The main things to take out of last night IMO are that Makinson and Gaskell MUST start....Gaskell looked to have beefed up and cruised around the pitch, also gives us the only option of a kicking game...

Well in the off season, I was thinking the same way, but now we know we are not getting one, I'll reserve judgement for the Salford game. It will be my first so, I'll get a better view of what our front row can do.

ps who did we almost sign?

Darrell Griffin.

Edit: Say Darrell over and over again, what a stupid name.

We only have 3 actual, genuine, pukka props in the squad now, which is a little worrying to say the least, particularly as 2 of them were injured all last season pretty much. Our front row rests on a knife edge and if we pick up a few injuries there (as is inevitable) then we could start to struggle badly - we don't have Graham to stick a saddle on and flog to death for 60+ minutes a game every week anymore which is a slightly scary thought at the moment. A vision of Dixon as starting prop in the CC semi starts to haunt me...

We've got 5 senior props in front of Magennis, if their quality was questionable, then Magennis would be higher up said order. Also, check the senior squad, they've added Forster, Hand and Walker, all promising young props to act as back up.
I agree that Magennis would get some games for us, but I feel there's a real danger of him stagnating and turning from someone who seems to have a bit of edge in his game to just an average hard working drone.

**EDIT** I've perhaps neglect that we'll probably be taking 5 props in the matchday squad, so only need one injury for us to need our 6th.
I think my opinion of him is based on the fact he can do some good stuff, but then seems to make a lot of foul ups. I think he'd benifit from being relied on more, which he would be if had a more starts.
I must say that I too have doubts about his physical capacity for the front row.

When you compare our first choice 5 with Wigan and Warrington, there is very little to choose between the teams. Most have 2 or 3 big name props, then a couple of work horses and then the youth team.

I think we would all love a solid front row, but the reality is that the federation ruling has made this less likely as you can only fish in your own pond really. We have 3 of our non-federation players at prop. So basically we have loaded our team in the front row with overseas, probably to give the likes of megennis the time needed to really bulk out to be first choice props when they hit 24/25.