Bored by the lack of anything rugby league, especially related to Fax, thought it might be interesting to get peoples views especially after the high turnover of players this year. Hopefully as some of the new players become established there'll be some new names pushing themselves forward- my initial choice probably a little conservative as I'll admit to knowing nothing about some players like McComb.
Grix/Woodburn-Hall
Robinson
McComb/Barber
Worthington
Saltonstall
Harris
Robinson
Murray
Moore
Morris
Larroyer
Garside
Fairbank

Springer
Brearley
Jones
Barber/Woodburn-Hall

Slightly different

Woody
Robinson
Barber
Worthington
Ginger
Harris
Robinson
Murray
Moore
Springer
Brearley
Garside
Fairbank

Salty
Jones
Larroyer
Morris

Woody
Robinson
McComb
Worthington
McGrath
Harris
Robinson
Murray
Moore
Springer
Garside
Brearley
Fairbank

Jones
Kavanagh
Morris
Barber

McGrath thanks neil I had a mental block . I went for different styles of wingers 1 bustler type and 1 runner . Salty has all the attributes with quick feet but never kept the fitness level up. The pubs being shut might end up a good thing when some players eventually get back on the park.

Salty not fit? Where's that one come from? Never seen him struggle and late in the game when someone needs to do the hard yards he is the one with his hand up and some of the time twice in one set. I don't see him as a championship centre but I think him and Robinson are our best wingers.

Squad wise our starting 13 is going to be strong and on paper should challenge for the top 4 but the problem is its rare to get the starting 13 on the field and although players like Jones, Morris, Davies twins, Calcott, can all "do a job", if we end up with a few of them in the team then we are looking at a lot lower down the league. Hopefully there is some money spare to pick up some SL cast offs as the season gets nearer.

Absolutely spot on there. As for the starting 17, I'll just be happy to start 2021. Up The Fax!

To be fair GFB, I don't think anyone has huge strength in depth. As soon as you start going passed the 22nd/23rd man of nearly all the squads, you start getting to unknowns, whether it's through their own academy players, or academy players signed from other SL clubs. Dual reg is gone and I don't think they'll be as many loans. With most SL clubs cutting their budgets, and covid still potentially creating fixture pile ups, I don't think many will be keen sending first team players out on loan for 4 weeks. Even then, I'd imagine the lower SL clubs will be at the front of the queue.

Next season really will be a cracker. There's about 6/7 teams with very very strong starting 17s. Even going further down, Dewsbury (who were superb early last season) and Batley, who have the likes of Broughton are tough fixtures. I can't see many fixtures where any of the teams can play badly, and still win. It really will be a cracking season.

Broughton could have a very good season at batley . If he gets clear anywhere uphill it's a try . Personally would have kept him for his pace which makes teams stand back just in case allowing a bit more room . If you know your opposition is quicker than you on a wing you have to totally adjust your positioning for defence .

It's been announced today that all rugby league below SL is to be paused. This means that for Fax and the championship pre season training has been put on hold for two weeks at least. Not what we wanted to hear but hardly surprising in the circumstances we find ourselves regarding the latest lockdown.

The longer the players are furloughed and the rent for the Shay suspended the better the finances will be when we emerge hopefully fully vaccinated and ready to accept supporters to watch sport again. Roll on the next few months
I have had enough of this lockdown lark but in the great scheme of things the end is hopefully on the horizon .

With the start of the season just a couple of weeks away
and some new signings since this topic was started
Interesting to see what your 17 will be now.
I found it quite hard to choose mine.
Some of the players I've left out I want in.
The good thing is we do seem to have a bit of strength in depth.
My team


1 GRIX
2 SALTY
3 WORTHINGTON
4 WOODBURN HALL
Struggled with this, i like W'Hall but there's McCOMB too
5 RAWSTHORNE
6 HARRIS
7 ROBINSON
8 KAVANAGH
9 MOORE
10 MURRAY
11 BREARLEY
12 GARSIDE
13 FAIRBANK

S BUROUGH
S BARBER
S SPRINGER
S HEWITT could have been one of several players for this spot on the bench

Rest of squad
MORRIS  JONES TIBBS LARROYER  CALCOTT McCOMB McGRATH DAVIS X2
  

We are looking a lot stronger in depth now than we wwere and Im confident that we will finish higher than 7th which is where abouts most people have us. I think we could finish as high as 3rd(as long as Toulouse finish the season) if we get lucky with injuries.

One thing that stands out is that not only do we now have quite a big pack, we also have a very mobile pack who can do the minutes that will be needed now the game is a lot faster with the new rules and no scrums. Anyone carrying 20 minute props will get found out this season. Its now getting hard to pick our starting team which is nice and just off the top of my head a pack of Springer, Moore, Murray, Laroyer, Brierley, and Fairbank is up there with the best in the division. our pack won't be as easily dominated as it has been the past couple of seasons which will stand us in good stead.

The first 3 games for us are massive. We really need to win 2 out of 3 of those although I don't think its out of the question been 3 wins out of 3 against 3 teams that people have finishing higher than us.