We were really good at time last year, but still too inconsistent (of course impacted heavily with injuries and COVID again too I think).

If we aren't 10% better across the board this year I'd be disappointed. Full pre-season with pretty much everyone fit, coaching staff able to work on combination properly, new conditioning regime and key positions filled with quality - plus another pre-season into our younger players which they would have to benefit from.

Of course some of the competition will be benefitting in the same ways, and I do think the comp standard will increase a bit this season because more sides look stronger to me. I just think we were particularly badly effected going into 2021 with what happened at the end of 2020, and we have a particularly young team who need time.

For what it's worth I think Thompson is a bit underrated. Saw him have some good games at prop at the back end of last season. Maybe his new "go faster" haircut will take him to the next level. It is worrying though. One more poorly prop and we are in the poop.

Let`s hope Tet has got his tackling technique sorted.

The tank doesn't seem that robust.

Unfortunate for Tommy, he always has an injury in him from what I can see. Hopefully he gets back by round 6/7 as Agar suggests.

I think a lot of it comes to where and how you use Tetevano. For me if you start prior and Mik with Smith at 13 then you can have a bench of Tetevano, Thompson, Dwyer and one other, possibly Mellor.

I think Tetevano for impact and Thompson for steady away is reasonable for interchange. Not perfect but could we worse.

The issue for me is when you start Prior, Mik and Tetevano. Then you have Thompson and you are playing around trying to keep people on the pitch. Two props start, two on the bench. Mellor covers the back row, Bentley can slip into 13 if Smith needs a rest.

Agree if we get another prop injury we will really struggle. Then again if any team lost 2 of the 5 front line props they would struggle. Salary cap means you don’t have as many players as you might like.

I'd say the trouble is that we only really have 4 front line props not 5.