1. Matty Russell
2. Rhys Evans
3. Chris Bridge
4. Ryan Atkins
5. Joel Monaghan
6. Stefan Ratchford
7. Richie Myler
8. Chris Hill
9. Daryl Clark
10. Ashton Sims
11. Simon Grix
12. Ben Westwood
13. Ben Harrison
14. Mickey Higham
15. Roy Asotasi
16. Paul Wood
17. Ben Currie
18. James Laithwaite
19. Anthony England
20. Gareth O' Brien
21. Ben Evans
22. Gene Ormsby
23. Gary Wheeler
24. Kevin Penny
26. Joe Philbin
27. George King
28. Toby King
29. Declan Patton
30. Tom Walker

Number 25 left unassigned.

I really like the look of the squad. Some positions very strong with lots of back up. Main weakness for me is the cover for the hooker position. I'm sure Tony Smith must have some plans for this.

Grix gets a massive confidence boost with the eleven shirt and with Clark could be the ball handling forward we need.

Very very early days I know but I've heard Grixy wont make the start of the season so against Salford we could well line up as follows.

1. Matty Russell
2. Rhys Evans
3. Chris Bridge
4. Ryan Atkins
5. Joel Monaghan
6. Stefan Ratchford
7. Richie Myler
8. Chris Hill
9. Daryl Clark
10. Ashton Sims
18. James Laithwaite
12. Ben Westwood
13. Ben Harrison
14. Mickey Higham
15. Roy Asotasi
16. Paul Wood
17. Ben Currie

Obviously the no 25 has been left vacant for when we announce a big money halfback who'll then have it as "2+5" on the back of their shirt !

You have a good point Fatbelly it will take Grix awhile both physically and mentally, it's just good to have him around the place and back with his team mates.

Really hope when Grix comes back he can stay injury free for a while as he is a great player.

No, our new half back will take Richie Mylers #7 shirt when he goes on loan to Hull KR for the season.

No.25 will be a cover player I'd imagine. We were looking for "1 or 2 more" from UK and so far only Wheeler announced.

Roy Asotasi from 10 to 15.

Me too IW.

Apart from opinions it's also about injuries and back up, I'm expecting an big season from both Ben Evans and Anthony England, so despite the 'loss' of Trent Waterhouse our pack isn't looking too shabby at all, especially if Ben Westwood can get his mojo back, Paul Wood has a better year than last and Ben Currie can push on to the player we all thought he was going to be with the benefit of an injury/illness free pre season.

No worries as far as Laithwaite and Harrison are concerned.

Can't wait for kick off!!!!

Why has Bridge not got the no 6 shirt? Surely a major mistake.......

? average minutes per match???

O'Brien should be our 7 this year.

I'd certainly have Ben Evans in over Woody on last season's form, possibly England for Asotasi as well although big Roy did buck his ideas up in the business end.

Here we go ... I didn't think it would take us too long ... to start having a moan and the old chestnuts are brought out again. Cheer up! it's a good squad.

Carries per season more like.

1. Matty Russell
2. Rhys Evans
3. Chris Bridge
4. Ryan Atkins
5. Joel Monaghan
6. Gareth O'Brien
7. Richie Myler
8. Chris Hill
9. Daryl Clark
10. Ashton Sims
18. James Laithwaite
12. Ben Westwood
13. Ben Harrison
14. Mickey Higham
15. Roy Asotasi
16. Ben Currie
17. Stefan Ratchford

Its a hugely impressive squad.... its just a shame we ended up with simms instead of someone like kirke of lovegrove.

apart from that im very happy with it

Why is anybody bothered about what numbers players have. They'll play the same if they have 6, 29, 450 or the letter H on their back.

Bob, whilst I might agree with your sentiment about shirt numbers, it wouldn't matter to me personally, I'm not so sure that it applies to everyone even professional players.

Numbers rightly or wrongly, do have significance beyond simple playing positions especially the key ones IMO. For example, when there was a debate about Ratchford at FB the consensus seemed to be that TS first choice at FB was Russell as he had the No 1 shirt although admittedly it didn't seem to bother Ratchford the year before when he displaced Hodgson.

Apart from affording rank, for example your in the first 11, 13, 17 etc players can be superstitious about numbers and often a certain number is allocated to the team's star performer which might be a confidence boost or a burden although this usually applies more to football, United's 7 being a prime example.

All in all it probably as simple as it should be

I can assure you that it does mean something to the players. They want to be seen as first choice in their position.

I don't know the answer to this btw, but how many times a season do you see a team play 1-13? If you're outside the 13, you're going to get a chance to play and if you do well enough, you'll keep your place. Players don't play any different because they have a different number on their back

.

Players can be superstitious but it shouldn't make a difference to performance. Especially at professional levels.

United's no 7 is one of the biggest myths in the game.

I think the word that you were looking for is legend it certainly isn't a myth

I guess it's a confidence boost for the guys saying if everyone is fit and on form the first 17 are the guys we see as the best.

For the younsters just getting the first team number is a huge confidence boost.