Mid season signings like last season

Yes if a top quality player isn’t available now that’s the right thing to do, they need to be of the same quality as Rhyse Martin and Ava Seumanufagai who were signed mid season.

I think it is a smart option to take, Wakefield have done it for the past few seasons and it has payed off massively waiting for the right quality to come around and mid season not many clubs have any budget or quota left to take the player on - Fifita and Tanginoa spring to mind for us over the past few years. We have 2 quota spots and budget left going into the season.

You've also been lucky that they have "bought into" the club, its ethos and genuinely are fond of your support and the environment provided.

Sometimes you can get the so called "quality and pedigree" but they just are not bothered once the muck and bullets start flying.

Done well with Fifita and Tanginoa, two quality players.

Correct, although attitude is something that Chester talks about as key in a player and them been the right fit for the club so I think a lot of work goes into these signings, he seems to know what he is doing with overseas recruitment. All of our overseas players at the club are the same, the likes of Arona and Tupou - The only one that did not quite work out was Pauli and he was quick to drop him and ship him on. I suppose though there is always an element of uncertainty with bringing any overseas player in.

I've said it a number of times on these boards about overseas signings, yes quality and attitude are high on the must have list but you also need a lot of luck. With the NRL being the only real over seas market (unlike football or even RU) you never know how players and their families will react to moving half way round the world to a game that is called the same but played differently.

Also, for a lot if us SL fans we see very little of the NRL players, often at best the occasional game and highlight reel yet we are quick to slate players for being this or that when we have very little idea what they really are all about.

I remember the signing of Kylie being met with a very luke warm reception yet look how he turned out. Brent Webb was rightly met with great excitement and he fulfilled it. Brett Mullins was also met with excitement but never showed his NRL form, but then rekindled it when he went back to some degree.

Lady luck does play get part.

YEP reporting Leeming will be out for up to six weeks with a knee injury he'd probably miss first 3 rounds.

With our squad pretty much done I don't see us filling the 20 jersey before start of season. Hopefully we don't sustain anymore injuries before season kicks off I personally hope we go with this squad for round 1 against Hull FC

Walker
Evans
Newman
Hurrell
Handley
Lui
Gale
Seumanufagai
Dwyer
Prior
Ward
Martin
Smith.

Subs

Mellor
Myler
Cuthbertson
Oldezki

But how we've lined up in pre season friendly can see Newman on Wing and L.sutcliffe at centre.

I think we'll see Newman on the Wing and Sutcliffe in the centres to be honest. It's no coincidence they have lined up that way in the 2 friendlies. I also think Myler will play a bench role whilst Leeming is out, to be fair Myler and Gale looked pretty good on boxing day, anyway I think the first team will be like this on the 2nd barring any injuries.

1.Walker
2. Newman
3. Sutcliffe
4. Hurrell
5. Handleu
6. Lui
7 Gale
8. Ava
9. Dwyer
10 Prior
11. Martin
12. Ward (C)
13. Smith

Mellor
Myler
Cuthbertson
Oledski

Think starting harry on the wing with sutcliffe at centre would be a mistake. Harry isnt a winger and it does no favours to young players to be used in that way.

Agreed, playing a guy who isn’t a winger outside a guy who isn’t a centre does neither any favours.

Agree, only issue is who do we play on the wing?

Luke Briscoe is apparently back available and could play Sunday at Wigan.

I suspect he will start the season on the wing with Newman back at centre and that will leave a toss up between Liam Sutcliffe and Donaldson for the other bench spot assuming the other 3 subs could be Myler (to cover Dwyer), Oledski and Cuthbo

I think Mellor will be in front of Donaldson for the bench spot

we won a gf with sutcliffe at centre. he is ok there. not great but certainly no rookie