Strongest team is the 1-17 squad numbers, with one change and that's Sutcliffe for Ward.

Then it's just a matter of who starts, and I'd expect that to be Burrow at hooker and Leuluai at prop, Sinfield & McGuire in the halves.

Yeah I think that's probably what will happen, I just think Sutcliffe needs to be in the halves role more. Doing more of the playmaking and kicking. We play a different game to what we did when we had McGuire at 6, Burrow at 7 and Sinfield at 13 which means the 13 is used much more as a forward than as an extra half. Plus with Sinfield being captain and a senior member of the team he was involved enough in the playmaking/kicking etc wherever he played. Whereas I can see Sutcliffe at 13 just doing tackling and running and not much halfback stuff.
Whereas if he's put in at halfback he'll have to do some.

Fooking heck Burrow to hooker?
He is at best a scrum half he is certainly not a first choice hooker.
Robbie Ward is a better interchange hooker with Aiton.
Sinfield as no other choice at 6 with Burrow or McGuire at 7.
Personally do not think that will send shock waves through our opposition but that is what we have.
1 to 5 speaks for itself.
Cuthbertson and JP as prop
Delaney and Ablett SR
Sutcliffe at Loose
Kylie, Singleton, JJB or Achurch R Ward, Burrow or S Ward warming up the bench

Now that Handley 'looks the part' I would like to see Moon making way in the 'obvious choice' 1 to 5 and being given a good run at SO alongside McGuire/Burrow at SH. (Not gonna happen though I know). If McGuire starts then Burrow as "super sub"; but not vice versa.

Sinfield would be my starting hooker with S.Ward or Sutcliffe being given an extended run at LF.

Achurch should start as right side second row with Ablett of course on t'other side.

A beefed up Delaney would be moved up to prop for me with Cuthbertson (Peacock and JJB should be used sparingly; Mulhern and Singleton given plenty of opportunities either as starting props or on the bench and Kylie trained in water carrying duties.)

A slight over reaction here - Handley played one friendly against the worst side in the top flight and he should now be a starter. The player he is replacing moves to a position where he failed before at two clubs. The person who has played that position his whole career is moved to a position where he has barely played and where the one thing he doesn't want to do - lots of tackling - is required.

Is this a wind up?

It's xmas (and my birthday today) .....lighten up!

I said it aint gonna happen and is only a forum to express ideas. (McDermott beware)

... If Handley/Moon was not to prove successful then you could go back to the boring tried and tested no-quicker-than-a-pair-of pensioners half back paring.

My personal choice would be..
Hardaker
Hall
Moon
Watkins
Briscoe
Sutcliffe
Mcguire
JP
Burrow
Cuthbertson
Ablett
Delaney
Sinfield

Jjb/Walters
Aiton/R.Ward
Singleton/Yates
Mulhern/Leuluai

Ideally i'd have Burrow on the bench but that won't happen and i doubt Sinfield will move back to 13 for Sutty but having both in the 13 makes those positions interchangeable during the game.
For me (although it won't happen) Kylie should be used as back up only we really need to get minutes into Mulhern,Singo and Yates imo.

Personally, I'd now seriously consider moving Sinfield to start at 9 and have Burrow on the bench. Leave Aiton out of the 17 altogether with the ASADA stuff hanging over his head.

Sutcliffe needs to be given his head to go out and play as a half-back, add some running threat that we don't have otherwise.

The team I expect (preferred in brackets):
Hardaker
Hall
Moon
Watkins
Briscoe
Sinfield
Mcguire
Peacock
Aiton
Leuluai (Cuthbertson)
Ablett
Delaney
Cuthbertson (Sutcliffe)

Burrow
Sutcliffe (Leuluai)
JJB
Singleton

If we are short of a prop Yates, Mulhern and Minchella. If a second row Achurch, S Ward and Walters. Backs covered by Handley, Keinhorst and Goulding. Although there are the players at Featherstone but I would prefer them to get regular game time. Robbie Ward for Hooker although I don't mind if Sinfield goes there and Sutcliffe in the halves.
For the people that argue the younger players need more game time I am certain they will get alot the chances are six of the regular team will be injured as they are 30 or older. Alot of players in the squad who are forwards of or playmakers will get a decent amount of game time.

Mcguire to be used as a sub in my book this season

I think a better question would be "What would be our best team for 2016"? Now that's going to take some answering.

I'm still not sure why people think having a ball-player at 13 is still a "traditional" loose forward.

The closest thing to it in SL at the moment is O'Loughlin, but he's the exception. Most teams in SL use an extra ball-carrier at 13 these days.