singleton is better than moore and griffin for me

It seems to me that McDermott was of the opinion that we should always have our best team out, and that by going through tough times together that would make them stronger. They did ultimately prove that they had the legs for the full season. However, I would expect a bit more rotation this year with JP and Kylie a year older, and singleton a year more mature

I agree, I think he kept picking the same players because we were poor for most of the season and he wanted them players to put it right, If we start better this year (after the wcc) I would expect him to try a few of the youngsters.

I don't think the lack of rotation had anything to do with making them 'battle hardened', I think McDermott's sticking to the same guys had more to do with a lack of confidence in the fringe/young players to do a job. IIRC he and Sinfield said something along the lines of needing to address the lack of quality in the depth of the squad after the GF.

As for Singleton, if we sign Moon (or Tonga) then it will lessen his chances of any game time.
Ablett will return to Loose Forward,
which in turn means Bailey will revert back to Subsitute Prop,
which leaves you with Achurch (if used as prop and not 2nd row), Griffin, Kirke, Moore, Singleton fighting for the 4th prop spot in the 17.

I think the forwards will look like this when/if everybody is fit.
8 - Leuluai
10 - Peacock
11 - JJB
12 - Delaney
13 - Ablett

14 - Subsitute Hooker
15 - Bailey
16 - Achurch
17 - Ward (another season of subsitute back rower for him because he won't be getting near the halfback positions for a while yet unless injuries strike)

That leaves Griffin, Kirke, Moore, Clarkson and Singleton out of the 17. And they might not be everyone's cup of tea but i'd be very surprised if Singleton got picked ahead of Kirke and Griffin if 1 or 2 injuries occur or rests are needed. Might as well try get him out on loan to another SL club if possible.

I'd be surprised if Kylie plays as much as he did last season, and would also be surprised if Achurch walks into the squad as a prop. Also, teams based on injury-free scenarios never really work.

As far as I can see our depth charts (if we sign Moon) are:

Fullback: Hardaker (BJB, Watson)

Wing: Hall, BJB (Watson, Vickery, Chisholm)

Centre: Watkins, Moon (Ablett, Keinhorst, Delaney)

Halfback: Sinfield, McGuire (Burrow, Moon, Ward)

Prop: Peacock, Bailey, Griffin, Leuluai (Kirke, Singleton, Moore, Achurch)

Hooker: Burrow (McShane, Hood)

Backrow: JJB, Ablett, Delaney, Ward (Achurch, Clarkson, Bailey)

____________________

Plenty of combinations available to cover for most injuries or rotations. Can see all of those named above except maybe the reserve wingers getting good gametime.

As above the squad on paper looks good and capable of covering injuries.

Legend

[Year Contract Expires]
OQ – Overseas Quota [Max 5]
NFT – Non-Federation Trained [Max 5]
CT – Club Trained [Min 8]
FT – Federation Trained
K - Goal Kicker
E - Exempt

rlClub Official Twitterrl

Coach Brian McDermott [2013]
Assistant Coach James Lowes
Under 20s Coach Chris Pulme
Under 18s Coach Damien Gibson

OOC 2013
Backs & Halfbacks
rlJamel Chisholmrl; 07/11/92; Wing - CT
Forwards
rlRyan Baileyrl; 11/11/83; Prop/Loose Forward - CT
rlRob Burrowrl; 26/09/82; Hooker/Scrum Half - CT K
rlIan Kirkerl; 26/12/80; Prop/Second Row - FT
Kylie Leuluai; 29/03/78; Prop - OQ
rlBrad Singletonrl; 29/10/92; Prop/Loose Forward - CT

First Team
Backs & Halfbacks
rlLuke Briscoerl; 11/03/94; Stand Off/Fullback [2014] - CT
Ryan Hall; 27/11/87; Wing [2016] - CT
rlZak Hardakerrl; 17/11/91; Fullback/Centre/Wing [2016] - FT K
rlBen Jones Bishoprl; 24/08/88; Wing/Fullback/Centre [2014] - CT
rlJimmy Keinhorstrl; 14/07/90; Centre [2015] - CT
rlDanny McGuirerl; 06/12/82; Stand Off/Scrum Half [2015]- CT
Kevin Sinfield; 12/09/80; Stand Off/Scrum Half/Hooker/Loose Forward [2014] - CT K
rlKallum Watkinsrl; 12/03/91; Centre/Wing/Fullback [2016] - CT
rlJimmy Watsonrl; 09/09/91; Fullback/Wing - CT
Forwards
Carl Ablett; 19/12/85; Second Row/Centre/Loose Forward [2016] - CT
rlMitch Achurchrl; 14/07/88; Prop/Second Row [2016] - NFT E
rlChris Clarksonrl; 07/04/90; Second Row/Loose Forward [2016] - CT
rlBrett Delaneyrl; 26/10/85; Second Row/Centre [2015] - NFT OQ
Darrell Griffin; 19/06/81; Prop [2014] - FT
rlLiam Hoodrl; 06/01/92; Hooker/Scrum Half [2015] - CT K
Jamie Jones Buchanan; 01/08/81; Second Row/Loose Forward [2014] - CT
rlPaul McShanerl; 19/11/89; Hooker [2015] - CT K
rlRichard Moorerl; 02/02/81; Prop [2014] - FT
rlJamie Peacockrl; 14/12/77; Prop [2014] - FT
rlStevie Wardrl; 17/11/93; Loose Forward/Second Row/Stand Off [2017] - CT K

Trialist

Joe Vickery; 29/09/89; Centre/Wing - NFT E

Academy
Backs & Halfbacks
rlJames Duckworthrl; 09/04/94; Wing - CT
rlJoshua Sunleyrl; 22/08/93; Fullback/Wing - CT
Forwards
rlJordan Baldwinsonrl; 10/11/94; Second Row CT
rlAlex Fosterrl; 25/09/93; Second Row/Centre - CT
rlLiam Sutclifferl; 25/11/94; Loose Forward/Stand Off - CT

--------------------

2013

Rumoured - In2013] - FT [Bradford Bulls]rl, rlWillie Tonga; 08/08/83; Centre - NFT OQ [Parramatta Eels]rl, rlJoel Moon; 20/05/1988; Centre/Stand Off/Scrum Half/Second Row/Loose Forward - NFT OQ [Salford City Reds]rl

Ins - Confirmed rlMitch Achurch; 14/07/88; Prop/Second Row [2016] - NFT E [Penrith Panthers]rl
Out - Confirmed rlBrent Webb [Catalan Dragons]rl, rlLuke Ambler [Halifax RL]rl, rlJay Pitts [Hull FC]rl, rlLee Smith [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats]rl, rlWeller Hauraki [Castleford Tigers]rl, rlShaun Lunt [Huddersfield Giants - Loan Return]rl, Daniel Smith [Wynnum Manly Seagulls], Jared Stewart [Newcastle RU].

Under 20s Released Louis Nichol [Wakefield Trinity Wildcats], Colton Roche [Sheffield Eagles], Sean Casey [Barrow Raiders], Aaron Brown [Dewsbury Rams], Mo Agoro [Oldham RLFC], Matty Nicholson [York City Knights], Matty Syron, Danny Bravo [Thirroul Butchers], Jack Pring [South Wales Scorpions], Jay Leary [Castleford Tigers], Ollie Olds, Clayton Stott, Ryan Smith, Douglas Foster, Brad Cox, Luke Teasdale, Gareth Morgan, Jose Kenga, Jake Normington, Ben Finder, Gerry Lee-Pierre.

Does the same apply to Joel Moon?

I'm pretty sure he's not from the Moon... Or Tonga

Not to mention Kevin Dick

And Graham Eccles, he was actually a cake.

Is Ben Jones-Bishop really a Bishop?

Is Jamie Peacock really a Peacock?

Just how deep does this conspiracy to mass fraud go? I think a Newsnight special is called for.

Did someone mention cake?