they probably would but i still think it will be in the back of the mind, and i think madge agrees and all of the nrl or why wouldn't they name the sqaud like us?

Its up to the NRL what they do, but It still doesnt mean a player will think they are guaranteed a spot simply because of a number. How do you Madge agrees? He gave the number 2 to Goulding yet 25 to Charnley, and who played more in that position. Finch had 17 but played 6, Hoffman often started yet had the number 16, Mossop had 21 but was consistantly in the 17. Squad numbers dont mean an awful lot these days.

Its not proving you right its proving that squad numbers can be irrelavent, nobody is guranteed a starting spot and professional players will work hard to get into the starting 17 regardless of what squad number they are. Its not to say Goulding didnt work hard because he was given the number 2 shirt and thought he was guranteed a start, Charnley got into that spot and deserved to stay there. You seem to think that someone who gets a squad number 1-13 will think that they are guranteed a spot, which again I highly doubt is wrong. It would take alot of niavity and arrogance for a player to think that.

Squad numbers are here to stay, and I dont believe for one second that players work rates change based on what sqaud number they are given.

=#FF400027 Matty Russell *
28 Logan Tomkins *
29 Sam Powell *
30 Ryan King*
=#FF000031 Greg Burke *
32 Tom Spencer *
33 Dom Crosby *
=#FF400034 Liam Carberry*

Those three all played U18 level at some stage this season, and are all excellent prospects. Carberry is certainly a player who I think has the makings of a first team player.

Just for comparison's sake, Hull FC also released their squad numbers today.

1. Wade McKinnon
2. Will Sharp
3. Tony Martin
4. Kirk Yeaman
5. Tom Briscoe
6. Richard Horne
7. Brett Seymour
8. Mark O’Meley
9. Danny Houghton
10. Andy Lynch
11. Willie Manu
12. Danny Tickle
13. Joe Westerman
14. Aaron Heremaia
15. Richard Whiting
16. Eamon O’Carroll
17. Sam Moa
18. THE 18TH MAN
19. Jordan Turner
20. Jamie Ellis
21. Reece Lyne
22. Martin Aspinwall
23. Ben Crooks
24. Liam Kent
25. Liam Cunningham
26. Jack Briscoe
27. Chris Green
28. Danny Nicklas
29. Laurence Pearce
30. Josh Bowden
31. James Cunningham
32. Lewis Brown

Hock given number 12. Show of faith for the big lad

Suprised at Prescott over Lima and Hock over Farrell. Other than that it's pretty much as expected. I wonder if we will see Lockers getting any time at HB so Leuluai can give McIlorum a break. I would do that for about 20 minutes of the early big games then introduce Powell, Mellor or Logan from the bench in some of the smaller games to see how they get on.

Martin Aspinwall has really fallen hard hasn't he? He was our starting centre in '05, now he can't even hold down a spot in a mid table side

Is Carberry a Hooker Rogues? If he's the one I think he is I heard good things from a sintellins friends of mine a couple of years ago.

I wouldn't read much into those squad numbers, I can see charnley getting quite alot of game time at centre and I think Mr. Lenegan might have something up his sleeve! There where rumours of Wheeler coming a few weeks ago, I wouldn't be suprised if these where confirmed in the coming weeks.

We need to get Sam to steal Reed and Widdop's passports!

I've been thinking that Lenegan must have something big left in his pocket, recruitment so far (whatever anyone else tries to argue) has been poor, but 1 signing could turn it around.

Cant do that.. Ryan Hall already has Reed's in his pocket

If the Wheeler rumours are true then well done Mr Lenegan!

by the start of the season, that will be 7 years ago. Hardly fallen hard. More of a gentle slide.

As in the always-injured Wheeler from Saints?

Yeah, but if he could get a good run of games without injuries then we would see what he's all about. I think towards the end of last season he was OK to play, but wasn't really involved as much as he'd liked. Rumours were he wanted to go somewhere else.

Wheeler has barely played due to injury and seems to get injured after every other game. A decent player when fit but just too injury prone for my liking. I cant see him being in the 1-17, if by some miracle he is actually fit, and I would rather give the youngsters a chance if backups are needed.

But if you look at the era when he was our starting centre, it wasn't our best.

I don't think, even on the form he showed then, he'd be any more than a bench player at Wigan now.

Yes he is and a very good one. Big enough and fast enough to play in second row.

I thought it was a Mars bar.

If your a fan of his, I presume it's safe to say he ain't a scooter hooker.

He is exactly that. Very direct hooker!

Oh right. I thought that scooter hookers were the devil in Rogues eye's. Must be just scooter hookers that wear the redvee that he disapproves of.