lets say our ins and outs are complete.

what would your preferred 17 be next year?

1.mathers
2.hicks
3.bridge
4.atkins
5.king
6.briers
7.myler
8.morley
9.monas
10.carvell
11.louis
12.westwood
13.harrison

14.higham
15.wood/solomona
16.cooper/solomona
17.vinnie/solomona

if solomona is used as a prop, i feel one of wood or cooper will miss out ( harsh i know), or i think vinnie may miss out if he is used as a back row.

i also feel extremely harsh leaving out riley, and although he is a great prospect, fail to see where mccarthy will fit in.

however, it is likely that we will get injuries, every team does, so i can see riley playing a part, he can cover wing and full back, and could even find himself in the team if a centre gets injured and king is required to move infield. also, clarke vinnie mccarthy and others that miss out will still get game time im sure.

looks a strong squad and leaves me full of optimism for next season

Solomona won't be used as a prop.

thanks for that mr.smith.

It doesn't take Tony Smith to work it out.

clearly.

Solomona is a ball playing second rower always has been (despite filling in at Stand-Off for Bradford) his game is running out wide drawing in outside defence and offloading to Centre's and Wingers... He would be wasted playing as a Prop battering ram

I would go with...

1.Mathers
2.King
3.Bridge
4.Atkins
5.Hicks
6.Briers
7.Myler
8.Morley
9.Monas
10.Carvell
11.L. Anderson
12.Westwood
13.Harrison

Subs:
14.V. Anderson
15.Higham
16.Wood/Solomona
17.Cooper/Clarke/Solomona

With the squad Smith has at his disposal i think its really hard to call. I just don't see him dropping Clarke as ive always had the impression Smith is a big fan of him, and hes a leader on the pitch. But i cant see Smith wanting to go with 3 props, I think he would prefer 4. Then there is Solomona, is he going to play as a prop or a second-rower and where does he fit into that, I wouldn't drop either of the Andersons or Westwood, but Solomona won't have been signed to not make the 17. It also seems harsh to drop players such a Riley and MCcarthy but obviously injuries will come into it and they will no doubt have a part to play.

The squad is obviously a very strong one with many selection headaches for Smith. It's certainly a squad that fills me with real optimism, this is probably the first season where i really do think we will break into the top 3 even the top 2.

No mention of Carney in these squads. I'm aware his future is undecided but if he stays, I think Smith will play him.

If Clarke is fit, he'll play. Coaches like him. So do team mates.

Props - he can go with 3 as he can move Harrison up when Clarke comes on (or start with Clarke anyway at 13).

Louis and Westwood starting second row
Harrison starting loose
Higham, Cooper or Wood, Clarke and Solomona on bench.

However, still got Vinnie and Grix to fit in.

I think its an impossible call to make at this point of the year. We don't see how players are performing in training and fitting into the squad. So on that basis I would have to go with what we know works...
Mathers
Hicks
Bridge
King
Riley
Briers
Myler
For me, Atkins will have to earn a place in the squad rather thab walk in just because he is a new signing.
I will leave the forwards out as I don't know as much about them as the backs.

what a luuuuvly problem we have...get your money on king top try scorer next season

Sounds like you don't know too much about the backs either

On par with when you put Bridge at prop padders.

I think he has had 2 very good seasons under his belt and deserves a starting shirt in the squad. Good pace, safe pair of hands and reasonably safe in defense.

1. Mathers
2. King
3. Bridge
4. Atkins
5. Hicks
6. Briers
7. Myler
8. Moz
9. Monaghan
10. Carvell
11. Louis Anderson
12. Harrison
13. Clarke

14. Higham
15. Solomona
16. Cooper
17. Wood

Based on last season's form/ combination i'd go with...

1. Mathers
2. Hicks
3. Bridge
4. Atkins
5. King
6. Briers
7. Myler
8. Morley
9. Monaghan
10. Wood
11. L Anderson
12. Westwood
13. Clarke

14. Higham
15. Carvell
16. Solomona
17. Harrison

Grix, V Anderson, Cooper, Riley, Penny, Mitchell, McCarthy, Blythe, Jerram.

The lack of props is a concern for me.

Didn't know Tony Jerram was back with us. Read he'd been playing for Newtown in Aus and was doing well.

Can't leave Riley and Penny out

id go with

Mathers
Hicks
Bridge
Atkins
King
Briers
Myler
Morley
Monaghan
Carvell
L.Anderson
Westwood
Harrison

Higham
Wood
Solomona
V.Anderson

For me -

Mathers
Hicks
King
Atkins
Riley
Briers
Myler
Morley
Monaghan
Carvell
L.Anderson
Westwood
Harrison

Higham
Wood
Cooper
Bridge

This coming season will be difficult for Tony Smith and the fans to figure out what is what and who fits where. Our patience and resolve will be tested as we may not be in agreement with him but we have to trust him. Reputation alone will not get any player a place. The form book will dictate!

Depth beyond 17 which is real reason for optimism.

My Thoughts exactly, most on here seem to be going for an almost identical 17 just slightly different starters and bench players.... so when you look at the players outside that 17 we have ..... V anderson , Grix, Carney , Cooper Mitchel , Penny, Riley, Blythe, Mc carthy... all of these Players have got loads of super league experience, with maybe Tyke being the least experienced... but he 's got big game experience as we know lol ..... in fact five of these played at wembley so looking at that ,this must be the best strenth in depth we have had as far as i can remember .. Things are looking good

It's a real problem, leaving players out. There can only be 17, but it would be nice to have a top class replacement waiting in the wings, but it must be frustrating for them to know that no matter how well they play, as soon as the first choice is fit, they will be dropped.

The frustrated ones for next season will be Wood, Mitchell, Tyrone. Penny.

The likes of Vinnie and Riley will get their fair share of games.

Retired from playing - will now be part of the coaching set-up and a player mentor / media resource

Are you Tony Smith in disguise