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.

At the start of the season:
Wellens
Gardner
Gidley
Soliola
Meli
Pryce
Eastmond
Fozzard
Cunningham
Graham
Puletua
Wilkin
Flannery

Roby
Fa'asavalu
Clough
Moore

By end of season:
Wellens
Foster
Gidley
Soliola
Meli
Wheeler
Eastmond
Fozzard
Cunningham
Graham
Puletua
Wilkin
Roby

Moore
Clough
Fa'asavalu
Pryce

We're a bit like GB. Pack looks ok but backs look weak. Only EAstmond and Pryce have any attacking pace

Pryce at 1 could be a great move for us - would allow him to drift in and out.

I would stick Wello in the back row or 13 and allow him to influence from there

6? Well, Id' go for Roby - he has the all round potential to do it.

Pryce
Gardener
Gids
Soliola
Meli
Roby
Kyle

Obviously you're entitled to your opinion but that is ridiculous. Your moving 5 or 6 players to brand new positions.

Leon to FB
Wello to LF
Roby to 6
Flannery to ??
?? to take Roby's spot on the bench

.

Is Leon a better FB than Wellens? No
Is Wello a better LF than Flannery? No
Is Roby a better 6 than Pryce? No
Does Roby have more potential at 6 than Wheeler? No

Not to mention the abundance of backrowers that would leave us with putting Leon at FB.

Wellens
Clough
Wilkin
Flannery
Puletua
Dixon
Ashurst

Wello is still our best fullback but is defo getting near the point that we need to be looking for a new fullback.

IMO this will prob be his last season at fullback as he's just getting to slow which is a shame as he's been top player and still youngish.

I think leon is the ideal man to take over wello as he has everything needed to be top class fullback. With leon being fullback he wouldn't be shut out of the game by teams like he was last year as he'd have more room and would drift in and out of the game which would suite him.

If we could bring a good ball playing 6 in or if wheeler steps up to the mark I'm pretty sure our attack would improve a hell of a lot.

I'd start 2010 with wello at fullback and just see how it goes.

From a neitral point of view (if you're interested), I think this would be your strongest team next year:

Wellens
Lomax
Gidley
Pryce
Meli
Wheeler
Eastmond
Graham
Cunningham
Fozzard
Soliola
Wilkin
Flannery

Puletua
Roby
Faasavalu (sp?)
Clough

That bench has the potential to rip any team apart imo. Forwards are obviously your strong point, but with the youngsters you have cmoing through you can expect big things. I think to be successful you'll have to put Pryce at 6 for some games as a whole season with 2 inexperienced halves could be a bad move. Still can't see you finishing outside top 2.