My starting 17 for the opener versus Cas Tigers:

Sio;

Mantomato, Sami (if he arrives in time) Thornley, Dixon;

Blair, Kelly;

Walker, French John, Allgood;

Lawler, Horne;

Clarkson;

Bench: Green, Tilse, Greenwood & Donaldson


IMO Lawler is in on merit, Donaldson to stint with French John

I think your team looks better then the one Chester will pick, he'll definately play Blair out of position in the second row.

He's got 11 on his back, and was our best back rower (I know, I know) last season. Putting him in the halves would be playing out of position.

IMO it is probably too early but Campo has been in full training for over a week now (read his York Post blog) and I'm wondering if he might make an appearance on Sunday. I'm told he is already on the team sheet for the Wakefield game.
What do you think? is it too much of a gamble?

I would love Campese to be fit but see it as too much of a risk, although Marsh has been very quiet in pre season I believe he deserves a chance in a proper game, and would be seriously undermined if Blair our best second rower was played at 6.
My Team:
Sio
Dixon
Thornley
Minns
Mantellato
Marsh
Kelly
Walker
Boudebza
Green
Blair
Horne
Clarkson

Allgood
Greenwood
Mulhern
Donaldson

Decent team that RRTR

I wouldn't be throwing the new lad in either, no preparation whatsoever remember Wayne Uglia.

I've been told by a reliable source that Cockayne will be full back and Sio on the wing. Can't see Dixon making the team.

Would you be happy with this decision?

So did this reliable source give you the other 15 names?

Campese IMO will be lucky to be back anytime soon . Shame as he is a class ac

No not at all, I'd sticjk with Dixon at full back, but apparently CC wants an 'old head' at full back for the first game.

Sounds like a Chester old pals act to me, I would have Sio full back and Dixon on the wing, but seemingly Dixon seems to be the new scapegoat.

Does Chester actually know his best team?

is this a hunch or do you have any thing concrete to back it up?

If Cockayne is at FB then I can only assume Chester is really feeling the pressure which is a major negative in my book.

What I was told Paul. I always like to see the good players out on the park that's what we fans pay to see. Campese is a class player and what I am led to believe he's struggling.

Is Sio just too quiet to be a regular full-back? Our numbering up at the KC was horrendous. Charlie's the most vocal of our full-back options. Maybe that's what we need right now?

I've heard the same. If it's true.....If.....what the he'll is the coach telling others his team before the players. Why is he telling others his team full stop. Shows the naivety of the man if true.
Second the team is a joke that I've seen but hey ho. We could win but I have Cas by 10 plus maybe a lot more.
Face it folks defence is half this game. Best defence usually wins the league. Ours is likely to be the worst so go figure where we'll finish with this set up.
I hope I'm wrong I really do.

I'm not even sure he knows his best sport

Hit the nail on the head.

From a squad of just 27, one of whom is a 16 yo academy starlet, take away the 4 injured players including Salter, and Chezzie now has just 22 eligible players from which to pick his 19 for Cas.

It might even be easier to name the 3 who won't make the 19. I'll go with Holker, Marsh and Mulhern. The final matchday 17 is anyone's guess as things stand.

What is it with Rovers. We never ever start the season with a full compliment.

Cockayne doesn't make the correct calls in defence he says a lot, but most of it wrong.

Sio isn't the answer, it's another position we haven't addressed.

Dixon should be playing there and interchanging with Mantellato in defence and attack, as we successfully did for a couple of games last year.

I thought Sio was crap at full back and a total waste of his obvious talent keep Dixon there and cockayne wasn't good enough 10 years ago to play full back and before I read another post about our small pack we've got the two tallest props in the league

Ps I see nothing but a comfortable victory on Sunday for us

Sio is the only reliable Full-back at Hull KR .....He has shown that he is capable of pulling off one on one tackles, he has shown that his positioning at Full-back is second to none, he has shown that he is reliable under the high ball and he has shown that he is good at running the ball back ......Sio is the best Full-back at Hull KR .....Any idiot can see this .....Surely!