , Henry)
Centre Backs
Talau , Henry, Gibson, Broughton, Littler ( +Smith M, Tyrer, )
Half Backs
Holdsworth, Smith J, Smith M, Ratchford , Palfrey , Sneyd
Prop Forward
Cashmere, Leuluai, Jewitt, Boyle, ( + Sidlow, Parker )
Hooker
Alker ( + Smith J, Holdsworth )
2nd Row
Adamson, Sidlow, Sibbett, Parker , Ben Wood ( + Alker , Littler, Spencer )
Loose Forward
Swain , Spencer ( + Holdsworth , Smith J , Adamson )

Tyrer, M Smith , Broughton** , Gibson & Boyle all have decent SL experience , Holdsworth has played 70 NRL Games , (** If we have signed him on ?? )
Our Younger players , Adamson , Jewitt, Sidlow, Mcgilvray & Spencer now have more SL experience , you also have a reasonable spread of players in every position + players who can cover utility roles for injuries.
Ratchford , M Smith , Tyrer, Holdsworth all Kick .
All in all looks like they've tried to spend what funds they had as wisely as possible .

This is a difficult one.

I think the only certainties are:

Henry and Talau (if fit) - in the 3/4 line
Ratchford - in halves
Cashmere & LeuLuai (off the bench again) - two of be props
Adamson & Swain - back row
Alker - starting hooker

I would like to see someone else given a chance at hooker as we are seriously lacking any creativity from the play the ball. I know the Alker fans out there will disagree, but when he's on the pitch, not playing hooker, he has a habit of getting in the way at scrum half. Don't care whether it's Fitzy, J Smith, M Smith or Holdsworth, but we need something extra at hooker. Our play the ball has been painfully slow for too many years now.

Personally I'd like to see:

1) Henry - Pretty safe under high ball
2) McGilivary - earnt his place last year
3) Talau - When fit is one of the few true quality players we have
4) Tyrer - Tracked him fir long enough, so he must have something
5) Gibson - Lets hope he shows his early promise
6) Ratchford - Has to deal with the pressure of exectation this year
7) Matty Smith - did better than alright for Celtic last year
8 ) Cashmere - Glad to see we still have this guy
9) Alker - Think he needs replacing, but nobody else tackles like this guy and if we still need his defensive qualities then he has to play
10) Boyle - would like to go for LULU, but we'll need at least one of LULU/Ray on the pitch through out the game
11) Adamson - By far our best player last season, if he develops by the same extent this coming season we'll have one hell of player on our side
12) Swain - Would like to see a more creative 13, so he gets a move
13) Holdsworth - Not seen anything of this guy, but I want to believe he's not just here to make up the numbers

14) J. Smith - showed some class last year, if he can produce more consistantly the team will go well
15) Parker - really respect this guy, maybe he doesn't do anything special, but he's one hell of hardworking honest player with lots of experience.
16) Leuluai - at his best is our most destructive player
17) Sidlow - think he has more potential than Jewitt

Just noticed only one person has Littler in their first seventeen. I've always respected him, but he has never been SL quality, either in attack, doesn't know how to pass let alone when, or in defence, his flank has always leaked tries. That said it's hard not to like him, he's like the old chair that's been sat in your living room for a long time, you can't imagine a time without it and you would miss it were it gone.

What's the betting he'll be in the 17 next year?

Good point, Forgot about Henry

, Henry on the wing as imo he is a better winger than centre as when he played on the wing he certainly shoured up that side of the field.

But people some say henry actually played the whole season on the wrong side of the field from his natural position, so that would be talau centre henry wing

I thing its better having that balance as when we attack we can go both ways making other teams think a bit more

He will be in the 17 as Smc thinks he can cover positions in both the forwards and backs, i blow hot and cold with littler i feel we need a better quality of strike centre to move on he isnt a 2nd row, he is all effort but i want that bit of class with age he has lost that 1/2 yard that makes all the difference but the stats dont lie im sure he was 3rd top metre maker last season, he might have lost a yard but he's gained 2 in his head which is a real strainge thing to say about littler but he uses his head more with age so these days he's more of a plodder than a flyier

Well on the Super League website the top meter four are listed as Cashmere, LULU, Wilshire and Swain. Would agree with you that he shouldn't be covering the forwards though, as we have far better backrow forwards to pick from. When they have been fit we've generally had better centres too.

i stand corrected

, he's consistant n rarely injured that could be a reason he is in the 17 all the time

He has been high up in the past, but like you said in earlier post, he's starting to lose a yard of pace now. I've been openly critical of littler in the past, the problem now is that he's been such a loyal servant to the club you just can't leave him out. The club really has to move on though! Two more skillful and quicker centres are needed. We don't seem to have a great deal of luck keeping centres fit, McGuinness, Moule and now Talau. So I think he'll get his chance, just not in the pack.

Didn't realise you were picking the team this year.

Yeah me and shaun are close he rings me regular asking my advice unpaid like , he is looking for a assistant tho, get on the payroll, free tickets for you back in employment, how u fixed GT

?

From a neutral view :

1 Fitzpatrick
2 Gibson (Broughton if he signs)
3 Henry
4 Talau
5 McGilvray
6 J. Smith
7 Ratchford

8 Cashmere
9 Alker
10 Parker
11 Adamson
12 Swain
13 Holdsworth

14 M. Smith
15 Sidlow
16 Leuluai
17 Boyle

Reckon you need another prop, then Parker to second row, then Adamson on bench in place of Sidlow.

Most people will agree with you that we need another prop. Adamson on the other hand should be one of the first names on the team sheet!!

You almost convinced me that you knew what you were talking about ... until you posted the above.

To be fair I havnt seen this Adamson play much, but you lot seem to rate him highly so maybe Parker on bench ?

henry
mcgilvary
talau
gibson
?????
ratchford
m smith
cashmere
alker
jewitt
swain
adamson
holdsworth

leuluai
boyle
j smith
sidlow