A bit early I know, but I was scribbling down our potential team and it looks very strong indeed!

1. James Woodburn-Hall
2. James Saltonstall
3. Greg Worthington
4. Joe Arundel
5. Lachlan Walmsley
6. Louis Jouffret
7. Joe Keyes
8. Adam Tangata
9. Kyle Wood (starting - the old Ben Kaye role)
10. Dan Murray
11. Matt Garside
12. Matty Gee
13. Jacob Fairbank

That still leaves:
Brandon Moore
Brad Knowles
Titus Gwaze
Cory Aston
Ben Kavanagh
Liam Whitton
Ben Tibbs
Kevin Larroyer
Zack McComb
Elliot Morris
Will Calcott
Ed Barber
Cole Oakley

I'd start Elliot Morris for Tangata and there's Ed Barber missing. But what do we know but it's a bit of fun at this stage

Still think we may have a couple of forwards coming in but for the purposes of fun that looks a reasonable start I think Grix will start Moore and use wood like he used bourouh , I’d also be miffed if I was zac McComb who in many respects played better than worthington this year although I know Grix is a fan of worthington

Anyoos

1 woodburn hall
2 saltonstall
3 McComb
4 arundal
5 walmsley
6 Keyes
7 jouffret
8 Morris
9 Moore
10 tangata
11 gee
12 Kavanagh
13 Fairbank

14 wood
15 Murray
16 knowles
17 gwaze

Theres a reason why we didn't concede that many tries down our left side and also a reason why Salty was probably our top try scorer and had his best season for his. His initials are GW. That said I also think McComb is more than capable of forcing his way in to the team as Ive been really impressed with him and think he got better with every game.

No one as aston in the starting team. He will not just sit out all year.

1 Aston
2 saltonstall
3 Roberts ? or woodburn-hall
4 arundal
5 walmsley
6 Keyes
7 jouffret
8 Morris
9 Moore
10 tangata
11 gee
12 Kavanagh
13 Fairbank

14 wood
15 Murray
16 knowles
17 gwaze

Thing is this time round we have more cover in several positions so for example jwh had a niggling injury after the widnes game and it kept re occurring for the rest a of the season , Grix couldn’t cover because he was covering in the halves . This time you could have either walmsley, whitton or jouffret Aston covering and this goes throughout the squad we have players who can cover a lot of positions.

I’m still hoping for one maybe to two powerful props then I think we will have a complete squad .

Yeah we look a lot better this time around depth wise because as much as the squad players last year tried, as harsh as it is they were not up to playing at this level. For me its the best team we have put together since 2010 so with that comes expectation. Its nice to see the ambition though, you don't finish 3rd, sign these sorts of players, and then not aim for top 2 so that has to be the clear aim. Like last season I thought 3rd was possible but would have taken the top 6, this season I would say less than 4th and a genuine chance to do something in the playoffs would be a disappointment but 2nd and a shot at SL should be possible.

Regarding Aston, he can't fail in a way really. Not many on here would have had him down as a player who could come in and improve our team, me amongst them. It's up to him to prove us wrong. Up The Fax!

1 Walmsley
2 McComb
3 Arundel
4 Worthington
5 Saltonstall
6 Keyes
7 Jouffret
8 Morris
9 Moore
10 Tangata
11 Gee
12 Knowles
13 Fairbank
14 Kavanagh
15 Wood
16 Larroyer
17 Gwaze

So many options though this year, and with potential loan signings to come in
Pressure is on to a certain extent

https://twitter.com/halifaxpanthers/sta ... 89381?s=21 Be interesting to see if the squad numbers reflect the starting 13 .

https://twitter.com/halifaxpanthers/sta ... 89381?s=21 Be interesting to see if the squad numbers reflect the starting 13 .

Some coaches will tell you to not read anything into squad numbers but i think these do tell you a fair bit into simons thinking for at least the start of next season. Form injuries and covid could change all that and some players coming in from huddersfield too.

On the team.
Anyone heard if Alex Walker is staying, going, gone or still undecided?

Not heard anything regarding Walker , given the fact that woodburn hall has been given the no 1 shirt and both walmsley and jouffret can play fb is there a place for him I don’t know , not heard anything about loan deals either , I’m hoping for a couple of forwards because as much as recruitment as been great I’m not convinced our pack is strong enough to compete at the highest level ( I’m also not convinced that joe arundal is 16 1/2 stone ) be interesting to see how our middles compete with bradfords pack on Boxing Day who are usually old school big / fat forwards , I remember Grix saying post Featherstone game ( away game in the league ) his tactic was to move the ball quick to tire out the forwards, I suspect the signings of Keyes , Aston , jouffret, wood along with fit stamina based forwards is all to generate quick play the balls and 2nd phase play , we will see .

Just read this regarding Walker and others https://www.totalrl.com/the-players-sti ... 22-season/

Just read this regarding Walker and others https://www.totalrl.com/the-players-sti ... 22-season/