Whilst destructive isn't a description I would of used it will be interesting to see how the forwards work as a unit.
More mobile forwards make more metres and generally utilize a quicker play the ball which gives the halves space to attack a static or retreating defensive line.
O Hara made decent metres in a poor side last year and Clinton hopefully feels he has a point to prove.
Paea it seems is the forward who when brought on will be expected to punch holes so its a decent mix.

At this stage I do not think we have first choice props? Clinton hasn't had a good game in over a year while O'Hara has more qualities than just tackle busting. The other thing to consider is game plans. Some coaches like to see a break down the middle by a big bloke others like to see him make the defenders work hard so they are tired later in the game.

Think one supporters starting line up will differ to someone elses. Some would have Murrell others Galea at loose forward while it seems Lovegrove is an option here and Watts has always performed in that position. So to say Clinton and O'Hara will be first choice is a bit premature when there are so many others training hard to become those first choice.

Don't always read too much in to squad numbers.

A bit short of cover in the backs, a bit short of quality in the front row.

Like a few clubs you could finish anywhere between 3rd and 12th.

If you get Paea's and Mika's fitness sorted you could do very well.

O'Hara
Clinton
Paea
Taylor
Watts
Lovegrove
Netherton
Wheeldon

I wouldn't say short on quality. I would say its a case of finding the best combination.

The former group being loons, though.

There's little doubt that Rovers have multiple options in the forwards which has to be a good thing. Question marks at this point more around quality cover in positions 1-7 I'd have thought.

I do, Watts (if he plays front row) and Taylor could have a massive future in rl but there not just there yet.

O'hara, Clinton and Lovegrove are your bog standard props and Paea could go either way, and I don't rate the other front rowers you never mentioned

Full back - McDonell, Sheriff, Hodgson and Hall.

Wing - Latus, McDonell, Hodgson, Hall, Petersen, Webster and Welham

Centre - Hall, Webster, Griffin, Horne, Welham, Heil, Salter and I think I read McDonell has played there before?

Stand Off - Green, Withers, Galea, Murrell

Scrum Half - Dobson, Withers.

The depth there isn't too much to worry about IMO. Both Salter and Heil have great reports and expected to break through pretty soon, we know Sheriff has qualities and can cut it at the top level in short spells up to now. While our cover may not win trophies no team goes in to the season expecting to have to use their back up and still win honours.

you're wrong on taylor, anybody who saw him regularly last season will tell you he should play every week and I believe he will and will get even better this season, best young pack prospect we've had for many a year and why there were so many twitchy backsides around when he was negotiating a new deal.

not sure why you've got petersen down as a winger, he's a loose man and a fairly bog standard reserve one at that (though he has played the odd game in the centre). As for cover, not sure heil is ready yet but salter could play the odd game as cover and not look out of place in the first team now imho

So Taylor's one of the best forwards in the comp?

He could be but he isn't yet.

never said that I'm not in a position to judge everyone else's players as I only see them live twice a year obviously, I thought we were talking about rovers and he was our best forward last season easily. He'll have more competition this year with paea and an interested clinton but if he carries on his rapid progress he'll be outstanding for us.

Sandy, I thought Scott Wheeldon was our most consistent forward last season; I was baffled when Justin overlooked him at the back end of last season.

Which is my point really. We have 8 players all with Super league experience, with 6 very experienced campaigners vying for 2/4 spots in the squad. O'Hara, Clinton and Paea have all proved at the highest level they can perform, Watts and Taylor are England/Knights squad members after 1 full season and Netherton, Wheeldon and Lovegrove are all proven Super League squad regulars. All in all i'm very happy with our panel of props for this season.

That been said, injuries can not be an excuse this season.

Covering 6 and 7 is always tough, but Withers replacing Fisher gives us a wee bit more flexibility.

1-5 I kind of agree with you, which is why I think Senior is worth considering. Latus is competent and still young and Horne can do a job at centre. If Sherriff recovers from his injury and continues to develop, we'd be no different to most clubs - your cover is Lyne, Turner and Whiting, iirc. Salter seems to be highly rated, going by the club's press. His realistic ambition is just to make his debut this year though.
It is an area we could do with some luck, either avoiding injuries or 1 or 2 kids really kicking on.

Proof of the pudding etc...

I think we have a much better balance in the squad than recent years and so long as the coach can transfer his obvious knowledge of the game into a good set of game plans and the players are united as a squad, I think we will not have a problem in getting in the play offs, or even possibly the top 4.

Fair enough. Your cover in the backs (1-5), excluding rookies is therefore:
Latus
G Horne

Ours is:
Turner
Whiting
Lyne

Not much in it really, as both Horne and Whiting have said they want to play back row IIRC. So we have 2, you have one. Neither is that great a place to be IMO. We do at least have genuine HB cover, albeit unproven at this level, but championship POTY at least. Withers will be your starting hooker I'd imagine, but you do then have 3 hookers vs our 2. I think rotating hookers may be seen less with fewer interchanges.

The forwards is an interesting one with reducing interchanges. Rovers have tonnes of options here, but some may have to play 80 minutes to optimise the collective performance of the competition's most destructive pack. Clinton, Mika, Paea all players that need spelling, of course, and with Galea turning 34 next season, he will probably too. Does O'Hara do the full 80 perhaps. FC are in a worse position unfortunately. I'm happy with our starting pack, and bench, and think we should be able to accommodate Moa's short spells through Andy Lynch's stamina (assuming he stays fit). After that it's a bit ropey though. We can both list player after player who's "getting great raps" in training and being tipped for making a breakthrough, but most of these don't seem to make it, sadly.

I think you're being looked over by fans of the other clubs (and the bookies) because you're a bit of an unknown entity for the new year. Morgan did a lot for you guys with not a lot to work with at times and got you playing to your potential a lot of the time. If the Sandercock doesn't live up to Morgan's standards then you could have a really poor season. If he does, with the squad you've got compared to last year, most people can't see much, if any, significant difference to last year's mid-table finish.

It's a bit opposite at Hull with our new coach, as Agar was that bad that surely anyone must be an improvement!

Tbf, I think that is a Hull FC perspective rather than one that is very widely held. I haven't seen much evidence that fans of other clubs rate your chances highly for next year. I think there is a belief that the new regime might help your club fulfil more of its potential in the medium- to long-term, but I don't think many expect too much from the current team. And, while I don't think many regard Agar as brilliant, they also won't see mid-table as quite the appalling failure Hull fans did, in the last 2 years. His uselessness has been exaggerated, IMO. Which isn't the same as saying he was good, btw.

I think SL will be a bit tighter next year than it was this, but for now, realistically, both KuH clubs are seen as pretenders, rather than contenders - at best. Only success sustained over 2 or 3 years will change that.

Predicting the predictions - I reckon RLW will have you down as 6th and us as 8th. We've done better than they expected every year in SL, iirc. Maybe not 2010, I shall check.

edit - Just checked the odds for next year and the above is about right. Hull 6th favourites at between 16- and 25-1, Rovers 8th at 33- to 40-1 on oddschecker.

Lovegrove has also been training in the centres which I guess is going to mean he will become our back up centre or wide running second rower. After his debut season in 07 he has proved he can be devastating running at centres and full backs while Sandercock has already pointed out his defence is being worked on.

Like I say too, if we were to get both our wingers injured at the same time people like Webster and Latus can cover there while Horne and Lovegrove could go in to the centres. Both those players could probably play in the centres all season and we'd be very difficult to attack out wide due to the size of both those players. And if our full back gets injured we have Hall and Sheriff to go in there who can both do more than just a job.

I honestly do not see a problem with the cover among the backs. If it were an issue I'm sure we'd have done more to offload a prop and brought in cover, someone to replace Cockayne.

Injuries should not be an issue for us next year. The quality of player may not be up there with Warrington and the like but just going on what I have heard the team seem to have bonded better than any of the previous SL seasons which could give us that edge we haven't had before. There does seem to be a feel good factor around the place and this fresh start is just what we needed.

I'm sure most clubs feel optimistic, all signing some decent players who should better what they already had. Think Wakey have a new starting 13 which will be hard to gel in just one off season but that is like having two newly promoted sides that are unknowns. Add to that the amount of signings we have made I have to agree it must be difficult for bookies to put their finger on where we will finish.

Good post Mrs B.all the best to you and fc this year should be a good contest and a good contest is good for all .

ive a good feeling about this year for Rovers but time will tell nothing else.

i'm going for the hull sides to finish 6th and 7th, not sure on shich way round we will finish

Can't see either hull or rovers finishing above 5th this coming season. 6th to 8th more likely

Spot on Jake,a sensible fc fan if ever i read one !

Sorry for butting in - must admit to being suprised at how other fans seem to be writing you off this season before it starts, potentialy i think you have a lot to look forward to (slightly weak in the backs like us, and the signing of Senior could be a bonus to both of us - though most Cas fans would disagree on Senior !

After taking interest in other fans 2012 predictions i feel the fans of some clubs being 'slightly optimistic' to be an 'understatement', in particular that of the Bulls and the Wildcats who are now dead cert's for the play offs (i do believe Widnes/Wildcats fans and teams optimism may see them through the first part of the season for differing reasons but also think the season will take its toll).

I think in the main the Cas faithfull have accepted this year will be at best 8th and down to 11th not a suprise with a poor start down to players still unavailabe whilst recovering from last years injuries and off season surgery.

Injuries to key players at all clubs will have a massive bearing along with the progress of up coming youngsters - some thing we have certainly put a lot of emphasis on.

Hard to predict finishing positions but groups generaly more likely ;

1 Wolves
2 St Helens
3 Wigan
4 Leeds

5 Catalan
6 Hull
7 Giants
8 Hull KR

9 Tigers
10 Bulls
11 London

12 Wildcats
13 Salford
14 Widnes

All the best for the new season ahead

.

Good call I reckon, I would expand to 5-8 in either way.