Like that a lot. Washy's on a first 17 deal and needs to cement his place at 13 IMO. Also think we'll see a fair bit of Turner next season.

Tansey
Calderwood
Yeamo
Hall
Briscoe
Horne
Long
O Meley
Berro
Dowes
Radford
Funkygibbon
Tickle

Manu
Lauki
Moa
Whiting

Need Whiting on bench as already look light in cover for 3/4s. Lauki to cover as prop/2nd row.

Very hard to select blindly, we have no idea how the Aussies have settled or what sort of player Turner is looking like. On his form of the latter part of the season Moa deserves a place bench before Cussack. Just my opinion. Hope Cussack proves me wrong this season, been a very average signing for me.

Why does everyone seem so quick to dismiss Dowes? He started last season like a storm and has the same people influencing him at training that are impacting the others in the squad. I sttill think he's got a lot of improvement in him.

He's been poor for 3 seasons now. He's below all the other props imo.

I've clearly been watching a different game, Hasn't he had to play 80 minutes for many games because of continual injuries to King, Cusack, Thackray, Carvell and the late arrival of Moa and Lauaki? He plays a solid game for most of most matches, his mistakes are very few, his defence is solid, his play the ball is fast enough. I grant you he is not an iimpact player but to say he is below the otheres is unfair imo.

We've also played 3 props to ease the workload with Radders at 13.

Whatever anyone says Dowes makes very little yards in attack, doesnt make breaks or offload, his defence is steady. He's behind Radford, Cusack, O'Meley, Moa, Lauaki imo as the 5th choice prop. Burnett may even get a game before him if it were up to me.

I wait to be proven wrong though.

But I think you're mixing your grafter stats with impact stats here. He does a lot of hard yards that compare well with other props in the comp; he makes a lot of tackles (including at marker). However, he is not there as an impact prop to bust lots of tackles (even though he still makes a few busts) and nor is he there to make a lot of off-loads. He is there to be steady and reliable, giving very few penalties and not giving the ball away lightly. It might be that with the new regime he is allowed to be more expressive, using his sidestep and making more off-loads. I can't imagine a prop running onto a ball from Long won't get more opportunities than over the last two years.

Sod the team I wrote, this will do for me. Can't see anything but Fitz at 13 though TBH.

Some great selection headaches - fingers crossed we don't have too many injuries (particularly long-term) in the backs.

Mine

1 Tansey
2 Calderwood
3 Yeaman
4 Hall
5 T. Briscoe
6 Horne
7 Long

8 Cusack
9 Berrigan
10 O'Meley
11 Tickle
12 Fitzgibbon
13 Washbrook

14 Houghton
15 Manu
16 Lauaki
17 Moa

Agars

1 Tansey
2 Calderwood
3 Turner
4 Yeaman
5 T. Briscoe
6 Horne
7 Long

8 Dowes
9 Berrigan
10 O'Meley
11 Radford
12 Tickle
13 Fitzgibbon

14 Washbrook
15 Manu
16 Lauaki
17 Cusack

Fully agree, Dowsey is on of the most loyal and dedicated players we have! Like you say, he gives very few penalties away, makes plenty of tackles, very few mistakes, he's an important player. There's more to a props game than just hitting it up. He takes alot of the burden off other players, which therefore allows players like Manu to be more potent in attack. In the 17 every week for me. Radders is quite a similar player in what he offers the team.

Who knows, Dowsey could be a different player this year. Think about the amount of game time he's had to put in over the last few years, doing more than his fair share while players like King and Carvell were out injured.

Some people just want too see the tackle busts and crazy offloads and don't appreciate what else is needed within the team.

Merry Xmas,

Ewan

Dowsey and the Yak are very similar to me. I'd have the Yak in the team over Dowsey. Not been happy with his performances over the past few years. Will be very disappointed if he gets a new contract when this one is up!

1. Tansey
2. Briscoe
3. Yeaman
4. Hall
5. Briscoe
6. Horne
7. Long
8. Cusack
9. Berro
10. O Meley
11. Manu
12. Radford (c)
13. Fitzy

14. Lauaki
15. Moa
16. Manu
17. Houghton

The Islanders off the bench can make a real impact. Lets put Radford back where he belongs and let him get on with what he is good at. I cannot understand the obsession with Calderwood; he's garbage. My only regret is that I cannot see Mike Burnett getting as much game time as his development needs; he has the potential to be excellent for many years for FC and Agar must find a way to keep him developing. Manu into the centres if we pick up a back injury.

1. Tansey
2. Calderwood
3. Hall
4. Yeaman
5. Briscoe
6. Horne
7. Long
8. Dowes
9. Berrigan
10. O'Meley
11. Manu
12. Fitzgibbon
13. Washbrook

14. Whiting/Turner
15. Moa
16. Cusack
17. Lauaki

Like that a lot would probably choose Radford as the bench choice.

How strange,I'm sure it mentioned the derby game.
It must be an age thing

Anyone got a rough idea of when tickets for the saints game will go on sale? I imagine it'll be all ticket, given that we should take a good 3-4k?

should be straight after xmas,id imagine you can pay on the gate,it wont sell out.

Youve got two Manu's in there. Also having Jack Briscoe as a first choice winger is strange.

What is stranger is the fact he has Radford as Captain

1. Tansey
2. Calderwood
3. Hall
4. Yeaman
5. Briscoe
6. Horne
7. Long
8. Dowes
9. Berrigan
10. O'Meley
11. Tickle
12. Fitzgibbon
13. Washbrook

14. Houghton
15. Lauaki
16. Manu
17. Cusack

Leave out Moa, Radford, Turner.

Here Here, which is why he has, again, got the 8 shirt.

1. Tansey
2. Calderwood
3. Yeaman
4. Hall
5. Briscoe
6. Washbrook
7. Long
8. Dowes
9. Berrigan
10. O'Meley
11. Manu
12. Tickle
13. Fitzgibbon

14. Houghton
15. Moa
16. Cusack
17. Lauaki

Tansey
Calderwood
Hall
Whiting
Briscoe
Horne
Long
Yak
Houghton
O'meley
Manu
Tickle
Fitz

Moa
Lauaki
Turner
Dowes

There is at least 3 or 4 teams picked on this thread that I would be happy with!

Sign of the times.