Pretty much agree on that one Wildthing.

I can't remember the last game in 2017, that Kirmond played for us. I know he came on ff bench for Semi Final, but barely recall him playing after Magic Weekend.

What was noticeable to me was that when we had our slump in form in the latter part of the season, Kirmond wasn't playing. We seemed to lack leaders on the pitch, and to me, I would have looked at some of the more experienced players to do that for our younger player to look up to, in Finn, Scruton and Tupou and unfortunately, none of them provided it.

Hopefully, Hirst and Huby will provide that.

Yes that is an area where Scruton and Tupou have disapointed me.
Scruton clearly had some leadership about him and his chase back tackles were very inspiring but it seemed to drift away once he was going to Rovers.
Tupou I thought would have brought more but I haven't sen it.

Finn is different to me. He is a good leader but he's also tactician and you need someone to go alongside him.

I never really felt Kirmond had that in him but he's been the best we've had for a while.

I'm hoping Huby, Hirst and to a certain extent Allgood can bring that to the team.

I agree there Pop Tart, regarding Kirmond, I didnt see obvious signs of leadership, but is it a coincedence that Wakefield's form was it its best when he was in the side, and then dipped following his knee injury sustained in the Magic Weekend.

He had a back problem at the start of the season was in and out of the side, but then came back in I think against Huddersfield on Good Friday. I think he then played pretty much from then up until, and including Magic Weekend.

At this level you shouldn't need a leader in terms of lifting heads.

This is a subject many intelligent people spend many hours trying to understand.

Lifting heads in terms of motivation to give your best I agree with you.
Jessica Ennis or Andy Murray don't need a coach to get into their game. They switch on and are ready to go.

But both those athletes would say they have peaks in their focus and that is what a leader brings to a team game.
A good leader will bring the focus of the team together when you are too tied to think for your self or you are hurting from the last hit.

It's proved over and over again when there is no leader on the field compared to a team who have a good one.
I don't think we've had a leader like that for a few years. JD being the last one that springs to mind.
It's not always the best player, but it needs to be the right one.

I wouldn't say it's because Kirmond got injured. I'd say it was because about 10 other people were injured at exactly the same time.

You need a leader on the pitch , someone to lead encourage and generally give team mates a pat on the back .
It's not something we have had at Wakefield for quite some time.
The sort of character that takes and lifts players when things ain't quite working.
I agree that not all players need a pat on the back but a player who can offer that extra something behind the sticks can be worth their weight in gold.

He was probably still a bit young when he was given the arm band but, Gaz Ellis has proved what a quality player and great captain can bring to a squad.
The admiration and respect that the guy has from his team mates is superb.
He can lead by example but also has a level of respect where players will listen.

It will be interesting to see how Keegan Hirst goes in the team.
If he can make the step up then, he will be a possible captain for the future but, he will have enough on his plate, getting used to SL.

Anyway, back to the team
My thoughts on players, their positions and the pecking order

Full Backs
Grix, Jowitt, BJB, MCB, Mazive

Wings
Johnstone, BJB, MCB, B Tupou, Mazive

Centres
MCB, Arundel, Lyne, Gibson, B Tupou, BJB

Half Backs
Williams, Miller, Finn, Grix, Wood

Props/Middles
Fifita, England, Huby, Allgood, Hirst, Walker, Morris

Hookers
Wood, Finn, Moules, Sio

Second Rowers
Ashurst, Kirmond, Molloy, Crowther, Batchelor

Loose Forward/Middles
Arona, Sio, Crowther, Anakin

Think I'd give that young lad Huby a run out



Jowitt ahead of Grix every time for me.

Not convinced BJB is a centre and do you know something we don't regarding Moore?

I had that's nagging feeling I'd missed someone, I'm not convinced on BJB at centre either but he can fill in there.

Grix will be an integral part of our defensive structure this year, his control of the middles and their urgency when mapping and pressuring from the inside will go a long way to fixing the issues we've struggled with on the edges. Max Jowitt will learn a lot from him him this year.

I know nothing about Moore, no more than anyone else on here.

that must be your strongest team for a good few years good luck you derserve it from a black and white

Really strong squad on paper, with multiple options all over the park. Which will obviously allow CC some rotation this year compared to last.

Personally I'd have Jowitt starting over Grix. Saying that he's going to learn so much about the nuances of playing the FB position from Grix, that you only get with experience and no doubt he'll be a better player come the end of the season because of it. Also a bit of healthy competition never hurt anyone. No doubt Grix will get plenty of game time though.

The other position that could be up for discussion, is whether MCB is a better wing the BJB. I know MCB has been touted as a but i can't remember seeing him play there personally, so can't say if he's better than say Arundel & Gibson. We know the lads one of the fastest players in the League but can he put his winger away, we'll see. Great position to be in whatever way you look at things

Do you have plenty room left on the cap this coming season?

I think going back to Max, he had shoulder surgery in the off season, and I think he may be a little off the pace for the pre season friendlies, as his return was delayed.

It could well be that Grix features there in the pre season games, to start with.

I'm not the coach, but I am going from something that I read in Rugby League Express a few weeks ago, that I think it said that he wouldnt do any contact training until at some point during December

Unfortunately we always have plenty of cap space.

No we don't. I certainly doubt it this year.

We will be below the Super League Cap but we have probably maxed out our own cap spending capabilities.

Not if we get another 2000 s/t sales

So back to the team

My team would be
21 Jowitt
2 Johnstone
3 Tupou
22 Gibson
5 BJB
6 Miller
14 Williams
8 England
7 Finn
10 Allgood
11 Ashurst
12 Kirmond
13 Sio

9 Wood
15 Fifita
17 Huby
16 Arona


Centres I'm not sure about. Gibson has played both left and right, as has Arundel. I'd be ok with either of them in the centre.
If we are looking to run big hard centres rather than ball playing centres, with Williams hitting the wingers on miss passes then we are probably looking at Tupou and Lyne.
I like Arundel and Gibson. If Gibson isn't fully fit then I'd play Arunadel

Looks a quality side if it plays to its potential. Shame Scott Moore is a moron because it would be amazing otherwise.

I'd suggest that anybody leaving MCB out of their starting line up needs to view his highlights on a certain video sharing site.

I'm not one for placing too much stock in video highlights but these are from last season only, the speed and ability in some of his finishes is breathtaking

But for me he is a winger and I like the ones we have.
If he is a centre he needs to show it in preseason and will then earn a place

IMHO the most inform players get the winger & centre spots so if MCB rips it up at either then he should get the nod. BJB & Johnstone will have to produce every match as may Tupou and Lynne/Arundel.