i reckon kopzchak and crabtree will be starting props..

i agree taai will be used as an impact player from the bench in 2nd row..

interesting about aspinall..another 2nd rower

I'll go with

1, Grix (I think given game time Murphy will be a better full back and still pretty young)
2, Jerry
3, Leroy
4, Wardle
5, George
6, Robbo
7, Brough
8, Koppy
9, Lunt
10, Fielden
11, O'Donnell
12, Ferres
13, Bruno

14, Crabby
15, Ta'ai
16, Faiumu
17, Patrick/Fergy/Mason/Cording/Murphy/Bobby/Mulally

I think we will go for a strong solid opening 20 then tear in at the end of each half with the power of Crabs and Ta'ai and the step of Fuey.

I think we will consider 4 forwards on the bench, if we lose a forward during a game we have cover on the bench, a back and Bruno drops back and we bring a bencher on, a half and grix steps in with Leroy to FB and Bruno to centre.

Would have liked to see another half sign for us, Gaskell would have been perfect but think we will have to stick with what we have and rely on a decent youngster coming through.... bring back Tom Hemmingway!!

Looks ok but you can't even find a place on a 10 man subs bench for Jason Chan

Arrgh i knew i had forgotten someone, makes it easier, chan 2nd row odonnell bench, that is the best bench in the league!

changing crabtree back to a impact player?! those days are gone, hes now a starting prop doing big minutes, though might be helped out abit more next season rather than last



hope you mean the youngster mason on the bench as the other mason has gone!

i agree about gaskell...real shame, we went for him but nathan brown didnt like it!... hemingway

no thanks..no better than mcnally, wood, carlile etc

we just signed a young halfback called jack connor i think his name is...maybe he will come through in a few years

Jake is a great little player- looking forward to seeing him develop under both thorman and purtill- Another young lad Sam moore who's moved up to 16s this year is perhaps being switched from centre to the halves- robbo has been giving him a hand i believe. He's a strong player, good tackler and very committed to the giants.

Brough will go to 6.

just aslong as hes playing!!!

found myself on many occasions last season saying 'good job we have danny brough playing!'

Ta'ai to prop once he has had a stint on the bench, just go out to batter them and tire them in the first 20 then move things around a little, like bruno up to SR

Ferres is a big lump and quick, only behind crabtree and kopczak in the weight catergory !!! think he will be awesome this season with a good pre season...with odonnell and chan

fairbank recovering from big shoulder op,looking to be back around xmas time...

mcgillvary is ready to train with full team very soon

taai not even expected to be in the country till xmas!

bit of a hold up here??? hope hes getting his preseason somewhere down under... shame hes not going to get much of one here

Ta'ai is training with the New Zealand Warriors.He will join the Giants after Christmas.

It's quite usual for overseas players to come after Xmas so they can spend time with the family.

2013 squad
1 Grix
2 jerry
3 Leroy
4 wardle
5 George
6 robbo
7 brough
8 Koppy
9 fuey
10 crabtee
11 Chan
12 Lawrence
13 ferres

14 lunt (hooker int)
15 lod (second row/loose)
16 fielden (prop)
17 Patrick (second row/prop)

First game against saints. Start off with a large agressive pack similar to last years squad with the addition of Koppy in place of mason. The starting 13 when fit would be a match for any squad. Strong runners, defensively strong in the if the park and lots of pace out wide! Then the proposition of bringing on lod fielden and Patrick.....would scare the hell out of me if I was in the opposition side!
This team for me is what we need to start with. Majority of our old squad with Koppy and fielden coming in as a replacement for mason and one to bump up the pack. Let the other nenew lads loose later as they earn it. Lots of potential in this side!

hey you stole my team! well apart from swapping odonnell for chan on the bench



and maybe murphy at full back for grix.

would be happy enough with your line up though too.

koppy and crabtree starting at props is the way to go for me with fielden and patrick off the bench!

these should lay a good platform for brough and robbo to create chances for cudjoe, wardle, mcgillvary and george

1 Grix
2 McGilvary
3 Cudjoe
4 Wardle
5 George
6 Brough
7 Robinson
8 Crabtree
9 Lunt
10 Kopczek
11 Lawrence
12 Patrick
13 Ferres
14 Fiaimu
15 Fielden
16 Chan
17 Tai ai

I think we will see a regular rotation of props this season with Eorl, Kopczak, Fielden, Mulally and Patrick all playing a significant number of matches (Ta'ai too if he is a prop, but none of us know that yet). What I would like to see and I am sure plenty will disagree, but nonetheless I would like to see Fielden spell Eorl. Last season when Eorl went off the pack fell apart, some of that was down just to size, but some was also I believe spirit. I would like us to have a talismanic forward on at all times, that is Eorl and Stu. Of course the other view is that together they could be devestating.

Could do a bit of both- eorl is capable of big minutes so could spell it so that they spend some time on field together whilst having at least one of the two out there.

Hasn't Fielden has played one game in 2 years?

Why anyone has him in their team on that basis is beyond me - once he has proved his fitness and earned a place then fine.

Think you are right,this has got to be the way to prevent burn out.Only thing though PA should not go public on this even if it is his intention.NB made that mistake of not playing his cards close enough to his chest on rotation,and it backfired on him,having in the end to come out publicly saying he had abandoned it.

I'd rather Baloo tell a white lie on injury status if need be.

Agree, i would be tempted to use him as a spell prop rather than a starter and punch holes in tireing defences - as he gets more game time give him more time and then start him.

PA seems to think his fitness isn't a problem- his skills may be a bit rusty but as long as he can catch a ball and run forward as a prop he doesn't need much more in attack- his defence may need some work.

fielden off the bench and rotated with mullally if needing a rest

keep em fresh!

1) Grix
2) George
3) Wardle
4) Leroy
5) Jerry
6) Brough
7) Robbo


Eorl
9) Fooey
10) Koppy
11) Ferres
12) Bruno
13) LOD

Bench

14) Lunt
15) Patrick
16) Fielden
17) Chan

You have the likes of Mullaly, Ta'ai, Ferguson, Fairbank all to come in plus all the youngsters.

I also think this will be Matty Dawsons breakthrough season and we will see a lot more of him.

dawson and blackmore will be putting pressure on the backs... and provide decent cover