Any thoughts on what it's likely to be? I'm not sure of the injury situation at the moment, but here is my team for the first game of the season:

Hodgson; J.Monaghan, Bridge, Atkins, King; Briers, Myler; Morley, M.Monaghan, Carvell; Anderson, Westwood; Grix

Subs: Higham, Harrison, Wood, Solomona

(apologies if a similar topic has been posted before, not been on here for a while)

Thats more or less the team i would pick apart from Clarke in for Grix

Does anyone know whether we are totally injury free? Or whether we picked up injuries over the pre-season in training or in the Widnes game? I wouldnt be starting anyone with even a slight twinge (Other than say Briers) with the strength of the squad we have this year.

Hodgson
Riley
King
Atkins
J Monaghan
Briers
Myler
Morley
M Monaghan
Harrison
Westwood
Anderson
Bridge
Subs:
Higham
Carvell
Solomona
Wood

Hodgson, JMonas, Bridge, Atkins, King, Briers, Myler, Moz, MMonas, Carvell, LAnderson, Westwood, Harrison
Clarke, Solomona, Wood, Coops

Higham not a patch on Clarke, proof at Widnes last week! Sorry to Riley but far too much quality in the backs to include him and there's nothing he can bring to the team from the bench! Harrison as a back row because I believe we've got enough ballplayers on the park, so make the pack even bigger! Coops has to step up and prove himself this year if he wants to establish that bench spot as his!

hodgson , riley , j monas , atkins , king , briers , myler , moz , m monas , carvell , harrison , westwood , grix , subs , bridge , solomona , wood , clark,

hodgson,j monas,bridge,atkins,king,clarke,briers,moz,m monas,carvell,anderson,westwood,harrison.
solomona,wood,higham,grix/cooper.

This thread is already showing what a great squad we have...

Do we really have strength in depth. What i mean is are the younger players ready for the intensity of SL.I know some lads have a season in the championship on dual registration.But in SL you will get find out.

Clarke over Myler? Interesting. Personally, I'd have:

Hodgson, Joel, Bridge, Atkins, King, Myler, Briers, Morley, Monaghan, Carvell, Benny, Louis, Harrison
Subs: Wood, Higham, Solomona, Grix

i would probably agree with that.

Maybe Riley in for Bridge and more it in the obvious fashion.
Could have Bridge on the bench in place of Grix.

I would be tempted to move Clarke in for Myler later in the year.

And as usual as much as we need a Micky Higham in the team. I don't rate him too highly. Would prefer almost anyone to him.

I think Bridge on his day is a class act and having him in our sides offers alot of platforms, King on the wing for one. Bridge is very underrated and has an awesome side step. Also Riley, can often be critised for coming out of the line too early, and against attacking teams such as Huddersfield, I'm afriad that risk can't be taken for me.


Why?


Like Rogues' has said he's the ultimate oxymoron. On his day he's brilliant, see; Bradford away and Huddersfield in the Play Offs, both last year. However, at times, his passes from dummy half can be as accurate as a blind man playing darts.

Brilliant is a bit strong but I can't disagree he was the best on the park vs Hudd in the play-offs... Doesn't say a lot though considering all other players had a shocker! Clarke is never going to set the world alight but he's consistent and will give good ball to the ballplayers, send plays in the right direction and with the quality we have across the park, that's perfectly good enough for me.

Same as 74 for me except Clarke in for either Higham or Grix.

Hodgson, Monaghan, Bridge, Atkins, King, Briers, Myler, Morley, Monaghan, Carvell, Westwood, Anderson, Grix

Clarke, Harrison, Wood, Solomona

For me by far our strongest 17. Good balance to the pack, Grix for me has to get a shirt, good defender and adds a bit more as a loose than Harrison. I think we can afford to lose a heavier pack member by the size and work rate of the backline.

I said tempted. I realise what a star Myer is and i don't want him burning out. He is a small guy who has a good rugby brain. If we mature him gradually i think he can be one of the best to wear a wire shirt.

As Alfie has said Clarke is reliable and with Briers, Hodgeson and every other leader, there would be no reason to risk Myler all the time. Lest we forget that it could be argued Myler is nothing more than a try poacher ATM. He isn't our leader in the halves while we have Briers. I was just saying it is an option. And i don't want Monaghan there. He is the best hooker in SL.

Burning out? He plays at 7. It aint like he is James Graham playing the majority if not all of the game most weeks constantly running it in. Also he will never mature leaving him out towards the end of the season in the more important games.

to have clarke in over myler is ridicoulous. clarke is the same type of hooker as monaghan (unlucky for clarke). as we need an impact off the bench maybe when monas has an off day and clarke may not work to break a team down (hudds playoff), this is when higham is good because (running from dummy half) it may be his only trick but it does work!

myler will kick on and no one will get near his shirt (hopefully). and i have to agree with weresyourmylergone that if we miss him out of big games atm whenever is he going to be ready for them in the future( look in how many big games tomkins has played for wigan already).

clarke is very useful team player and can be used in many position which i see him coming in at 13 or on the bench as utility but for me and this s only my opinion he is our third choice hooker but it only counts were tony smith puts him in.

I never mentioned big games. I think he should be in big games. I just mean this is Myler's second season with us and i don't doubt that he will really press on but squad rotation is never a bad thing.

You gonna say we shouldn't give R. Evans a go in the year cause no one will touch J. Monas shirt? Myler isn't Briers and by that I mean the team doesn't crumble when he is on the pitch. In fact it is almost the opposite. Wembley we destroyed Leeds without him. If we are honest with ourselves this season is make or break. He is a fast, smart try poacher at the moment. But, he has the potential to be the best we've had. Maybe better than Briers, but we need to play him smartly this season.

I am not saying Myler and Clarke are the same sort of player. I think Clarke would do a good job there and is a seasoned pro. He tackles well. He is imaginative. He can pass to a pin head. and has a big heart. We have a lot of play makers and try scorers. Both Wings, Centres, l. Anderson proven try scorers. Clarke will be the meat and potatoes in our champagne rugby.


I don't think Briers will play every match next year and certainly Myler won't. and i am Mylers' biggest fan.

Myler should be playing every game as long as he is fit, no excuses. Lee Briers I do not expect to play every game and my replacement for him would be Craig Harvey. He looked brilliant at Widnes and I think it's time he started to get SL experience as for me, I believe he will be Briers' replacement when Lee does finally hang up his boots.

Yeah, he impressed me at Widnes.

Mixed feelings of o'brein. As i said don't watch the under#s very much.

How confident would you really be with Myler and Harvey in the halves. No real leader there.

I wouldn't be 100% comfortable no doubt but he's got to start somewhere, and off what I've heard about him and watching him the other day, he definitely has the quality so as a backup I think he's the best thing for us instead of moving Monas/Clarke into the halves.

Yeah i would obviously prefer to blood some new players.

If we can find someone to rival Tomkins or Eastmond in our youth i would be over the moon. I suppose they will never get the chance unless they are thrust in. Just it feels like we are acclimatizating Myler atm. Think we may see more of younger players next season.

You don't get many teenagers coming through with the immediate confidence of a Tomkins or Eastmond. However, Lee Briers was not such an immediate success, either, otherwise Saints would never have let him come here. Myler needs to develop, sure, but let's remember that Sean Edwards based his whole career on being a support player / try poacher. Where he was ahead of Myler was in being a strong defender, and this can be taught by good coaching.

Any of us going to Cardiff should take in the Under 20s game the night before at the Arms Park. Be a good chance to see where the O'Briens and Harveys are up to.

Who they playing? Scorpions? And what times KO? 8pm? We'll be in Cardiff about 3 o'clock on Friday, holiday from work already sorted.