Not long to go now and with the squad finalised, what's everyone's team?

1. Greg Eden
2. Ben Cockayne
3. Kris Welham
4. Sean Gleeson
5. Dave Hodgson
6. Travis Burns
7. Kris Keating
8. Justin Poore
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Mick Weyman
11. Kevin Larroyer
12. Neville Costigan
13. Jamie Langley

Subs:
14. Keal Carlile
15. Adam Walker
16. Jonathan Walker
17. Jordan Cox

Which leaves Lovegrove, Horne, Hall, Salter, Caro, Netherton along with some youngsters who aren't far off the first team. Looks very promising 2014.

1. Greg Eden
2. Craig Hall
3. Kris Welham
4. Liam Salter
5. Dave Hodgson
6. Travis Burns
7. Kris Keating
8. Justin Poore
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Mick Weyman
11. Jordan Cox
12. Neville Costigan
13. Jamie Langley

Subs:
14. Keal Carlile
15. Adam Walker
16. Jonathan Walker
17. Kevin Larroyer

1. Greg Eden
2. Dave Hodgson
3. Kris Welham
4. Sean Gleeson
5. Ben Cockayne
6. Travis Burns
7. Kris Keating
8. Justin Poore
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Adam Walker
11. Jordan Cox
12. Neville Costigan
13. Jamie Langley

Subs:
14. Keal Carlile
15. Mick Weyman
16. Jonathan Walker
17. Graeme Horne

That's about right for me. The only things I aren't sure on are...

Lovegrove's defence means he is unlikely to get a go at second row, but is he possibly a better prop than J.Walker? Most probably not, but always liked the kid.

Larroyer, Cox and Horne will most probably be a pick of 1 for the starting line up and 1 for the bench with the other sitting out.

In the unlikely event we have no injuries, will CS rotate his squad as there are some reasonable players likely to not be getting a game?

Are Langley, Cox and G Horne better players than Lovegrove, always liked him and offers excellent go forward, I know he has problems in defence, but when I have watched Rovers/Bradford Lovegrove seems a better player than the 3 mentioned.

Eden
Cockayne
Welham
Gleeson
Hodgson
Burns
Keeting
A Walker
Hodgson
Weyman
Larroyer
Cox
Langley

Costigan
Horne
J Walker
Poore

Eden
Cockayne
Welham
Gleeson
Hodgson

Burns
Keating

Poore
Hodgson
Walker
Larroyer
Costigan
Langley


Cox
Horne
Lovegrove
Weyman

I like him as a player and think his go forward is pretty good. For me he seemed to have his best season a few back when he played as a prop (I guess he lacks the size for that role), since then he has played as back rower that again had good go forward but seems to have missed too many tackles for CS liking.

I think Langley's a better defensive workhorse, which is why he will likely take the 3rd prop/tackling machine role that CS prefers from his 13.

I think Horne offers more defensively, but Lovegrove more in attack and I have them as pretty even.

It depends which Jordan Cox turns up. If it's the one that IMO started to show some real promise from the middle of last season I would prefer him, however over the past few years Lovegrove has been a much more consistent performer.

! - Eden
2 -Cockayne
3 -Welham
4 -Gleeson
5 -D Hodgson
6 -Burns
7 -Keating
8 -Poore
9 -J Hodgson
10 -A Walker
11 -Cox
12 -Costigan
13 -Langley

Bench
Weyman
Horne
Larroyer
Carlile

When you look at players not in my 17 the depth of the squad looks much improved.

Most have Carlile on the bench, do we need him on the bench when we have Costigan who could take a 10/15min spell?

This was my thinking.

Costigan could come on and do a 10/15min spell as you say then give Langley a breather at loose-forward when JH comes back on. Then Langley could come on at the back end of the game for Costigan. This way we're getting most "bang for the buck" with our interchanges.

There's also Cox who can start on an edge and come on for the back end of the game in the middle - this is the way he was used last season and he was really effective.

I think it's pretty clear that CS has nailed his colours to the mast with regards to getting a side together who can defend and I don't think he's going to compromise this for one or two players who may offer a tad more in attack because any great defender will soon become poor one if they are having to do loads of scramble defence and repeat sets because of a couple of weak links in the defensive line. Alternatively, perceived poor attacking players will soon be perceived good attacking players if they see enough of the ball in the right areas - something you earn with good defending.

Poor defending will no longer be tolerated by the coaching staff, but the sad thing is, is that it will be tolerated by some fans if it involves crowd favourites, because they'll blame the coach or the new signings instead.

I don't know what CS's thoughts are regarding Costigan but I do not want to see him at hooker, I'dlike hime to play prop and prop only.
Against NZ at Headingley he had a real dig in the front row against pretty unsurmountable odds.

I'd like to see him as a starting prop.

I'd go.
Eden
Hall
Welham
Gleeson
Hodgson
Burns
Keating
Walker
Hodgson
Costigan
Larroyer
Cox
Langley

Poore
Weyman
Green
Carlile

I dont think we have signed Costigan, who is one of our biggest signings, to cover hooker and loose forward off the bench. Id expect him to be starting and i would think CS knows where he will fit into the picture. The fact we have a squad with so many options is reason for optimism rather than perhaps previously its been 'this our best 17' with average to inadequate back up

If our sole intension was to improve defence why didn't we go and get another centre to replace Welham?

Some good options. The larroyer signing I think is very strange. 2nd row isn't a position we are short in I believe. However the number of times I have seen him he looks decent, he was immense in Toulouse for les frogs last season. If Jordan cox plays like he did back end of last season then we have a potentially brilliant player on our hands

Is it just me or are others wondering why Liam Salter is not mentioned? one of our most consistant players last year. He did nothing wrong & improved game on game. In my team he would be in ahead of Gleeson.

Hodgson can practically do a full 80 mins, he would only need cover for a short spell, it makes sense to me. We have enough options in the pack that covering Costigan would not be a problem.

I think you can certainly make a case for him, he looked pretty good defensively I felt, but needs to improve his lines in attack and his service to his winger.

Depending on what goes on in pre season he could and should be putting pressure on both Welham and Salter.

Could,nt agree more. Pretty much go with the general opinion of the teams selected, but in my opinion Liam Salter has better defence than any of the selected first five. Obviously he wont get a go at fullback, and both welham and gleeson are defensively suspect. If his attacking flair can, or has been improved i would have him in front of them both.

1. Eden

2. Cockayne
3. Salter
4. Welham
5. Hodgson

6. Burns
7. Keeting

8. A. Walker
9. Hodgson
10. Poore

11. Cox
12. Costigan
13. Langley

14. Hall
15. Lovegrove
16. Weyman
17. Larroyer

1. Eden
2. Cockayne
3. Gleeson
4. Welham
5. Hodgson
6. Burns
7. Keating
8. A. Walker
9. Hodgson
10. Poore
11. Larroyer
12. Costigan
13. Langley

14. Carlile
15. Cox
16. Weyman
17. J. Walker

I prefer to see two props on the bench so favour J. Walker for the last spot over Lovegrove who I still think is an important member of the squad but should only be seen at second row. I'm hoping we have a lot more to see from Gleeson and a pre-season plus few games under the belt should show us why he was signed. Larroyer had a bit of a bouncy chest in the world cup but I reckon could be one of our best signings. We have plenty in the squad behind this lot who can do more than just fill in which is a first since we entered SL. Really looking forward to this season and expect us to win everything going. If we are anything less than stunning in our first game i'll be calling for Sandercock's head.

I agree with all of that. Well maybe not the winning everything bit!


There are a few either/ors, with Horne, Salter and Hall going close, in addition to those you mention. The idea of using Costigan to briefly spell J. Hodgson, getting another big forward on the bench, could work well also. Really grind the opposition down, hopefully.

It really won't, if I see Costigan going anywhere near dummy half The Sniper Skein will swing into immediate and devastating action.

Yeah, I'd go with something similar to BF's team above, because I'd rather have a 'real' hooker on the bench and be using Costigan in his best position. But the pay-off of being able to include 2 of Cox/Horne/Lovegrove on the bench wouldn't be insignificant. Especially early in the season, on heavy grounds.
Depends how many top quality minutes Hodgson can do at 9 and how Carlile is developing.

Is it worth having the extra hooker if he is only going to spell for 10/15 mins, Hodgson is capable of playing big mins.