Not that crazy McLa, if he can bulk up enough in the off season there no reason why he can't be spelled there (85kg to Ade's 94kg), he's a centre by trade anyway so is used to that area of the field, and if what we hear is true his step is bound to be better than Ade's. I expect he'll have closer to 20:20 vision than Ade, was only a cm shorter according to last season's stats. Plus he'll be playing inside one of the best defenders in the team.

In fairness I would've put Armstrong in there given he has already been tried in that position but i'm led to believe he'll be at Widnes next year.

We have tried kids in every other position this year chief and Gardner has hardly been outstanding this year and hasn't shown any signs of improving his game, what's wrong with trying?

The only half-way genuine reason I can see for promoting Foster to the first team is his goal-kicking.

Aside from that - what has he done?

How many games has he played at first grade? IIRC he didn't appear once last year and yet you're suggesting that with a bit of work on the weights he can step in the place of a relatively seasoned pro. Crazy idea. There's every chance he may get a break or force his way into the team and he may do that next year. However I'm not prepared to take that chance on the back of a hunch that extra weight will render him more effective and more game aware than a guy who has played in four consecutive Grand Finals.

I won't argue with the choice of Lomax because he's already shown he has some potential at first grade. If we'd have thrown Lomax in at the start of last year it would also have been crazy. You can't just throw youngsters to the lions especially when the terraces are full of bloodthirsty Romans waiting to jump on who they deem to be the next expendable slave to our cause.

Why on earth are people picking Eastmond, Wheeler and, lord love a duck, Roby ahead of Pryce at number six. Pryce has a dip in form and all of a sudden we're shipping him out to centre or wing (wing ffs!). Wasn't Pryce our top try scorer least year despite not hitting his best form? (He topped our try assists column as well). Absolute madness.

Donk
The Cabbage
Gidley
Wheeler
Franny

Leon Pryce
Kyle Eastmond

Big Red
The King
Fozz
Soliola
TP
Roby

Moore
Clough
Maurie
Bryn/Frodsham/Emmitt/Ashurst/Dixon

I see what you did there

Or not.

Ditto on that 17. However depending on conditions and opponents there may be variations, for example Fozzy starting with Puletua at 13

I expect KC to play a less important role more so as the season progresses, though he will probably still wear the number 9 shirt for symbolic reasons more than anything else.

It would be good for example to utilise KC when there are a number of injuries to key players. His old head would be excellent for steadying the ship and providing direction.

I'm certain that next season we'll see both Wheeler & Lomax fill out and not just make the grade but exceed it.

If Frodsham bulks up in the off-season and is fully fit we might, just might - fingers crossed - be able to cut Bryn loose.

Ideally we need a couple of 'breakthrough' players, too. It'll be like winning the lottery if Foster/Armstrong can exert pressure on Gardner and one of Yates, Dixon, Ashurst & Magennis pops his head above the parapet (probably Magennis)

I agree with the reasoning behind what you are saying but is that not what we have done this year with many of the kids? including Armstrong in a similar position, albeit due to more pressing reasons i.e. Meli being ridiculously stranded at home?

I merely picked Foster based on his reputation as expressed to me by people within the club and his abilities at centre. I find this no more or less crazy than us giving Armstrong the spot in the first 4 games or Wheeler the starting birth on the wing as we did in the following game against Salford. As I stated I would have named Armstrong in my lineup ahead of him based on his showings at the start of this year, but for his allegedly being loaned out.

My comments about Foster's weight etc were put in to suggest that physically his size is similar to Ade's though admittedly he was lighter weight this year, which i believe has been cited as 1 of the reasons he hasn't been used this year since the preseason games. I was by no means suggesting that a bit of gym work could replace years of 1st grade experience, i'm not that naive.

That said TBH I couldn't care less about Ade having four consecutive Grand Final appearances under his belt if he has underperformed in the last 3 and for most of the past season. Bryn has played in 2 consecutive Grand Finals now and many would happily replace him with Frodsham next year providing he grows some. And lest we forget the familiar fact that Rickey Bibey has two challenge cup medals in his collection, the point being that these achievements stand for nowt if their contribution to the team throughout the year is minimal and could potentially be replicated by someone with much less experience.

Published RL weights are, at times, more fiction than fiction. Certainly not to be relied on.

Wellens
Gardner
Gidley
Soliola
Meli
Pryce
Eastmond
Graham
Moore
Puletua
Flannery
Wilkin
Roby

Cunningham
Fa'asavalu
Fozzard
Wheeler/Clough

Wellens
Gardner
Gidley
Soliola
Meli
Eastmond
Moore
Graham
Roby
Fozzard
Flannery
Wilkin
Puletua
Pryce

Cunningham
Fa'asavalu
Clough
Wheeler

Is there some rule change I'm not aware of?

We played with 14 at Cass last year and got away with it, for about 30 seconds.