1. Thomas (only due to Mathers having no game time)
2. Clare
3. Whelam
4. Purtel
5. Williams
6. Gaskell
7. Addy
8. Sidlow
9. AOF
10 Kavanagh
11. Olbison
12. Ferguson
13. Pitts

Bench gets complicated (probably all forwards he will go with based on last season)
14. Walker
15. Haggerty
16. Mellor
17. Luaki

We'll soon find out.

My problem last year was is complete lack of effectiveness for the brief periods he was on the field.

I thought he was more effective against Cas last week, although it's hard to judge considering the standard of opposition. He also did more minutes too as mentioned previously.

I agree though. As well as ideally lasting a bit more, you can excuse 15 minute spells to an extent as long as he makes an impact during it, which he just didn't last year.

Given the squad announced my team would be:
1. Thomas
2. Clare
3. Purtell
4. Welham
5. Caro
6. Gaskell
7. Addy
8. Kavanagh
9. O'Brien
10. Sidlow
11. Olbison
12. Ferguson
13. Pitts

14. Blythe
15. Walker
16. Haggerty
17. Mellor

The two to miss out- Lauaki and Mathers.
However I expect Jimmy to play Mathers at full back instead of Thomas and Lauaki as sub instead of Haggerty.

Yeah, I agree with that, it's just that I'm far from entirely sure that Jimmy does.

Like others have said he looked a bit more aggressive and put more work in against cas in the friendly. Hard to judge based on that but the article in T&A did mention he hadn't had a proper pre season in 3-4 years so maybe this will see him actually put a bit more in.

I don't mind him being used as an impact prop for 10-15 mins. I expect that was the plan last year but he needs to actually make the impact while he's on and should be trying to run though walls whilst he's on.