It'll be exciting times if that back division reaches full potential.
It's very young!

As I don't expect Horne and Long to play too many games together, I'd probably go with:

1. Whiting
2. Lynne
3. Yeaman
4. Briscoe
5. Sharp
6. Horne/Tansey
7. Long/Tansey/Thackery(?)
8. Fielden
9. Berrigan
10. Fitzgibbon - he needs to be spelled this year, I reckon.
11. Tickle
12. Manu
13. Washbrook

14. O'Meley
15. Moa
16. Houghton
17. Lauaki

I'd still like to see Whiting at 13, so I'm a bit undecided. Still not sure about Tansey's defensive capabilities for the full back role, hence my selecting Whiting there.

cusack,radders,dowes,tuffour to go.
new contracts for kent and calderwood
id like us to bring in feilden,lms,a young halfback.

How can you justify a new contract for Calderwood? Ain't going to happen IMO.

Its a shame,he always gives 100%,but I think you are right.

i still feel we need a top winger to replace briscoe who id put in at centres and id be temted to give calders another year. does anyone know if were still intrested in francis meli hope so would love to see him in a black and whites shirt next season.
id like to see something like this as our backline
1.tansey
2.meli/calderwood
3.briscoe
4.yeamen
5.sharp
6.horne
7.long

Calderwood isn't a top winger when fit he has done a decent job there for Hull.

I like the look of Paul M's backline.

I'm basing on my side on who we have available as things stand. The two facets of the game we are lacking is pace and ball handlers, hence my 3/4 line and whiting at 13.

Tansey
Lyne
Yeaman
Briscoe
Sharp
Horne
Long
O'Meley
Houghton
Radford
Tickle
Fitz
Whiting

Berro
Manu
Lauiki
Moa

Washbrook would be nowhere near and I think Turner is overated. Solid player but if the game was just on attacking skills, Hall is twice the player. anyway, just my opinion....

Just tried 8 combination's and none of them look like they'd challenge for honours. I really hope we sign at least 3 quality backs and 1 mighty prop.

1. Tansey ... still young enough for him to improve even more.
2. Sharp ... fast and strong, good combination
3. T. Briscoe ... let him have a go in the centres, he won't disappoint
4. Yeaman .. give him more ball,has a lot of tries in him.
5. Lyne .. the skys the limit,give him some service unlike what calderwood got.
6. Horne .. played with Long he will be better than ever without so much responsibility
7. Long .. still the master scrum-half.
8. Fielden ... tough as nails on the field and in good form.
9. Berrigan .. this line up will bring out the best in him
10. O'Meley .. our enforcer
11. Fitzgibbon .. his best position imo,hes wasted used as a third prop and does too much work.
12. Tickle .. one of the best kickers around and a great player too
13. Westerman ...wish list.a top side will improve his game 100% more.future England 13.

14. Whiting... the only utiliy player we need,can come on and play anywhere apart from prop.
15. Lauaki .. impact player s/r, prop
16. Manu ... impact player s/r,
17. Houghton .. interchange with Berrigan

The bench looks a bit light but Radford and Moa will step up to it when needed for tactical reasons and will play big parts during a long season with plenty of game time.
Turner to swap around with the backs when needed.
I would have Briggs/Moore and Nicklas as my backup 6 and 7, no more utilies played there,give these players a full game if Horne and Long are out.

Briggs/Moore
Turner
Radford
Washbrook
Burnett
Moa
J Briscoe
Kent
Liam Cunningham
Danny Nicklaus

1 - Whiting
2 - Sharp
3 - Berrigan
4 - Yeaman
5 - Briscoe
6 - Horne
7 - Long
8 - New prop (Fielden?)
9 - Houghton
10 - O'Meley
11 - Manu
12 - Tickle
13 - Fitzgibbon

14 - Tansey (utility back and interchange hooker if needed)
15 - Lauaki
16 - Moa
17 - New prop

Think Dowes and Radford have had their time and need replacing. With Cusack leaving also however, it means we'd need to get three new props! That's a tough ask with no quota places left. If we get Fielden, I'd like us to get a couple of young up-and-coming props.

Think that team has a lot more balance, stronger in the backs, and gives us some more options with Tansey on the bench being able to be used in multiple roles.

My favourite line-up so far.

1. New signing - specialist FB
2. Sharp
3. Berrigan
4. Briscoe
5. Lynne
6. Horne
7. Long
8. Fieldon
9. Tansey
10. O'Meley
11. Tickle
12. Fitzgibbon
13. Washbrook/Whiting (really can't decide)

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

Cannot believe people on here would not have Tansey in there starting 13. He has to be at least in the halves and fullback, he is ten times the player Whiting is at fullback.

Tansey
Sharp
Briscoe
Yeaman
Lyne or Calderwood
Horne
Long
O'Meley
Berro
Fielden
Tickle
Manu
Fitzgibbon
Subs
Houghton
Moa
Lauaki
Whiting

We have an International hooker, another potential International hooker and you put Tansey at hooker,

Ten times? Really?

I'd say he was a more dangerous attacker than Whiting from full back, but he doesn't perform the defensive aspects of the role nearly as well.

With Tansey I am still yet to be convinced, very good one minute but also the opposite. Whiting for me would be my preferred FB for the all round game he possess and his reading of the game and his consistency in performance. If Horne & Long are fit and Berro & Houghton then for me Tansey would only be on the bench. Dont get me wrong Tansey has shown signs this season but is just too inconsistant.

Tansey should be either at 1 or 6. He'd be wasted at 9.

I agree defensively Whiting is better but Tansey is very good with the ball in hand and our attack is better with him there, if Horne or Long are injured I would move him forward to half back and Whiting to 1 but only if one of them is injured(which has been nearly every game this season

).

What is very interesting here, is how many people are discounting Turner. I think he'll be lucky to feature next season.

I think that's the point. If we accept that Tansey will play in one of the halfback positions alongside whichever of Horne and Long are fit (if either of them are), and that Whiting will play full back, it saves messing around with the side every time someone picks up another injury.

Houghton off the bench is more impactive for me. Tansey was always most effective at Leeds when playing 9 (according to their fans) and Berrigan was never an International Hooker. He covered there once owing to injury - he was an international Centre.

Yeah I don't get why people are wanting to drop the player who has been in some games our only attacking threat for Whiting who I would describe as solid at fullback but not got the X-Factor about him like Tansey does.

As for better defensively its kinda hard to say as nobody here knows who organises the defence better and is the better communicator which is a massive role for the fullback not simply tackling.

Tansey should be fullback every game, Whiting is the next best but should only be there if Tansey is injured.

Not dropping. Moving into the halves.