Tough start to the season but the sought of game we need to win if we are to improve on the 2016 season.

Not sure what my 17 would be but I will list those who I think deserve a start after watching pre season.
Backs: Doherty, Howden , Sheriff .
Forwards : Thackray , Braham , Feka , Martin, Wright, Cross & Hanson .

A lot of places up for grabs .

Team I think GT will pick assuming we do not use D-R or sign anymore players.
Carr

Sheriff
Doherty
Tali
Barnett

Howden
Hedges

Zac
Kesik
Spiers

Martin
Tonks

Thackray

Reps Feka, Castle, Cross & Hanson

Hi Weighman, what about Makali? do you not think that he will get into the side??

5 props in the 17 & we have 7 .

What was Barnett like against Hull. After the Leeds game I felt he needed to do more and would have edged towards AJB.

The way we play, there is no point in having out and out attacking wingers as they don't get enough of the ball if they stick to the line, this is presumbaly one of the main reasons we let DFJ go, he was great with ball in hand but not so great without and didn't look for the work. AJB is a better all round attacked and defender than what i saw of Barnett and is more likely to come inside...IMO

You could draw 6 forwards out of a bag and they'd do a job

Barnett did more taking the ball up for Hunslet may be doing what the coach asks .
Agree Jemmo about the pack !

The centre pairing is a worry assuming Doherty has done enough who partners him ?


COYD

We could pick any five from seven for the front row spots. I can't see GT leaving Jason Tali out. I wonder if Callum Lancaster will be on the wing? It looked as though he might be in line for a stint with us this season from what Carl said recently.

I like Louis Sheriff as he'd run though a brick wall for the team (even in a friendly) but I'd guess he might miss out if Callum Lancaster comes.

I'd be controversial and play Ryan Wright in the halves if he's fit. I wasn't his biggest fan last year but he deserves a place on what he's shown in the friendlies.

Lancaster looked lazy and weak in defence to me. As said before, with our style of play we need defensively strong wingers more than attackingly gifted.

Sherriff is solid, if he was replaced by Lancaster I'd be disappointed.

I agree with DM, he isn't going to drop Tali

Do not get me going about possible D-R players , I better keep quiet.
Seriously I am a bit concerned about our wing/centre positions also , I would like to see Sheriff given the no 1 role.

Thought D F-J left because we played to the other wing when attacking .
Are you taking in the Keighley game Jemmo ?

COYD

COYD

From his point of view, that probably was the reason. But that was a by-product of the way we play

Not sure as yet, it's half term and I am off so looking to go away a few days and would rather be back for the end of the week and first home game

True, you get yourself in bother by saying nothing about DR



It's an interesting point about the ball going to our left wing more than our right wing (where Foggy was). With most players being right-handed, they generally find it easier to pass to their left. I wonder if the stats from most teams (especially at our level) show the ball coming left more than right? If so, the answer for Foggy probably wasn't just to change clubs, he might need to change wings too!

I don't think you said anything controversial about DR. I am generally not as against as many others, if it's used properly and improves what we have.

IE I'd take a half back or three quarter from them, if they are better than what we have and will be here for an extended period. In the case of Lancaster, from what i have seen of him, he fails on the first count

I think left wingers are generally clubs top scorers, all other things being equal

If anyone is considering going by train on Sunday, please be aware that there are diversions and replacement buses in operation due to engineering work on the Doncaster to Leeds line.

I hope that 'diversion' does not effect the beer

I think that that is exactly what we should do with regards to a halfback. We need a chunky, punchy guy at scrum half. Hull will have a couple to choose from.

Our lads will be OK, but an analysis of what they do, indicate two similar guys who are neither fast or punchy and a bigger guy who kicks the ball as a substitute for invention. A very good kicker by the way, but a kicker by instinct.

Two of the three are injury prone as well thus far.

By the time Thornton twigs on we could well be out of the League 1 Cup due to lack of creativity in the halves.

We do have players who can compensate for this and paper over the cracks ( eg Charlie Martin) but we shouldn't have to.

I could well be wide of the mark here, but I cannot see what we need coming from Hedges, Miller and Howden.

Cross and others are better, but these afore mentioned three will limit our side.

But there is currently only me saying this, which is worrying.

We will see what happens at Keighley, but I see us as clunky in attack with a dodgy defence.

Good half backs seem to be at a premium , do not know enough about the young players at Hull who may be made available.

I think we have a creative play issue & outside back issues, Jemmo has also indicated we need a half back or an outside back. GT has indicated that some players have not come up to scratch in the pre season games.

Lets see how our lads go on Sunday behind what could well be a strong pack !

COYD

It won't, we're planning on being in Doncaster now.

And IMO thats the key. We have a proper bunch of forwards (especially for this level) it will be interesting to see how the back get on. As long as we do not leave it too late like last year when we had a half back problem and there was no one left from the DR pool to be able to help out.

Good point, we had a half back problem pre season last year , it seems the halves we have are available .

All of the squad will feature in either the Keighley game or the Challenge Cup match according to GT:

[urlhttp://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/doncaster-dons/dons-can-hit-the-ground-running-thornton-1-8387385[/url

26 that could mean Brad England is included , can you still play trialists other than in friendlies !

No disrespect to Myton Warriors I think GT should put out what he thinks is his strongest 17 for the Keighley game.

He definitely should; I don't agree with jut arbitrarily playing the rest in the challenge cup either

Very inexperienced, think both are 18/19, we have Abdul on loan at Rovers and both HTW and Dean have left, so don't think you will get a halfback. Our reserves have a game on Monday. So you might not get anyone, Steve Michaels might be an option if you need a back.

Hope we do not use Dual Reg for the League Cup & I do not think Hull will want to have players cup tied by playing them v Myton.

Give our players a chance I say .

COYD