I'm quite hoping that Chessie will start the season's first game by selecting a team that has never let us down and understands what it means to play for Wakefield. Something along the lines of

Max Jowett
Ben J-Bishop
Reece Lyne
Bill Tupou
Tom Johnstone
Danny Brough
Ryan Hampshire
David Fafita
Kyle Wood
Craig Kopzac
Matty Ashurst
James Bachelor
Tinirau Arona

Kelepi Tanganoa
Jordan Crowther
Ryan Atkins
Chris Green

I suppose that looking at the players not in the first named team we have much greater strength in depth than for many years.

I`m hoping that he goes with his very best team, for me you are missing a few key players out there.

Chester has said it is nice to have a genuine ball playing 13 in the team in Westerman, which will allow him to play Arona as a middle man which is where he wants him to be.

Miller will start at 6 for me, would have Hampshire over Brough but not too sure he will start like that.

Walker I think is likely to be first choice at the back.

Would 100% also have Josh Wood on the bench, Wood is not an 80 minute hooker.

Jowitt
Lyne
Arundel
Tippy
Johnstone
Miller
Hampshire
Fifita
Wood, K
Koppy
Tanginoa (spelling?)
Ashurst
Westerman

Wood, J
Green
King
Crowther

Can not see Crowther and Bach been picked in our first choice 17

At the risk of offending a few on here I have to agree with you.

Walker
Ben J-Bishop
Reece Lyne
Bill Tupou
Tom Johnstone
Jacob Miller
Danny Brough

David Fifita
Kyle Wood
Craig Kopzack
Matty Ashurst
Kelepi Tanganoa
Westerman


J Wood
Arona
Chris Green
King.

A couple of places are hard, I could see Hampshire at FB, Pitts being on the bench , maybe Tangata may get a bench spot. See what happens in Pre season games.

Alex Walker (sorry but on end of season form he's way ahead of Jowitt)
Ben J-Bishop
Reece Lyne
Bill Tupou
Tom Johnstone
Danny Brough
Jacob Miller
David Fifita
Kyle Wood
Craig Kopzac
Matty Ashurst
Kelepi Tanginoa
Tinirau Arona

Josh Wood
Joe Westerman
George King/Tangata not too bothered
Chris Green

Much as I like Crowther, Batchelor and Hampshire you go for experience first. Why would you leave out Westerman? Ditto Miller. If it were not for the fact that when fit Tupou and Lyne are top notch I'd have Atkins at Centre but tbh it's hard to separate them. If these players don't do the job then you replace them with players like Hampshire but you at least start with those established layers in established positions.

Players like Crowther etc will get their chance but on day one you have to start with your very best players and see how it goes.

We're not going to start the Jowitt love in again are we ?

Only you by the sounds me owd

I reckon this is just about right. Miller will look a different player again when re united with the left edge of Ashurst/Tupou/Johnnstone.
Lots of really good players left out of that team too, which has to be a good position for us to be in.

The only possibility i can see (purely because i havent seen enough of J Wood) is if he isnt ready yet. Hampshire could start on the bench to release Brough to move to hooker, similar to the way Wigan play Leuluai.

I’ve often wondered whether Brough would be better at 9 these days. Because at 9 you’re tackling down the middle then the loss of pace isn’t so crucial so long as you still have some ticker. Also affords him a break. Problem is whether Brough can be subordinate when on or will he just want to take charge. Anyway it’s not our decision thankfully.

For me it looks like this

Walker
Johnstone
Tupou
Lyne
BJB
Miller
Brough
Fifita
Wood
King
Ashurst
Tanginoa
Westerman

Wood
Green
Kopczak
Pitts

Number 10 could easily be Arona or Tangata.
Kinda depends whether TJ Ashurst and Arona are ready to go in first game.
And Dave for that matter.

Hampshire
BJB
Lyne
Tupou
Johnstone
Miller
Brough
Fifita
Wood
Kopzcak
Ashurst
Tanginoa
Westerman

Wood
Green
Arona
King

Walker/rocky
Johnstone
Tupou
Lyne
BJB
Miller
Brough
Fifita
Wood
Arona
Ashurst
Tanginoa
Westerman

Wood
Green
Kopczak
King

Rocky needs to be in there somewhere too
Walker or rocky at FB

need to see more of walker first

kelepi surley is surely in the starting team ?

I was in Thailand 2 weeks ago and no other than broghy was satyiing the same hotel (champion bloke btw) and he was in the gym every day on holidays !!! so maybe he was told to bulk up for his hooking role ha ha!!

hours and hours chatting about footy to him and his family

Walker
BJB
Lyne
Tupou
Johnstone
Miller
Hampshire
Fifita
K. Wood
Kopzcak
Tanginoa
Bachelor
Westerman

J.Wood
Crowther
Green
King

Very tough on Max and Jordy, but so much depth in the squad.

Not sure on fitness levels yet after long term injuries to Arona and Ashurst, so not put these in the 17. Didn't someone say it will be a few weeks into the season before Arona comes back

Was he drinking?

Quite a lot,Water, Orange Juice ,Tea, Coffee, so i heard.

Not one drop ! how that happened in that heat I will never know - I made up for it for him though ha ha,
he was a credit to the club DC gave time out to talk to me about footy and was in the Gym every day!!! I probably wrecked his holiday - last thing he expected in Thailand was a wakey supporter ha ha

Yep, he’s on the wagon ahead of a big season

think would have tangata or Pitts in front of king based on last years end of season , be interesting to see walker and woods on Boxing Day

Why on earth you would have Hampshire at FB when you have two quality FB's on the books is beyond me.

Although I’ve expressed my own opinion on team selection I have to say there isn’t one line up in this thread that I wouldn’t be ok with.

There is real strength in depth here. Take Jowitt, on form probably third choice FB but I’d be well happy to see his name on the team sheet if needed. Ditto in the centres, Atkins and Arundel looks nearly as good a Tupou and Lyne.

Ashurst, Tanginoa and Westerman perhaps first choice back row.

Crowther, Batchelor, Pitts, Arona looks good or any combination of those 7 and there are still some payers in reserve.

And it goes on. If we just have an average injury list this year we will be more than fine.

Incredible effort on our budget.