Ban him

I agree with you.

I think Longy's presence may have been holding Kyle back to some degree although I'm sure Longy will have been unable to resist giving him hints and stuff while he was here. But with Longy gone, Kyle may be able to stamp his presence on the team and be more confident in terms of organising the lads around the park, which is the aspect of his game we haven't seen at first grade yet in spite of the fact that he must have done it in the academy, as you suggest.

Just a word of caution.
We thought the same thing would happen when Luke Robinson replaced Lam.
Luke was much better all round scrum half than either Eastmond or Tomkins, but when push came to shove he couldn't handle it.

I'm not saying Kyle or Sam will fall away in a similar fashion but it is a possibility.

Anyone pciking TP at prop obviously didnt watch any matches last season

What? He was pretty good last season? Sure he didn't do the damage he did running wider and less often in the second row, but when asked he rolled his sleeves up and did the hard work very well IMO.

well yes and no. He is much better in second row imo, but at prop was still our no2 prop last year

True, but Eastmond does seem to have the kahoonahs to step up. His play has a confidence and swagger about it.

I was concerned when he first came through that he just wasn't tough enough, he seemed to limp off injured a lot but always be fit for the week after. Although that sort of thing seems to have gone, we haven't had the luxury of seeing him in many fight scraps of games (although the home game against wigan, were he scored the winner wasn't far off).

Wellens - still reliable
lomax - faster than Gardner, needs more game time
gidley - still class
pryce - more pace in the centres
meli - let's just hope he learns not to be a clown every now and again
wheeler - no point in him sitting on the sidelines for another year, he needs games!
Eastmond - obviously
graham - same
Cunningham - still the master
fozzard
soliola - def will be better in second row
wilkin - needs a big season
roby - good enough to play loose

puletua
fa'asavalu
Moore
clough

I think my 17 would be:

1. Wellens
2. Gardner
3. Gidley
4. Soliola
5. Meli
6. Wheeler
7. Eastmond
8. Hargreaves
9. Cunningham
10. Graham
11. Puletua
12. Wilkin
13. Flannery

14. Roby
15. Fozzard
16. Clough
17. Fa'asavalu

Pryce needs a spell on the sideline to realise that he is supposed to be a Rugby League player. Wheeler cannot do any worse than Pryce did from July onwards. Until he decides he wants to play he shouldn't be in the 17, and even then i'd only consider him for the bench.

Moore/Roby could be on the bench or Flanno could miss out. I don't like the idea of three hookers in a 17 squad though.

He was pretty good last season, but why pick him at prop when everybody recognises he is more dangerous at in the back row???

If needs must because of injuries then so be it, but when we have a fully fit squad to choose from he's got to be the automatic choice for 2nd row.

I'm sure that will be the case. Foz and Carve.... Graham will be our props with Maurie and Hargreaves.

We're still one light.

I am inclined to agree but I think if the Leon thing was going to happen it should have happened last season before the play offs (it might have had we had cover at 6). Potter won't do that from the start of a new season as he won't rely on last years form and unless he has grown a huge set of cojones in 3 months its a none starter. That said if Leon bums around and doesn't have renewed intensity about him in pre-season it certainly wouldn't hurt us/Potter or Leon to have him on the bench a time or two kick him out of the comfort zone. Wheeler should be given another couple of games at 6 as well as first team exposure at centre if we want him to kick on in 2010.

I would love Sia to see at centre but am a bit worried by what i saw in the 4 nations in that i think Potter will see him as another second row. Hopefully he won't though with his size and strength & importantly some good service he would be near impossible to stop 10m out against a lot of teams and in defence the opposition would certainly be wary about whats coming to tackle them.

Like you i've no idea on the 3 hookers, its good to have cover in the squad but unless Roby steps in to try LF there is no point all 3 in a match day 17, but if Roby does play 13 it leaves us with a plethora of second rowers for 2 spots with Clough, Wilkin, Flannery, Puletua & Soliola, Dixon, Ashurst.

On top of that I would certainly like to see more of Lomax in the first team, hopefully a physically improved Frodsham and maybe some of this Magennis chap everyone seems to rave about!