Quote: Barrie’s Glass Eye "McDonnell has been good but I’d want him to back his form up for a bit this year. We are loaded in the back row and it’ll be interested to see which way we go. McDonnell, Bentley, Martin, Gannon all vying for two spots.
For me McDonnell and Martin start.
Sangare
Lisone
Hooker (likely Johnson but if a new 9 comes in JOC)
Goudemand (will cover 13 but also play elsewhere).
I don’t see us regularly carrying another back row on the bench when everyone is fit.'"
Martin is arguably best goal kicker in the league so always starts and plays mainly 80 minutes, but I suspect he will spell st centre with Roberts and Simpson for when Newman is inevitably injured or banned. McDonnell head and shoulders better than Bentley, Gannon needs time to develop a bit more after hardly playing last season, so comes of the bench. Bentley for me would be first choice 17, but I wouldn’t have resigned him full stop. Ruane in the mix as well we are stacked in back row