i do feel very sorry for the leigh fans. it feels too close to what we have had to go through in the past

doesnt it feel nice to be having a pre season where we can discuss the first team, instead of not knowing if we will actually have a team

I think the levelling out of the central allocations should mean less of a cliff edge for clubs, provided the owner hasn’t gone all in on a bid for promotion. I think we’re in a better position as we’ll get a bigger allocation in 2019 and again in 2020 provided we don’t get relegated.



I think Storton is probably just behind Minchella, Farrell and Garside for a spot. He’s done really well considering he’s had some bad injuries. John Bastian thinks he’ll do really well with the benefit of tough pre season training. He’ll be in the 19 man squad often enough I reckon.

At fullback I think there’ll be some really healthy competition. If McNally can get fully fit he still gets the nod for me.

Pickersgill
Hitchcox
Webster
Gibson
Ryan
Keyes
Chisholm
Crossley
Wildie
magrin
Farrell
Storton
Minchella

Bustin
Peltier
Flanagan
Wood

close call between green and magrin

I would think Crossley will be captain, with my lad vice captain, as it was for last couple of month of this season. Not heard anything that’s just my opinion

in your first 17, would you have your lad at SR or LF?

Top 5 for me this year:

Toronto
Widnes
Toulouse
Halifax
Bradford

I think this year with a fairly stable good team we have a really decent chance teams such as fev and Dewsbury and Sheffield have had massive turnovers of players we have been stable though fev I admit have got the boas brothers they have a young squad and though there forwards look big, playing in the Academy and having Ross Peltier running at you he’ll for leather on a cold rainy February are 2 different things

Sub.

I think he’s better at loose with the freedom it gives him to roam about, but having said that a lot of his tries backing up this season were from 2nd row. I do think he’s a better loose than a 2nd row though

No comparison in my opinion. Green seriously impressed me in the short time he was with us this year. Magrin is solid if unspectacular. Green has a dangerous offloading game as well as some decent mongrel returning the ball. Obviously all about opinion, be a boring place if we all shared the same. I think Bustin will be the one competing with magrin for the 4th prop spot. Be interesting how he steps up to the championship (not that im doubting he can) as all his first team experience has been in league 1 so far

McNally definitely to start the season and hopefully he has better luck with injuries this time. Pickersgill could well be first choice FB by the end of the season.

McNally
Hitchcox
Webster
Gibson
Ryan
Keyes
Chisholm
Crossley
Wildie
Green
Minchella
Storton
Wood

Peltier
Bustin
Farrell
Flanagan

Not as easy as it looks is it!

If Bustin can get fit he'll go really well, he did look a bit overweight at the back end of the year and if I was a halfback or speedy hooker I'd be looking to exploit him in defence as he sometimes plants his feet or is slow getting up and working from marker. Funnily enough it's defence where I think Kirk really shines but he doesn't take the ball up and make yards like Bustin.

I think Green is a real plus off the bench with Peltier. Magrin's steady as you say - I'd have him as 5th choice.

From the thread, we look to have some real depth for a long hard season.

I think Toronto, Toulouse & Widnes are nailed on for the play-offs. I think it will be a fight between us, York, Fev, Fax & Sheffield for the other two spots.

The signings Fev have made look real quality. However they have lost a lot of players and don't seem to have a huge amount signed up (happy to be corrected Fev fans) think their starting 17 can beat anyone, but a few injuries and they may struggle.

Fax are always competitive and always difficult to beat. There seems some frustration on their board at lack of recruitment but i expect them to be there or there abouts

York are riding a crest of a wave and Sheffield look to be gathering a handy team, similar to one thats brought then success in the past.

While last season was a bore, next season looks like its gonna be a cracker.