you are having a laugh suuuuuuurely!!!
two of the most exciting young guns in SL mixed with three GB / England internations and across that line a bag of pace and proven try scorers given decent service ?? , phew some folk forget the cap is not £50 million a year !!!

Disagree with that backline comment. I think our problem has been that players like G Horne have played in the backs in recent years. The above line up has a good blend of youth and experience.

Of all the people on this site i'm pretty sure Mrs B is one ofthe most aware of what the cap is.

But apart from Long, all in the forwards. Lauaki, Fitzgibbon, Berrigan, O'Meley, Manu, all proven and experienced class. In the backs you can't say that about any of them apart from our 33 year old SH. It concerns me that the balance is so heavily skewed to the forwards.

Tansey - future international
Calderwood - international given service
Yeamo - international given service
Hall - future international
Briscoe - international
R Horne - big season for him but has international class

Not sure why youre concerned? Pack looks awesome, backline is pretty good too.

We also have a young lad Reece Lynne that really could be anything once he gets his chance imo

In Yeamo and Calderwood we have 6 major finals and international experience between them. Tansey has played full back in the NRL so only Hall and Briscoe (international) are inexperienced.

I would say the balance is in favour of the forwards because that is the one area we cosistantly got outplayed last year. Having said that Burnett, Houghton and Washy are young forwards and it is great that they have such quality around them to learn the good habits etc.

yeah thanks for that however I repeat my comment ...

Yup, same with Jack Briscoe but as you say, Lynne is the really special one. Think with the likes of Turner and Whiting we have good options for cover too in the backs.

Tansey - future international
Calderwood - international given service
Yeamo - international given service
Hall - future international
Briscoe - international
R Horne - big season for him but has international class

agreed 100% however still think Calderwood wil feature again for GB as will Yeamo under a new GB coach and a big season with decent service in SL.
Its all about exposure in SL, if the boys rattle em in , everyone comes looking at why!!

I said at the time we were holding out for an Aussie back and messing Moa about that IMO we were set in the forwards already and needed more in the backs. The latest rumour is Raynor (who I rate highly) out and LMS in, so this means we lose our most experienced and proven back (excluding Long). For all Hall, Briscoe and Tansey have potential, to have them as guaranteed first pick in the back 5 demonstrates we are lacking experience there. Would be better to have a Richie Barnett Snr/Keith Senior/Matt Gidley type character in there to help them develop and one less forward IMO.

Given service and support Hall could develop into a Gidley style player and in Yeamo we have a solid centre
Howrever Tansey could be the ace in the hole this year, they say turner is setting training alight ...
as for wingers we spend half the season without raynor each year it seems anyway so bout time to release and we have cover to mature!!

Not really. We spent a lot of last season passing the ball side to side on the opposition's 20 with no set plays or creativity. Our failure to create anything at all from half back was a bigger issue last season than our forwards' ability to get us up the pitch.

My understanding would be that if LMS does come it will be in Kings space rather than in Raynors. Maybe Agar thinks some of the kids are ready more than we do, ive not seen much of them afterall.

Think we have enough cover in the backs withour Raynor.

Tansey - J. Briscoe
Calderwood - Tuffour
Yeaman - Turner
Hall - Whiting
T. Briscoe - Lyne

However, dont think McCarthy Scasrbrook is needed for the 2010 season but definatly is needed for the 2011 one. So if we have the space I would sign him up for 2010 to replace Cusack, Radford and/or Dowes in 2011.

I dont think we really spent that much time in the opposition 20 did we?

I know we were badly missing a scrum half but the pack needed plenty of attention if we are to progress.

The backline does have a youthful look to it but alongside some experienced players I think it has an exciting look to it.

Spot on. Would be a great signing for 2011.

Aye, like I said before a front row containing O'Meley, McCarthy Scarsbrook, Moa and Lauaki for be the best in the league by far.

30 maybe.

I think if we traded one of our proven top quality forwards for a proven top quality back we'd have better balance to the squad.

I agree to some extent. I personally would swap Tickle for a back however if LMS was available I would sign him ASAP without a shadow of a doubt! Young British forward of his calibre is a no brainer.

il second that!

Far better that than the other way around though.

The usual pinch of salt is to be applied, but even if Raynor was to go, would it be so bad? I'd rather he stay, but on saying that he's certainly one of the more expendable of our established players. ATEOTD, he's in the twilight of his career, who knows how long his pace has left, and he's likely one of our bigger earners.

I'm in a minority, but I still rate him highly. I'd accept him going as he's at the end of his career and did very well to come back at all from the toe injury but it would be silly to replace our most experienced and proven outside back by yet another forward.

So LMS is the new rumour doing the rounds ??

If there is anything at all in this, would we be talking about 2010 or 2011 ???

2010 1/2