seems as though the squad has taken shape now and cant really see many more comings and goings.. we still have money to spend if needed during the season..(money saved from not signing new half back)

so this is how i see the team for 2013 and have to say im excited, anderson just needs to get the players playing for him now

=#FF0000Fullback
EDEN

=#FF0000Wings/Centres
McGILLVARY
CUDJOE
WARDLE
GEORGE

=#FF0000Hooker/Half Backs
ROBINSON
BROUGH

=#FF0000Forwards
CRABTREE
KOPZCHAK
O'DONNELL
FERRES
LAWRENCE

=#FF0000Bench
LUNT
FIELDEN
PATRICK
CHAN


replacements....
Grix
mullally
ferguson
murphy
fairbank
molloy
dawson
blackmore
cording
johnson
ta'ai
mason?


so much strengh and depth to the team now and much more balanced, any weaknesses???

obviously anderson and others will have there own take on the team, could see taai and chan starting.
murphy too and even grix at full back but pre season should tell us

ROLL ON 2013 GIANTS

I'll have a punt on either Grix or Murphy at FB with Lunt at no. 9.

(FB) Murphy
(RW) McGillvary (RC) Cudjoe (LC) Wardle (LW) George
(SOH) Brough (SH) Robinson
(LF) LOD
(RSR) Chan (LSR) Ferres
(P) Ta'ai (H) Lunt (P) Kopczak

(Interchange) Crabtree,Fielden,Faiumu,Lawrence

Think the arrival of Blackmore & emergence of Dawson will put pressure on the present wing incumbents,which is no bad thing.<scapegoating>some of the incumbents up and in defence left a bit to be desired last year imho</scapegoating>

Feel Lawrence on the bench is a waste as he can see out the full 80 with ease so not much point using interchanges on him.

Tough to leave him out of the run on I know,if they all put in as much effort as he does we wouldn't lose.

From the interchange he can cover for both the back row and outside backs in case of injury.

True but he does that anyway, if a centre was to get injured he would drop into position there even if he had played 50 mins or so in the forwards, I think when you have a player who can do 80 mins you start him and if he moves position due to injuries to others so be it. Once he got on it is doubtful he would go back off again so perhaps just using one interchange on him is fine I just think if he plays he starts but thats just my opinion.

Fair comment,but I would stick with my original run on selection.

Also I would have Eden (FB) but that can of worms gets opened often enough without making a big deal of it here

I'm just scapegoating Eden



Always thought,if some of our players were at Hull FC (for example)that if they read the corresponding RLFans forum on a regular basis they would soon be nervous wrecks,cause them lads over there don't hold back in their constructive (or otherwise) criticism of the players,not whatsoever.Take poor old Spuggy for example.

Yeah but according to their fans they are also word chaps in waiting - till the season kicks off anyway...

thats why i stuck him in my first 13...can do the full 80 and is a machine in defence... let ferres and odonnell do the attacking!

real gripe to leave chan on the bench though!! wouldnt argue if he started ahead of ferres or lawrence.

cant really put ta'ai in yet as not seen him and dont know if he will play prop or 2nd row.

think faiumu is the better hooker to start us off, lunt is better off the bench as impact player..

full back still seems to be up for debate...put eden in as he still has masses of potential and can improve again.. murphy didnt get a fair crack of the whip last season at full back for me, if they want to go with murphy then play him pre season and give him a proper shot.

grix would be fine too, solid enough but will that improve us as a team? feel the other two can improve us further, we have seen what grix has to offer in this role already...which is solid under the high ball and good at backing up plays >>scapegoating<<

Smurph is deceptively quicker than most people give him credit for,which is a shock given he looks like he has ridden possee for years with John Wayne if you know what I'm getting at.

I'd say he's comfortably quicker than Eden myself.

Plus he has very safe hands,anyone who was at Odsal in that monsoon & mudbath could not argue,he never came up with one handling error all game and they were kicking to him low all of the 80.

(FB) Eden
(RW) Mcgilvary (RC) Cudjoe (LC) Wardle (LW) George
(6) Robbo (7) Brough
(Prop) Crabtree (HK) Lunt (Prop) Ta'ai
(SR) LOD (SR) Chan
(LF) Lawrence

Bench....
Faiumu
Fielden
Kopzcack
Ferres

yes he was very safe that day and also replaced eden at widnes too, depends what anderson wants, i feel he will go with eden at full back.

two people now gone with Ta'ai to be a starting prop..... think crabtree and kopzchak will be the best to start with, both start for clubs and kopzchak also starts for wales too.

fielden and patrick for me... patrick coming on running at tired defenders?!

two posters not even put patrick in the team.. how the mighty have fallen



alot of depth now... can anyone really be unhappy with next seasons team?????

what are the expectations...obv a top 4 place and a cup final again but i think the team are looking at just finishing well to a season and also being consistent now

Murphy was great at Bradford- absolutely shocking positionally at widnes. Would rather have grix at FB then eden before murphy. Would give us an extra attacking edge-

Whilst the team looks better balanced particularly in the forwards with more size i think that there are a lot of unknowns which need some answers before anybody starts getting carried away,

Fielden after two injury ravaged years has a lot to prove.
.
Ta ai is as far as i am concerned is a complete unknown.

Mullally is making a big step up and is young but needs to find his feet. It is still a moot point to see If he turns out to be the new Chris Hill or the new Tony Tonks.

We will need to see if Lunt is going to knuckle down and see whether he is happy.

Patrick along with a few others needs to forget last season and discover the previous years form.

I am not convinced that our 6 and 7 have the creativity to upset the bigger teams on a regular basis. Neither NB or PA saw robbo and brough as our 6 and 7. NB wanted Brown there and PA appears to have been looking at any half back he might get as he was not convinced about the options he already had at the club ( Gale, Gaskell etc).

The fact that he has settled for what he has got does not inspire massive confidence.

To talk about top 4 is IMHO ridiculous.

Wigan are weaker but have the quality and experience. Wire are about the same, Leeds look the same as last year, Saints look stronger and Hull look to be getting a very good squad ( if they get Prince they look very good). Catalans also look to have a very good squad.

Top 6 to me would be a very good outcome.

I don't think it's particularly that PA doesn't see robbo as a good enough 7 - more that he'd probably rather play him at 9-where he's gained international honours.
I too think top four is rather optimistic- and so do a lot of fans from other teams, many putting us at 8th or 7th. I'm thinking 5th or 6th- but then eho knows with the giants!!!

Is you £10 bet still on then Durham?

Grix & Murphy vying for it..

Grix
Mcgillvray, Cudjoe, Wardle, George
Brough robbo
Eorl faiumu kopzcak
Chan o'donnell
Lawrence

Lunt Patrick fielden ??????

A lot there with international experience!

It is difficult to predict when you haven't seen such as Ta'ai play, and do not even know if he is a prop or second row, however I would think Anderson would intend to play the major signings he has made (Feilden, Ta'ai, Mullally and Ferres), albeit there may be some healthy prop rotation.

A lot can change through injuries and preseason, but I suspect Anderson's first choice 17 is along the lines of:

1. Grix
2. McGillvary
3. Leroy
4. Wardle
5. George
6. Brough
7. Robbo

8. Eorl
9. Fooey
10. Kopczak
11. Ferres
12. Bruno
13. LOD

14. Lunt
15. Fielden
16. Mullally
17. Ta'ai

Some very good players not in there, Partick, Mason, Chan, Ferguson, Fairbank, Eden & Murphy
Not forgetting some of the talented youngsters such as Molloy, Dawson, Blackmore, Cording & Johnson

No doubt my predicted first choice 17 will never play together, but looking at the above we have a very decent squad indeed.

I could be wrong Jools but didn't Robinson win his caps at 7?

i know the players and club make targets at the beginning of the season and you would think they will be aiming for top 4... a cup final and a good run in the play offs...and to be consistent... got to aim high if you want to get anywhere.

as for expectations of the fans after last season we are all abit down about things but im alot happier now with what anderson has done over the pre season, might take time for them to get to play the way he wants though so needs time.

fielden could play all the season without injury
taai maybe the next puletua
mullally maybe the next hill
lunt may rediscover his first season form with us
patrick may play like we know he can with an injury free season
when you look at our half backs robbo/brough and compare them with the other clubs im not sure they are any better? (hull fc lost out on prince so will have holdsworth/seymour, wigan smith/green)

depends how you want to look at things... but for me i am happy and looking forward to next season.

we have enough doom and gloom so lets give anderson and the giants a chance before putting a dampner on everything.

not far off my team that, you could have ferres on the bench ..another with international experience.

interesting that eden has now become the 3rd choice full back amongst the fans?? he played for the england knights at full back..purtill coached them.

grix didnt make the ireland team? mcnally did

murphy i think could be worth a go

nice to have 3 choices but wish we had a definate!