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.

Don't think it was our sole intention but our main intention.

Maybe the coaching staff think Welham won't be as exposed this season because he'll have a half-back and a second-rower inside him who can actually defend?

Hmmmm. We'll see. I'm yet to be convinced he will ever become a proficient defender. As he turns 27 next season, if he doesn't manage it now he never will. Big season for him.

surely your picking the team on last years form how do you know who will be injured in warm up games, who will play with knocks etc. sean gleeson is in most peoples team yet we now know he wont start against leeds. kostigan,wheyman,keeting,maki,laroyye we dont know how quickly they will adapt to uk conditions

Not forgetting the injured players in edan, berns and horn

1. Eden

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

6. Burns
7. Keating

8. Poore
9. Hodgson
10. A. Walker

11. Larroyer
12. Costigan
13. Langley

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

Lovegrove makes it for me due to his versatility, if we were to take an injury in the backs, Lovegrove provides an option off the bench.

Putting aside 'your' first XIII and 'my' first XIII, I think the announced squad numbers give more than a clue as to who are first choices in the unlikely event of that luxury ever becoming available.

D. Hodgson gets his share of injuries, Hall gets his share of injuries...so in the course of time the relevance of who is first choice will give way to the pressing need of who is available. At any given time it's just as likely neither will be fit as both. For now it's clearly Hodgson.

Larroyer vs Cox is an interesting one. The Frenchman has far less SL experience than Cox despite being 3 years older. Larroyer has scored 10 tries in 23 Super League games which is impressive for a second row man maybe that is what gives him the nod. But Cox used to score 4 tries a game at academy level..........2014 has the signs of being his breakthrough year and unlike Larroyer he is not contracted to another club for 2015.

Lovegrove........rightly or wrongly well down the pecking order in the fantasy of a fully fit Craig Sandercock squad. A Wakefield player tomorrow if they could stump up for his wages......Craig Hall too.

Whatever, happy new year to all Rovers well wishers and thank you to the moderators who provide this platform for us to express our opinions.