Anlaby? Fuck off Stan.

Nice to see everyone getting along.

Westerman was never at hull you fibber....anyway next season's team.

Rovers have recruited pretty well considering the circumstances. Kelly Mantellato Goulding and Sio look pretty exciting Bailey interesting. Look light of oomph in attack in the back row but all good defenders.
Not too worried about hookers. Carlise distributes and tackles well.
Boudebza is a playmaker at the ruck. IF he adapts to super league he could be a real bonus.
Best backs we've had in years.
Campese if he wins us 4 points this season should see us above the haughty neighbours.
Dixon needs to defend and he'll be another good signing.
Poaching is the biggest issue. If he's a good coach then we're onto something. Smith rated him so here´s hoping.

Westerman was at Hull as a junior.

Won't you be signing one of our academy products next season unless the doc offers him a deal he can't refuse

Which Westerman was that? cos it wasn't Joe! Joe was at Featherstone Lions.

Not that it's really important, but for a time, yes he was. There was even a thread on our board slating uncle Kath for spending £100k on a kid we had as a junior.

Westerman was on Hulls scholarship programme. As was Ryan Hampshire (unrelated and a bit irrelevant).

Thank you.

Until the season starts the Squad numbers are just numbers - Terry Campese is not in the 1-17, it means nothing. The only thing that matters is the side that Chris Chester put out, and that they are competitive! With the number of new faces we have the major concern is how long will we take to gel?

I would love for us to click from game one and turn Leeds over - this would definitely put down a marker for the season. I don't expect it to happen, but with the speed and talent recruited into the backs - I would write it off either!

It's going to be an interesting year!!

Now the recruitment is over and we have the squad numbers finalised, my team for the first game (friendly performances aside) is. (forgetting the squad numbers)

1- Kieron Dixon/Josh Mantellano
2- Kieron Dixon/Josh Mantellano
3- Darrell Goulding
4- Bobby Blair
5 -Kenny Sio
6 -Terry Campese
7 -Albert Kelly
8 - Adam Walker
9- Kiel Carlisle
10- Mitch Allgood (have it on good authority that he is a better starter than bench man)
11- Kevin Larroyer
12- Tyrone McCarthy
13- Greg Burke

14- Mick Weyman
15- James Green
16- Jordan Cox
17- John Bouebza/Graeme Horne (depending if KC can give 100% for 80, if not then Boudebza gets the nod)

That leaves.

Kris Welham
Liam Salter
James Donaldson
Horne/Boudebza
Ben Cockayne
Ryan Bailey (would rather of signed Gill Dudson But hey ho)
Aaron Ollett
Sonny Esslemont
Steven Haulker
Connor Robinson
Matty Marsh (who I`ve heard is the next decent youngster to make the grade)
Josh Gudzek
Macaulay Hallett (also highly thought of by the backroom staff)

I`ve got this optimism in me that I haven't had since the promotion season or the 4th finish season. If Chester cannot make what we have (Which whatever anyone says is an excellent squad) into anything less than an 8th place finish then I will be very disappointed.

Lets get behind them this year, there is strike from all over the paddock, lets give Carlisle and Boudebza a chance (like we had to with Hodgson when Lincoln Withers left us).

RALLY ROUND THE ROBINS

Good 1st post mate........

However his name is Maurice.

I would be very surprised if Donaldson and Bailey are not in the starting 17, if fit.

His nickname in Aus is Bobby.
Strange race!

There will be many people with different ideas but I cannot see Bailey missing out on the 17.

For sure, but he is currently on crutches wearing a protective boot nursing an achilles tendon injury, must keep the weight off his leg for 3 or 4 weeks.

Obviously a massive disruption to pre season training at best.

Lets hope he doesnt turn out to be like our previous Ryan who wore a protective boot during pre-season.

A precaution only and should be ready for the start of the season according to Mike Smith. Time will tell I suppose.

Dixon
Mantellano
Goulding
Salter
Sio
Campese
Kelly
Walker
Carlisle
Weyman
Larroyer
McCarthy
Bailey

Allgood
Green
Donaldson
Blair

From the outside looking in that's what I'd hope to see if I was a Rovers fan. Wouldn't be surprised to see Blair play a bit of 9.

I can't see Blair playing off the bench, he will be centre when Campese is fit (1st game), then stand off for the rest of the season.

Adam walker has his leg strapped up as well,not sure how bad it is.

He has a twisted testicle.

Stan I hope you are trying to be being jovial rather than trying to make a serious point.

Terry Campese played 19 NRL games in 2014 despite being dropped when available for selection for the final 5 rounds. He played 17 NRL games in 2013. His horror injury seasons were 2011 & 2012.

The big issue with Campese isn't his current state of health it is whether he can ever be the player he was prior to his run of injuries of 2011 and 2012.

Any player can get injured at any time but your implication that Campese will inevitably be injured from round 1 or soon after is nothing more than self indulgent mischief making.

Terry Campese is a gamble of course. Even the very best players - and he does fall into that category -rarely fall into decline and than come back better than ever. That's a serious question mark. But not your ridiculous suggestion that immediate season ending injury is inevitable.

Jovial? Stan? More like

I am liking laughing at Stan's pessimism, although I do share it with less fervour.

Mainly I like laughing at Stan because he invariably has the upper hand on me.

He has really greasy hair though and a lisp.

And I have great hair, possibly beyond great.

I wath being perfectly serwios. Gweasy hair? how vewy dare you...