I think Zak comes in in the centres once fit. Once he does, KPP moves to the back row.

Field
Marshall
Thornley
KPP
Bibby
Cust
Tommy
Ellis
Powell
Singleton
Farrell
Isa
Bateman

Mago
O'neill
Byrne
Partington/Smithies

I’m between 2 for the last bench spot (O’Neill or Hardaker) but happy with the rest-

Field
Thornley KPP Bibby Marshall
Cust Leuluai
Singleton Powell Ellis
Bateman Farrell Isa

Subs
Mago Byrne Smithies Hardaker

I’ll probably just edge for Hardaker (if fit) on the basis that he covers all the backline and if needs be Cust or Leuluai can spell in at 9. I’ve been hugely impressed with O’Neill though in pre season and would be looking to get him on the bench in the coming weeks.

Is Hardaker close to being fit?

Peet said he was on target for R1 after the Wire game.

The pack, fullback and halfbacks are set. It's the 3/4 line that's tricky - there's 6 players for 4 spots and I think you could make a case for including/not including each of them.

I'd continue with KPP at centre so would go with Hardaker at left centre if fit. I personally don't rate Marshall - would probably go with Miski and Bibby on the wings.

What about Zak on the wing? I doubt it's going to be a fast track on Friday, so it negates the loss of pace Vs Marshall (although ZH isn't slow by any means). Add in Hardaker's superior defence and the likelihood of bombs by Abdull and it seems like a no brainer to me.

Marshall nailed on for me (and Peet I expect). I’m a bag of nerves when Bibby is defending kicks from the wing and I still don’t see the supposed weakness Marshall has under a high ball. I’d want his pace in the team and his ability to pull something out of nothing. We don’t have enough backs who can do that with French.

Think it all stems back to the CC final against FC. Got kicked to death and was up against an on form Fonua

Field,
Thornley, KPP, Hardaker, Marshall.
Cust, Leuluai,
Singleton, Powell, Ellis,
Farrell, Bateman,
Isa.

Mago, Byrne, Shorrocks, Smith.

We are starting with size and pace as we did v Wire. Having Thornley bringing us out of yardage worked well.If we get out of yardage on the front foot then we have the pace and ball playing ability to overcome HKR. They will rely on Abdull as well as Litten who both pose an attacking threat. Smith to replace Tommy.
Looking forward to it.

He’s worked hard on it over the years and it hasn’t been a problem for a long while imo. Even that day it felt more like it was Fonua’s power that was the real problem, rather than an issue dealing with kicks (although I was probably the most rat legged I’ve been at a game so the memory is hazy). Tom Davies always made me more nervous under kicks and sitting at Old Trafford supporting Catalans in October gone, he still does. Jake Bibby is much the same.

As one of only two natural wingers in the squad and the only established one, he’d be one of the first names on my team sheet.

Marshall is a good finisher and obviously pretty quick (though he looked to have lost a yard of pace after his injury). I think his kick defence is actually pretty good in the main but dominated too much on the kick return for me. Also gets drawn in off his wing a little too often and I think some people overrate him off the back of that try at Huddersfield.

I think we can rule Brad O’Neil out. He’s just scored a try for Newcastle Thunder.

I’ve always liked the lad. I like his attitude and always did in the u19’s. I remember watching him once at Orrell and I just liked his fight and that he was a bit cocky and it was at the end of that season he was released. I couldn’t believe it on what I’d seen that day and a couple of other occasions but I was chuffed when they had a rethink.

Yes terrific attitude - no-one could question that. Phrased it wrong saying I don't rate him - he definitely has strengths but I personally feel we have better options atm. As for O'Neill- I'm sure he'll get his chances this year. The most important thing is for him to play each week.

I’d go with that but I think Smithies will get the nod ahead of Shorrocks.
I suspect we won’t get more than 30 minutes out of Mago so Smithies to play covering prop and second row if required

I think we will go
Field
Thornley KPP Bibby Marshal
Cust Tommy
Singo Powel Ellis
Batty. Faz
Willie
Mago Byrne Smithies Shorrocks
I could not argue with Zak, Smith, Partington or Miski being in the mix most likely is Zak for me.
With Bevan on his way back and Havard to return the depth of squad is so much better.
Bevan Field and Zak at full back
KPP has thrown a curve ball at the centre position we now could have four realistic options. We have the same for wing you throw Halsal in at 5th choice.
Same at half.
Pack we are well off in cover now without relying totally on kids. May take a few games before we see who plays where but that's what we need.
I do not get the issue with Marshal for me he's worked hard on his D and under the bomb. I also think he returns the ball well and wins us plenty pens. Ball in hand I rate him in top 5 finishers in the league.
In reality it's like we have 7 new signings with Field and Bevan back.

I agree with all of that, including the praise for Marshall, who I think has worked at his game and sought to improve the defensive side of it.

Great to have options.

If you’d told me a couple of weeks ago KPP/Thornley would be our centre/wing combo I’d have thought we’d had a major injury crisis. If playing centre gets KPP 80 mins every week I’m happy with that.

Amazing to think we’ll have the likes of Partington, Shorrocks, Smith, Miski all fit but probably missing out on the 17. Along with Havard, French and Hardaker to come back.

Depth seems much improved.

I think the depth is our greatest hope of success this season. We could be short of 7 or 8 players and not see a huge drop off but you certainly couldn’t say that about the favourites for the comp in Saints or Catalans. They’ll have better first 17’s than us and if things carry on for Saints as they have done for the past 4 or 5 seasons, their depth won’t get tested anyway but should they hit a bit of an injury crisis it could really close things up.

Everyone seems to be forgetting about Ramon Silva too who I thought went really well in his pre season appearance. Depth seems to be the best it's been in some time.

I don't get the criticism of Marshall. Obvious attacking threat (and you can't have too many of those!) but, more importantly, has worked hard on his weaknesses to the point they have become strengths. His carries out of defense are excellent for someone without natural size. A no-brainer for mine, although it's good to know that there are strong options waiting in the wings should any of that change.

Hopefully Silva can get a few games in the reserves, maybe a game or two in the CC. He looks to be a good signing just doesn’t need to be chucked in at the deep end straight away

I agree. However, I think if he had to come in to cover for an injury or as rotation he wouldn't let anybody down. When you think he is currently 7th or 8th choice, the depth compared to last year is staggeringly better.

He’ll be a slow burner Silva I’d imagine. He wasn’t involved at Wire and I think it’ll be a mix of reserves and maybe dual reg games for him. I could be wrong but I don’t think he’s played any first team rugby at London yet and he’s been playing the game for only 4 or 5 years, so I think they’ll want to get a good year of training in to him and maybe get him some experience in the championship to get him ready for the first team. If we see him in the first team this season I’d imagine it’ll be in a cup game against lower league opposition or a few months down the track in superleague.

I agree, I have no expectations of Silva at all for next season and think maybe a handful of games depending on how he develops next year will be the most we can expect.

He is a development signing, I think there is a bit of excitement about him because of his no traditional background but at the moment he has a long way to go before he is regular SL standard ready.

Bad conditions, soggy pitch, cold and wet slogathon, I think we need to go big with plenty forwards on the bench.

1. Field
2. Thornley
3. KPP
4. Hardaker
5. Bibby
6. Cust
7. Leulaui
8. Singleton
9. Powell
10. Ellis
11. Farrell
12. Isa
13. Bateman

14. Mago
15. Byrne
16. Partington
17. O'Neill