seems crazy to see everyone dropping one of our best and most consistent players from the starting line up Danny Houghton

I would go with Ellis/Seymour in the half backs put Horne on the bench
If we are making a fresh start those two should lead the team around the park
that makes 3 good kicking players on the pitch at the same time the other being the hooker

Seymours our 7, there's no way he'll be moved to accomadate Ellis, and Hornes our 6 Gentle won't be trying to make him into utility cover.

It's good to have options at 6 and 7 and hopefully Nicklas and Ellis can give a good account of themselves when called upon.

Remember when Manu was an impact player? I like the idea of a solid , in your face , nasty starting line up with the ability to use an explosive bench at the right time and when there's a bit more space. A backrow of Tickle and Westerman plus an enforcer to start with and Manu to come on would be interesting. Aspinwall is meant to be that player. Whether he is I'm not so sure but Aspinwall on the bench? He's not going to come on and be a game changer is he? A bench of Manu , Moa & Houghton plus O'Carrol if he's the forward in form would certainly give the opposition something to think about and counter used properly. Whatever happens hopefully gentle won't just run players into the ground and only take them off just[i after[/i they've missed a tackle or dropped a ball through fatigue.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Yeaman & Briscoe 'partnership' broken up, neither is uniquely integral to the others game tbh. Briscoe would score tries no matter who he had inside him (in fact would score many more if he had a skillful centre) and Yeaman would do 'his thing' wherever he played. Iif Martin does get the nod ahead of Turner I certainly want to see Sharp getting some decent service as I reckon he could have a very good impact this season under some 'proper' coaching.
I don't see Houghton being on the bench as a demotion, it is afterall a team game, if that means we play better with him coming on for 20 minute stints rather than him being flogged for 80 that has to be a good thing right?

That would be mine to. Think Houghton/Heremaia and Manu/Aspinwall could be either way round.

Lyne says in HDM today he's switching to fullback.

Was playing there for the 20's last year. Looked good, but it's been discussed before that he's at a crossroad of being too good for 20's, but not good enough for SL.
Where does this leave Jack Briscoe? 3rd choice winger?

pack looks very strong!

interesting to see how Aaron gets on this year. Fax 'reject'

1. McKinnon
2. Sharp
3. Martin
4. Yeaman
5. Briscoe
6. Horne
7. Seymour
8. O'Meley
9. Heremaia
10. Lynch
11. Manu
12. Tickle
13. Westerman

14. O'Carroll
15. Houghton
16 Moa
17. Pearce

Why are people picking Pearce???

1 - we dont know what position has been earmarked for him yet
2 - his fitness wasnt really good enough for long spells in the 20's last season
3 - better players than him in the squad currently

1 - we dont know what position has been earmarked for him yet - Gentle has said 2nd row
2 - his fitness wasnt really good enough for long spells in the 20's last season - ,new conditioner,new coach
3 - better players than him in the squad currently-good impact player,can be also used on the wing

Have a feeling he may get a run against rovers....

I would go as far as saying on paper thats the best and biggest pack in SL presently , so given all the talent we have purchased and already have behind that I can only see good warm stories coming out of this season...
excitement is the understatement

Its a very good pack and looks fairly mobile but who in our pack is really big? Look at the big games against Leeds recently, their forwards have dominated, we cant stop the roll of some of the really big teams.

The biggest plus for me is that we finally appear to have some ball handlers in the side.

1. McKinnon
2. Briscoe
3. Martin
4. Yeaman
5. Sharp
6. Horne
7. Seymour
8. O'meley
9. Heremaia
10. Lynch
11. Manu
12. Tickle
13. Westerman

14. Moa
15. O'Carrol
16. Whiting
17. Houghton

It's a strong 17 and Whiting is so good he will be first choice replacement in any poistions 1-5 and 11-13.

For me the team picks itself (to start season) apart form the last bench spot:-

McKinnon
Sharp
Martin
Yeaman
Briscoe
Horne
Seymour
O'Meley
Heremaia
Lynch
Tickle
Manu
Westerman

Moa
O'Carroll
Houghton
Whiting/Turner/Aspinwall

The interesting thing will be how Gentle handles the interchanges. Lynch and Ogre will be very strong together but Moa and O'Carroll will be less solid and perhaps offer more impact but that could be a weakness defensively?

The worry for me is fullback with Wade's injury record. We don't have a natural replacement, obvious choice would be Whiting but we don't know what position he is training in and if it's backrow it might affect his ability to play in the fullback spot.

1. McKinnon
2. Sharp
3. Martin
4. Yeamo
5. Briscoe
6. Horney
7. Seymour
8. Ogre
9. Heremaia
10. Lynch
11. Tickle
12. Aspinwall
13. Westerman

14. Moa
15. O'Carroll
16. Houghton
17. Manu

Gentle also said he doesn't yet have the engine. We have a new conditioner, yeah. But let's wait until he's had a chance to do his job on him before we chuck him in.

People seem to think that just because he's big and fast that he should automatically good.

Can't actually believe that people have put him in the starting line up before Sharp.

Think Hougton should start against top teams as need his defence.
Wigan,Warrington and Saints tend to try get in front early then rattle teams with bit of borderline infringements, then go in for the killer try's

What people don't realise is although Houghton will tackle all game, is that he doesn't dominate the tackle and the opposition still get a quick PTB. Unless PG has managed to do something to change that.

Heremaia is a hammer in the tackle especially on the opponents ball players, I'd play Houghton from the bench as I feel he has the speed edge over Heremaia and would do better against a tiring pack. Heremaia's kicking is better and hopefully get us some good early field position and get teams on the rack early.

Mckinnon
Sharp
Martin
Yeaman
Briscoe
Horne
Seymour
Lynch
Heremaia
O'Meley
Tickle
Manu
Westerman

Moa
O'Carroll
Houghton
Whiting/Aspinwall/Turner

Maybe that's the thinking behind Moa starting? Lynch to do a slightly longer starting spell and try to minimise the time neither he nor O'Meley are on the pitch, have them overlapping rather than predominantly in tandem. Say, Lynch/Moa for 15-20, Lynch/O'Meley for 5-10, O'Carroll/O'Meley for 15-20, O'Carroll/Moa for 5-10, Lynch/Moa for 10-15, Lynch/O'Meley for 5-10, O'Carroll/O'Meley to finish the game.

Could still mean up to 20 minutes of Lynch & O'Meley together, but with only 5-10 minutes of the potentially weaker Moa/O'Carroll combination.

Good point, I can understand that thinking. Seems Turner might start ahead of Martin which will be a slight shock. Plus Houghton ahead of Heremaia.