I'm all for standing up for your team, but at this point in time, Aiton is twice the player Clark is; the lad's got potential, that's for sure, but Aiton is already the finished article.

Agree with most of that. This would be mine:-

1. Owen 1.Mathers
2. Carney 2. Fox
3. Shenton 3. Collis
4. Webster 4. L Smith
5. Dixon 5. Cockayne
6. Chase 6. Sykes
7. Ellis 7. T Smith
8. Walker 8. Poore
9. Clark 9. Aiton
10. Huby 10. Raleigh
11. Gilmour 11. Lauititi
12. Hauraki 12. Kirmond
13. Millington 13. Washbrook

14. Milner 14. Wood
15. Emmit 15. Amor
16. Massey 16. Wilkes
17. Holmes 17. Mariano

I don't rate Collis at all but will give you Mathers over Owen. Isn't good to be talking about RL for a change ?

I think Collis is one of the few real centres operating in SL and Shenton is miles and I mean miles behind him. Silky smooth is Collis, a bit of a poor mans Gene Miles.

Huby over Raleigh is also a bit of a push for me but hey ho.

For what it's worth, my opinion (with the reasons) is:

1. Owen 1.Mathers - Both subject to brain farts but Mathers offers more to the team
2. Carney 2. Fox - I like Fox but Carney is probably better if at his best
3. Shenton 3. Collis - This would be a very close one if both playing to their full potential IMO. If we can get Collis fit and keep him fit I'd take him to come out on top but haven't seen it enough as yet
4. Webster 4. L Smith - Another one that is dependent on form, if Lee Smith can regain some of his pre-union form he would be the better of the two.
5. Dixon 5. Cockayne - Can't see how Dixon is better than Cockayne other than he can kick goals
6. Chase 6. Sykes - Chase the better player, but Sykes the better partner for Smith IMO
7. Ellis 7. T Smith - No debate needed
8. Walker 8. Poore - NRL and SOO prop, need I say more?
9. Clark 9. Aiton - Clark is good, but Aiton is World Class.
10. Huby 10. Raleigh - Raleigh unspectacular but massive workload gets the nod for me
11. Gilmour 11. Lauititi - No debate needed
12. Hauraki 12. Kirmond - Hauraki not really impressed me in his last 2 seasons at Leeds
13. Millington 13. Washbrook - Leading tackler in SL last season with nearly 1000 tackles

14. Milner 14. Wood - Milner for me is a better player at this moment in time
15. Emmit 15. Amor - Good hard working prop with plenty of development left in him
16. Massey 16. Wilkes - Massey is younger and fitter and can still develop
17. Holmes 17. Mariano - Runs the best lines with power and pace of any of our 2nd rowers

1. Owen 1.Mathers
2. Carney 2. Fox
3. Shenton 3. Collis
4. Webster 4. L Smith
5. Dixon 5. Cockayne
6. Chase 6. Sykes
7. Ellis 7. T Smith
8. Walker 8. Poore
9. Clark 9. Aiton
10. Huby 10. Raleigh
11. Gilmour 11. Lauititi
12. Hauraki 12. Kirmond
13. Millington 13. Washbrook

14. Milner 14. Wood
15. Emmit 15. Amor
16. Massey 16. Wilkes
17. Holmes 17. Mariano

Collis is going to be this seasons star man, he oooooooozes class.

I hope you're right, too much time not fully fit last year.

Half fit he's the best centre since Domic or Atkins (once he got the gist of it).

I think Collis could surprise quite a few this season, provided he stays fit - it's obvious that he's a class act.

To be honest he's been one that's never caught my eye.

Agree, even when half fit last season he had a good solid year and when he did miss games we certainly felt his loss.

He's very good defensively and you never hardly see him shoot out of the line, a really smooth runner who's deceptively quick and can beat people off either foot and he's always looking to make the overlap to put the winger in, which a lot of forget to do nowadays.

Look harder then.

Yeah, he's down as "solid" in my book, but hopefully i've just missed it!

I really rate Collis, would have loved to have seen him playing before his knee op, players are never the same after that. Still solid in the centres.

Reckon the best we can hope for is 8th place, are main goal has to be to finish above the likes of Cas and London. Honestly think we'll miss Ellis he was a key part of our run at the end of last year.

i agree i think we miss ellis too i think we played alot faster from play ball with him at hooker but n mind hope he does well for fev sure he will, and for me a fully fit collis will be player to watch as he is class even on one leg you could see little bits in his play to suggest this, well i for one hope he rips it up this season

What about 2014? Rob Burrow is OOC at the end of this season,he had his testimonial last year .Now Danny mags has just signed up till end of 2015,these two usually signup together.Maybe Rob is going for a last beg deal before he finishes,like Gaz Ellis did

Wigan
Wire
Huddersfield
Sts
Hull
Leeds
Catalan
Wakefield


thats my bet this season

Huddersfield?

League positions only:

Saints
Wire
Leeds
Gap
Wigan
Hull
Gap
Catalans
Huddersfield
Wakey (injuries permitting)
Bradford
Hull KR
Gap
London
Castleford
Gap
Widnes
Gap
Salford

The law of averages is a lay term used to express a belief that outcomes of a random event will "even out" within a small sample.
As invoked in everyday life, the "law" usually reflects bad statistics or wishful thinking rather than any mathematical principle. While there is a real theorem that a random variable will reflect its underlying probability over a very large sample, the law of averages typically assumes that unnatural short-term "balance" must occur!

So basically it is a myth and cannot be relied upon. This may be a slight (massive) bias on my part but if Rovers finish below Wakefield, I'll be embarrassed.

So you think it could be the GAP super league then Phil?

you started well and ended rather badly, just like Rovers last season

Admittedly, the end to last season was absolutely unacceptable, on the other hand, Wakefield's end to last season was freakish and I'd stick my neck out and say it won't happen again. Yes I am being biased and i think fans of all clubs over estimate their own respective chances. We shall see how it all pans out over the next few months and all the best to yourselves! At least you still have a club to support which is the main thing!

I'm with you on that, we rolled with our good luck.

But we put ourselves in with a shout due to some very decent late season form, maybe we won't have to leave it so late this year.


Who knows how this coming season will pan out.

Ignoring the last paragraph, that's the post of the week; I love the smell of pedantry in the morning!