First team expected for this. Looking forward to seeing how the lads all get going.

Walker
Briscoe Watkins Hurrell Handley
Lolohea Myler
Cuthbertson Parcell Singleton
Ferres Ward
Merrin

Dwyer Peteru Crosby Smith Jones-Buchanan Sutcliffe

Furner has already said Ablett misses out due to ankle surgery.
Also no way Cam Smith shouldnt start in our 1st choice BR

Cam won't start ahead of that back row. He will be on the bench and for me that's where he should be all season long. He's got versatility and impact value.

Personally don`t think Watkins will play.

Walker
Briscoe Hurrell Handley Golding
Lolohea Myler
Crosby Parcell Singleton
Ferres Ward
Merrin

Dwyer Peteru Cuthbertson Holroyd Jones-Buchanan Sutcliffe

On the basis that Smith played last week and Holroyd deserves a shot

Agree re Watkins but think Sutcliffe will get the centre berth. Furner is an Aussie, after all, and I think he'll opt for the least-flappable option wherever one exists.

I hope we don't see Merrin wasted at prop. Be interesting to see if Golding plays 1st team or gets sent to Coventry. Given that he can defend and take a high ball, there is an argument for him to take the wing spot outside Hurrell. It's the pack selection which will be the real flag: we're minus Ablett but other than that, we should get to pretty much see what Furner has in mind.

Both will play this week either way with us having a game at Coventry on Friday night and then this one on Sunday.

Of course forgot about that.
Although I would like to see Holroyd play against a decent pack with no offence to Coventry.

For me it's his time to take a regular starting spot in the BR he's ready & playing alongside Merrin & Ward he'll have more than enough to look after him.
The likes of Ablett Ferres & Jjb should be bench/rotation players all are past it.

Not sure what impact Ferres, Ablett or JJB would have off the bench Mark to be honest.

I feel sure Ferres will start in back row with Ward and Merrin to be honest rightly or wrongly.

Personally I've no quibble with Ferres as others have.

My issue with Ferres is we signed an England BR & have ended up with an overweight average bit part player.

yes but to be fair, he looked unlike some to be digging in and havinga go last season, and by all accounst been pretty much fully fit in off season and in good shape. needs a huge, huge season or he is out next year, and even then not sure he will be with us, but needs to pay back the last 2 years.

Ferres wasn't mentioned/rumoured to be available in the closed season like some others, despite being injury-riddled. I can't imagine he's on a low salary so if he's not a starting BR you'd have to question why.
Cam Smith on the bench for me, stepping up to the first 13 when the inevitable injuries to Ward/Merrin/Ferres happen...

Ferres didn’t look fully fit when I saw him with a cast on his arm the other week. He also looked like he still had the odd burger or three.

Ferres is going to have to produce some fantastic performances and consistently too throughout 2019 in order to warrant a new contract.

He will be only too aware of this fact and the ball is now firmly in his court.
IMO there is still a good player there and if he can show this in 2019 then he is going to give Kev and Furner some tough decisions regarding offering him a new deal for 2020 onward

Ferres simply has to re produce the performances and form that he was in when we signed him from Huddersfield (When he was probably England's best back rower) or he will be gone as there are plenty of young and very talented players chomping at the bit behind him currently in the pecking order.