What would your's be? I'll go with the following:-

1 - Wellens
2 - Foster
3 - Shenton
4 - Meli
5 - Mackinson
6 - Gaskell
7 - Lomax
8 - Perry
9 - Roby
10 - Puletua
11 - Soliola
12 - Wilkin
13 - Clough

14 - Hohaia - Good option from the bench, Royce like a back on the bench, plus he can cover at 9
15 - LaFranchi
16 - LMS
17 - Flanagan

Gardener will have to earn his place for me. Foster will start due to his goal kicking, plus he doesn't make anywhere near the same amount of errors that Gardener does. Plus how can you drop Mackinson? I thought he was our MOM at Old Trafford.

Dixon, Mcgennis & Flannery will cover when injuries kick in, and will hold their own, but if all are fit (which would be nice to see for a change) I think these will miss out.

Wheeler, it's a big season for him, when his chance comes, he will have to take it, I thought he was going good last season until he got injured on good friday, that seems to be the same tale every season for him, if he stays injury free, then we will have some very good options in the backs.

Hale will probably play in a few more games to help bring him on, especially now Ashurst has left.

1 - Makinson
2 - Foster
3 - Shenton
4 - Meli
5 - Gardner
6 - Gaskell
7 - Lomax
8 - Laffranchi
9 - Roby
10 - Puletua
11 - Soliola
12 - Wilkin
13 - Clough

14 - Hohaia
15 - Perry
16 - LMS
17 - Flanagan

Wellens, Wheeler, Flannery are all rubbish.

Do we not have any likely lads in the academy in the backs?

On paper it looks as good as this seasons team. But take 7 or 8 out as we had at most times this season and we're goosed.

If I'm picking my team.

Lomax
Makinson
Shenton
Wheeler
Foster
Gaskell
Lance
Perry
Roby
TP
Sia
Wilkin
Laffranchi

Clough
LMS
Flanaghan
Megennis

For me I'd start with this team at my first 17. But I would not be fixed. I think Wheeler should have a chance to make centre his own. If he is found wanting then Meli can step in.

Same for makinson and foster. If they drop of then throw in Ashe and gardner.

Lomax at FB for me or Lance. If they are found wanting in defence then Wellens to cover.

Flanaghan being on the bench gives us the chance to not play roby for 80 minutes. I'd be tempted depending how tight a game is to give him a rest ten minutes either side of half time. Especially at the start of the season as he's going to have a busy international period and also if we don't let any one else near hooker what happens if he gets a knock. We will have not had anyone play competitively at hooker for over a year barr Roby.

I think dixon was excellent at the back end of the year some real strong penetrating runs. So he would rotate into the squad the next week. Same for forester. If injuries allow it will be better to give new guys some minutes each week and let Tp have a week off . then maybe perry etcetc.

Our pack is pretty well covered another prop would make it great for rotation but we'll have to wait and see on that.

ps no need for a back on the bench with three/four halfbacks on the pitch. gaskell/lomax/lance/wheeler.

Also wilkin in the pack with two back row subs allow us to move Wilkin any where in the back line

I'd like to see:

Lomax
Makinson
Shenton
Meli
Foster
Wheeler
Hohaia
Perry
Roby
LMS
Soliola
Flanagan
Wilkin

Laffranchi
Clough
TP
Dixon/Magennis

Wello
Makinson
Shenton
Wheeler
Foster
Gaskell
Lomax
Perry
Roby
TP
Sia
Wilkin
Laffranchi

Lance
Flanagan
Clough
Lms

That would be my safe option.

Makinson
Foster
Shenton (if fit)
Wheeler
Gardner
Gaskell
Lomax
Perry
Roby
Tony P
Wilkin
Flanaghan
Laffranchi

Hohaia
Soliola
Clough
Dixon/Magennis/Wellens/Meli dependant on opponent.

I like the look of the starting 13. The plus with having Soliola and Clough on the bench is the impact Soliola can make. Can also swap him with Tony P regularly.

Won't happen though. Wello will be No1.

It'll be:
Wellens
Gardner
Shenton (hopefully)
Meli
Foster
Gaskell
Lomax
Puletua
Roby
Perry
Laffranchi
Soliola
Wilkin

Hohaia
LMS
Flanagan
Clough

why the doubts about Shenton? Surely a dislocated elbow won't take 4 months recovery

We have 6 props in perry, laffranchi, lms, clough, tp and magennis. Given that Royce likes to play 5 per game, including the loose forward, we really can't afford any injuries. I hope we can rotate them like we managed to do in 2006, and try to keep them fresh. I really do think we need at least one more to add to this six of we are seriously going to compete.

fantastic team and as a bulls fan I think you will do a lot next year

I think people want another prop because Laffranchi is not really a prop and Magennis is starting to become a prop from second row.

For me I'd like another prop so we have fiveproper props and Magennis and Forester could rotate into that team of five. So lafranchi playing loose and 2 props on the field 2 props subbing + a young prop on the bench.1 prop resting each week. But maybe not rotating for key cip games and the playoffs.

Same for the back rowers.

Sia and Wilkin second rowers lafranchi loose with flangahn on the bench. But rotate that quartet with dixon and flannery et al.

And really from the props listed above only perry and Lms are out and out props. The rest are or was backrows.

I do feel we need a good rough prop to finish of a pretty good pack. He don't have to be a world beater but acgood hard working rough prop would be ideal.

It's one of the worst injuries an RL player could suffer. As mentioned on an earlier thread, if it is the arm he uses to fend he may not even be able to come back.

He'll defo be back as it will heal but how he plays is another thing.