I still don't think he'd be 1st choice 17 mate i agree 100% but as a squad member he could prove valuable especially if we need the like's of kirke to do stint's at prop.

Someone should tell Jamie Jones Buchanan.

As for Worrall, he's squad depth but still played a significant role in a championship season which shows he can do a job.

I don't rate him but i am rarely too vociferous in such negative opinions as I felt even less about JJB up to 2004.

Kirke can prop when all the back rowers are fit.

Our squad has the following forwards (hookers excluded)

Props:
peacock
burgess
bailey
leuluai

second row:
JJB
Lauiti'iti
Kirke
Ablett
Worrall

After that there are acadamy lads who haven't stepped up, such as Ambler and Haley, who I'd expect to take up some of the work-load left by scrutons departure.

I think it looks a little thin, if our general match day squad is 4 props and 4 second rows, although that will change to 2 & 1 when Buderus is back, it doesn't leave us great for injuries of longer than 2 or 3 weeks.

But if we are lucky, and play things right the young lads can come in now when they are not critical and allow some of the senior players to have a rest, whilst getting them experience. When they are needed they can then then call upon some SL experience.

Haley's left for good, I'm lead to believe.

We have Chandler and Hardbottle who look a bit handier than Ambler.

This is the key.

All this arument that we are not short, is purely based on the scenario that most are fit. And indeed, in the unlikely event that we do not get injuries (which we are currently experiencing) then all is fine.

Your argument appears to be that Ablett can play centre, so we dont need anyone else there.

Now its Kirke can play prop if we have a shortage in that postion.

Well straight away you have taken away two of the backrowers, at the same time as Ali is constantly in the training room, and can not be relied upon to be fit.

You then mention about using two players that have not played first team super league, or even come close yet.

God help us if we lose Senior, JJB, Peacock for a few weeks at the same time (which in todays modern game could easily happen), because if we do the ones queriing the squad strength will certainly be proven correct. And the ones showing others taking the place will have their argument put in the bin.

The argument is that Gibson and Watkins will play centre and therefore replace Toopi. This will allow Ablett to move into the forwards, thus replacing Ellis. Buderus will replace Scruton and we will run with a hooker within the substututes. Kirke will get more game time and will cover prop/second row.

If any team lost three players of the calibre of Senior, JJB and Peacock they would struggle.

Which full squad in SL is better equipped than ours?

This thread makes for a worrying read. If Peacock were to get a long term injury I don't think there is enough cover in the squad for us to defend the championship, especially as we can't count on Ellis and Scruton this year and Eastwood has failed to materialise. Thus far we've yet to see the benefit of bringing in another hooker - time will tell if Buderus was a good signing or not.

Even if we do manage to make do with the likes of Kirke filling in this season, we will need new prop forwards for 2010 with Peacock and Leuluai both being the wrong side of 30 (and the latter possibly going to Wigan). At present there do not seem to be any younger players on the verge of stepping up in the prop position, who would be natural or reliable candidates to succeed Peacock and Leuluai.

Add to that the need to replace Senior (assuming one of Watkins and Gibson plays on the right) and probably Smith (maybe Donald too) and GH is going to have to make a serious dip into the transfer market. Of course, it is possible that Gibson and Watkins can play their way into contention to take both centre positions which would be the preferred outcome, but we can't expect every youngster blooded to be an automatic success.

Marvelous. All we need now is the abolition of the salary cap and we can sign players to cover every position should our first choice players get injured.

Until that happens we'll need to carry on with players who can play a secondary position if needed.

Forrards do tu much exercisin nowadays. In my day we used ti train then go an trough double pie n peas washed down wi 7 pints o best bitter an drive 'ome. I cant even have a bluddy pint n drive nar.

Al tell thee summat now. All t injuries are cos theys no bluddy fat on the bodies. When a played mi belly hung donw ovver mi shorts an tother buggahs used to bounce off mi.

Only injury i ever got wor when Fred Paker bit mi bloody ear.

It wor a tough game in them days. non o this bloody poncy lycra.

None.

Look at Saints. Who have they turned to when players were injured? Wheeler, Lomax, Clough & Ashurst. How man of you had heard of those players before this season?

Saints and us continually demonstrate that reliance on youth players to cover injuries and squad depth is the way to go in order to comply with the salary cap and unearth new players.

Despite this, despite the success both clubs have been enjoying fans still question the wisdom of the approach.....

They're the same people who come autumn time will be beating their chest about how appalling it is we don't produce any quality British players and how we're so far behind Australia and NZ.