Choose what ever one things for sure Webster could see the weakness in the side and has added some size and grunt to the pack and it could well be he is looking forward on the Miller signing if Smith does go back to Oz after this year.Im looking forward to the start of the season and one things for sure we wont get over run in the pack my only concern would be Sammut at FB I like him and he would be devastating in attack but one on one with a big forward and they would just run over him but lets see what happens.We have plenty of options as regards Kicker Sammut can do it for fun but should he be injured or not selected then Hall can slot them over as well as McShane.One things for sure Im convinced this squad can cause a fair few upsets and BV will be a happy place to be.If the side get off to a flying start then some of the doubters should start to come back through the gates.

According to YEP Hull will be funding 'large sum' of Miller's wage because of the 'pay off' deal.
So seems we have made a shrewd signing in that we do not have much to lose and much to gain if he is a success.

I tend to agree with a lot of what you say regarding Sammutt, but do full backs have to make many tackles, I seem to think I saw a stat a few years since suggesting they only made something like 3 tackles per game, I'd be more worried about him under the high balls myself.
Anyone out there that knows such stats, Please feel free to disprove my tackle numbers theory.

Put it this way, if the pack performs on grass as well as it appears to on paper then no he won't. Webb at Leeds is a classic example, not a great tackler and never needed to be because he was protected. My issue with Sammut at FB was never his defence but his attack which I felt was laboured for such a quick player. Hopefully you can put that down to him learning the position and this year being better placed to exploit any space. Let's be honest that was Mathers great skill, reading the game in attack, his defence was often poor but his support play and finishing were very good.

I think thats what we do best. I always think it's a wise move to hold some of your spending capital back to the end of the traditional requirement season. Bargain buys like these always seem to come along.

If you mean learning Wakey system maybe, but he played 19 of his 38 games in NRL as starting FB, so not exactly new to the position

That's what I meant, he was part of what seemed a poorly organised team during his spell at FB - hopefully all that is being rectified in our first proper close season for some time.

Also….

"Owen played mainly at full back for the Tigers in 2009 where he showed some excellent form" Wiki

Why are people panicking anyway, Owen is an experienced FB so maybe he will get the nod…

Also reckon Tom Johnstone is ready for limited first team also which gives us cover at wing.

There is plenty of versatility in this team.

My thoughts exactly. Big fast and mobile, has footwork and and a great offload, Dan Smith at LF for me, he played there a couple of times last year and he really impressed me

Webster should be able to spot a good halfback, wasn't he one himself?

FWIW I'd go:

Reilly
Owen
Collis
Hall
Lyne
Sammut
Smith
Anderson
McShane
Scruton
Kirmond
Ryan
Washbrook

Paea
Godinet
Ali
Smith/Simon

This is a good signing when you look at the fact we are have given him a one year contract, probably on peanuts with his Hull pay off. So we have a young lad with talent, with a point to prove. If he has a man of the match performance against Hull home and away I reckon he will have been worth it! Good luck Jacob

Good signing for club and player. From what the FC fans have been saying, he's got a great attitude and a turn of pace, just not experienced enough to organise a team and direct it around the park. Hopefully he can learn from Timmy and we get a hard working and creative 6!

How many players have Wakey picked up from Clubs where they were surplus to requirements,didn't live up to expectations,nobody had heard of them,for what ever reasons and made them a better all-round team player........plenty.I'm sure Jacob will be the same...good luck Jacob,enjoy your stay.

This sums up how good your fullback will look in any team.

The Miller question is dependent on the goal kicking question for me.
If we line up like this as an example..... there are variations with the same team.

1) Hall
2) Owen
3) Collis
4) Lyne
5) Riley
6) Sammut
7) Smith


Anderson
9) McShane
10) Scruton
11) Kirmond
12) Ryan
13) Washbrook

14) Godinet
15) Paea
15) Kirke
17) Ali

For Miller to play, Sammut has to move. If Sammut is the only goal kicker, he can't move out, only to another position.
His only other position to speak of is fullback.
We are hardly likley to not want to play our new signing so that knocks on to the centres.
For me, Owen is the weak one (barring injury to Collis) so Lyne moves out there.
It's a nice issue to have but someone is going to be disappointed.

Barring pre season injuries if Hall plays FB I will show my backside on the proverbial town hall steps, there is only two candidates for that position 1 Owen with Lyne on the wing with Hall in the centre with either Miller or Sammut at 6, or 2 Sammut at FB with Hall at 6 and no immediate place for Miller, Hall at full back when Webster signed Him I don't think he saw him at FB especially as Mathers had given no indication that he was leaving, add to that both Owen and Sammut are more experienced in that position so what people base their opinion that he's a FB is beyond me, he'd be an untried risk and imo would be better suited at centre or half back.

Not a problem to me if we do that. Was just showing an example team.

.....though I'm not sure about the Mathers reasoning. I'm sure Webster knew full well at that point whether Mathers was staying or going.

Jowitt

Who'd be a coach eh, good luck to him with the forwards'

I think I read, or was told that at anyone time from the start of pre seasonto the close of the playing season a SL club will have an average of 7 players not able to play or take a full part in training due to injury. So I think the selection choice for coaches may be easier in reality rather than on paper. Think we are doing well so far as I understand that we only have Trout, Lyne and Kirmond who are injured or recovering from an op. So well below average, seem to remember Wigan having 12 / 13 first team players out injured at one stage early last season.

Hence the stocking up on forwards who I guess suffer more attrition than back - though Collis somewhat disproves that.

I think Miller may also be a useful goalkicker - he used to be the kicker for the Wests Toyota Cup team before he made it in to first grade.

so I think we have at least 3 viable options in Sammut, Miller and Hall.

Plus Mchane, who is an excellent goal kicker.
He kicked plenty for Leeds in the Boxing Day fixture a few seasons back.

Max is a cracking goal kicker as well,Jordans not bad too,if playing obviously