Interested to hear different peoples team selections for starting 17 this year with so many options. So if fit...

Kearney
Ainscough
Lulia
Purtell
Kear
Sammut
Gale
Kopzack
Diskin
Manakafoa
Whitehead
Elima
Langley

Bench: Scruton, Burgess, Walker, Lestrange

Reserves: Pryce, Donaldson, Hargreaves, Platt, Sykes, Briggs, Olbison, Bateman, Crookes.

Kearney
Pryce
Lulia
Purtell
Kear
Briggs
Gale
Scruton
L'Estrange
Kopzcak
Elima
Whitehead
Langley

Manase, Burgess, Diskin, Bateman

For the Catalans game I'd go with:

Kearney
Kear
Lulia
Purtell
Pryce
Sammut
Gale
Scruton
L'Estrange
Kopzcak
Langley
Walker
Donaldson

Diskin
Burgess
Bateman
Hargreaves

It's their job top keep those places knowing that others will be coming back from injury/suspension.

I'm predicting a BIG season for Scruton and Donaldson.

I wonder of scruton can make the season out without another injury to his wrist, if not he will be the next Jamie Langley injured more than he's on the pitch. I am predicting big things from langers this year. Think Donno will drop off and end up with a new club in 2013..we shall see

If we don't pick up further injuries..

Kearney
Pryce
Purtell
Lulia
Kear
Sammut
Gale (GK)
Scruton
L'Estrange
Kopzcak
Sibbit
Walker
Langley

Donaldson
Diskin
Hargreaves
Burgess


I believe Purtell played most of last year on the right wing and Lulia prefers left centre although he can play on either. Unless Briggs shows something in pre season I would be inclined to partner Sammut with Gale as things stand, although I wouldn't be surprised if Potter goes for a BJ/Gale combo to begin with.

I have gone for experience in the 2nd row with Sibbit, I think he will be more suited against a big tough Catalan pack. Bateman will get opportunities this year, but with a Prop short I don't think we can carry two small 2nd rows on the bench.

The problem with answering this is that we all just know we are going to get more injuries!

Ask me after the Hull game (mind you, somebody will probably get crocked in training that week... )

Surprised that not too many of you putting Sammut in the first 13/17? Why is that?
I would have him in ther somewhere, he is the sort of player that makes things out of nothing.

I'm not going to make any predictions until I've seen all new guys play a couple of games rather than seeing highlight reels. Bit surprised so many are dropping ainscough to accomodate pryce . Would have thought ainscough deserves first shot at a spot and pryce needs to wait until ainscough or kear put in a bad performance before he gets a go.

BK,KP,Chev,Luli,Purt,Samut,Gale,Kop,L'es,Scrut,Oli,White,Langers..Tom,MnM,Diskin,Sibbit/Bateman.

Why does Kear get straight in the team ahead of Pryce.

because from what I've already seen of him in 4 nations and in a couple of games for crusaders he's at least as good a player if not better and has a better attitude. Karls got a lot to prove, particularly with regard to his attitude and poor defense, and I've seen plenty of his games to form an opinion of it. Its down to him to change that opinion through performances. If either Kear or Ainscough arent performing then KP is waiting in wings, pun intended.

Kearney
Ainscough
Purtell
Lulia
Kear
Briggs
Gale (GK)
Kopczak
L'Estrange (C)
Hargreaves
Elima
Whitehead
Langley.

Bench - varies from game to game.


Catalans game (providing no more injuries):

Kearney
Ainscough
Purtell
Lulia (if fit) if not Walker
Kear (if fit) if not Pryce
Briggs
Gale
Hargreaves
L'Estrange (if fit) if not Diskin
Kopczak
Langley
Sibbit
Donaldson

Sammut, Burgess, Bateman, Scruton

both will do for me too, BB2011, tho Scruton and Diskin if fit would pretty much always be on the bench, MnM having played prop and 2nd row is a third choice, the last spot is a bit more dependent on the game. Is Hargreaves as hinted in the TnA article going to be playing longer stints this season?

Scruts and Diskin on bench but if Stranger isn't fit for Catalan game then Diskin obviously has to start. MnM injured for catalan game. And Hargreaves should start because he's not an impact prop but rather a settling prop like Lynch.

No issues with the Cats 17, was referring to the first 17 assuming all players available. which they will not be. TnA article says Sammut cannot be picked as he has not got his visa yet, tho I suspect they are saying that now because they feel its not far off coming