not my choice but you could be right given his starting position at York

Haha funny how Johnstone’s gone from starting 9 for most to not even making the squad, most had written Houghton off by the end of last season! Not me, Houghton all day starting hooker, and surely Satae is the first name in the starting 13, he’s our best prop by a country mile

The thing is, Houghton was starting to look like a bit of a spent force in 2019 and early 2020. I actually think spelling him with Johnstone and giving him a slightly different role has reinvigorated him. There's no doubt he's still our best hooker, but it's a case of figuring out what is best for him and the team.

Also, I agree that Satae is our best prop, but that doesn't automatically mean he should start. Again, you've got to weigh up the opposition and our team as a whole and figure out how he is going to be most effective. That said I would start him if it was up to me.

The club have been talking about 'the spine' and if we keep that spine fit then we might do something - that spine is always talked as Connor - Reynolds - Sneyd - Houghton - so that is what we will see play most rounds this season barring injury

I don’t know one team either here or the nrl, that doesn’t start with the best prop, I could be wrong, but doubt it

I do agree with you, start with your biggest and best ball carriers to lay the foundation would be my philosophy too. But I can also see the argument for keeping him back and letting him run riot against tiring defences. He's wasted as an "impact" prop because he can do bigger minutes than that. But our prop rotation is something we need to think about. Too often under Radford we started well with our starters and then lost all momentum when the bench forwards came on. We need to get the balance right. I trust Hodgson to do this though. I think he has a much better eye for detail than Radford ever did.

Lane is starting at 13.

There was a short great period when Taylor Houghton Watts, created havoc, then Bowden & Greeny kept it going, happy days.

One benefit of this is that it means we dont need a 2and hooker on the bench.

Although I'm not sure about Lane at 13 kong term, think he is better running out wide.

He doesn't have the size or skillset to play there IMO.

If that's the case I'd have a bench of Bowden, Cator, Brown and Bowden.

But expect Fash to be in front of Brown.

He’s bigger than cator, faster and a better skill set, I think it could work, nothing against cator at all, I like him a lot, but not the best offensive.

Not sure I Agree, Cator has a bigger engine, better defensively and has a decent pass, agree about his offensive play though, needs improvement. La es strength is hitting gaps and his speed so I prefer him out wide.

I think he will end up replacing Houghton as our hooker.

Have to trust Hodgson's judgment as she has seen them train all off season

Not sure I agree. Cator isn't a tackle buster but he has good hands and plays at the line well. Different skill sets. Lane runs better lines, but that is something that's better suited to playing wider imo.

Until we've seen a few games I'm happy to trust Hodgson's judgement. We don't know who has been standing out in training and exactly what they have been working on.

Can't see Lane as a middle at all. As you say his strengths are out wide. He's got pace and runs good lines. If Lane starts I would have thought Savelio would be more effective as the loose forward. Saying that he is more effective out wide as well.

After last season I thought Cator would be a on nailed on starter.

All speculation at the moment. Really looking forward to see how we are going to line up.

The York friendly starting 13 seems to be Hodgsons thoughts so Its looking like Lane will start at 13 but i agree he is better playing out wide
If thats the case and Taylor is fit then Satae will start in the front row with Sao and Bowden on the bench with Cator and Brown.
No place for Johnstone if Cator on the bench
To be honest it makes little difference whether we start with Lane as no doubt Cator will come on for Lane and Lane will come back on at some stage for Savellio or Mao

Agree, one of Sao or Satae to start with Taylor. Don't want to start with a lightweight pack and get ambushed like we did against Wigan in the cup last season.

Robert Hicks is the ref on Sunday.

I don’t know if it will work or not, if lane plays 13 for a few games we shall see, but I can see Hodgsons thoughts behind it if that’s the way he goes, probably thinking he can be our Murray from the south’s or radley from the roosters!!!

I have Cator as 5x the player Lane is

Hodgson is going to pick the players that have impressed him the most, which I like, He isn't going to go on what happened last season. I am keeping myself in check, I remember how I felt walking out of Headingley after winning 30-6, thought we were contenders.
FWIW in my opinion Bowden still has a hell of a lot to offer, he can be an absolute wrecking ball, hope we see that again this season.
On the Zoom call with Tag, Mint and Sneyd they all said that the whole squad will have to contribute this season and that BH will rotate the squad. So can expect Cator, Lane, Brown, McNamara, Scott all to get loads of game time.
Agree that Sao, Satae are going to be key against Giants.
Anyway hopefully in the grounds and singing OF in the near future.
I have backed Connor, Mua and Reynolds for MOS and FC for the Treble 300/1

Tend to agree with most of this and for me that is why I am looking forward to this season more than any other because of the changes that have been made with the coaching set up but also the changes that BH seems to have been making so far.

I think it is clear so far from not only the message BH put out prior to his arrival but also in his interviews he has spoke consistently about the same thing of players having to work hard and not just in games but in training.

I feel quite confident that BH assisted by KP & GE will be able to bring the best out of the squad and find the consistency we have been lacking.

21 Man Squad named: Jake Connor, Bureta Faraimo, Josh Griffin, Carlos Tuimavave, Mahe Fonua, Josh Reynolds, Marc Sneyd, Scott Taylor, Danny Houghton, Chris Satae, Andre Savelio, Manu Ma’u, Ligi Sao, Jordan Johnstone, Joe Cator, Jordan Lane, Adam Swift, Brad Fash, Josh Bowden, Ben McNamara, Cameron Scott

Matongo and Brown injured.

I can't wait to see the action tonight, it feels like forever since we saw proper meaningful games, I just couldn't enthuse about last season and how the pandemic watered it down to a token competition , in my opinion , although the Grand final itself was a game worthy of any year.
I'd love to see us get off to a flying start with a resounding victory, but I'd take a close win with hopefully no injuries.
I think we'll see the best of Sao this year, of all our imports, he was the one who impressed me most last year and I feel he can be the main man in our pack this year, he has grunt and a bit of mongrel and looks a decent ball player too.
Going to exhaust myself shortly, starting with the SKY NRL games and the Super League marathon, probably be comatose by Saturday afternoon but what else is there to do?

Matongo injured again. Will he ever be fit?

Apparently Brown is out injured.

To be honest I think that we will see big differences in the performances of Sao, Satae and Ma'u. I think Satae particularly in the York friendly looked in great shape and looks able to play longer than the 10 mins he got used previously.

Feel quite optimistic about this year under BH, KP and GE.