Think the thing that HKR will have is that they're still used to playing SL opposition and haven't been acclimatized (dragged down) to championship level yet.

Sensei Bull's point is well made but I think if we can make it until the start of the season without financial/off field mishap we'll be ok once we have the cash coming in from regular games.

I don't think our pack is strong enough yet. If you recall, Leigh spent most of the regular season last year with a decimated back line yet a hard, big set of seasoned forwards which pretty much was the beating of all the Champ teams they came up against. They didn't even get their half backs in place until the middle 8's really. Our pack looks to be too small and too young at the moment.

I actually think our pack might do ok, especially when you think about what we were running with for most of last season.

Sidlow, Kavanagh and Joseph are three solid, hard working props who all have SL experience.
Roche put something on his twitter the other day that made me think the rumours are true, so he'll be another solid addition.
I'll admit that Magrin and Peltier are relative unknowns, but surely they will still offer more than Lauaki/Clough/Fleming?

I am a little bit worried about squad depth and there's a shift in quality - shall we say - from the last few squads. But then again the bloated squad approach didn't work.

I liken it to being on a diet. When you're used to piling your plate high of junk and then you're faced with normal portion control of unappetising fare. It can be daunting, but it should be better.

I bloody hope so anyway.

I also have a nagging doubt over the halves, Pryce especially. I fear he'll play a similar number of games as Gaskell. In this scenario it'd be Chisholm and Keyes with no other back-up in case of a ban or injury. That's why I hope Thomas can at least get some game time on dual reg at worst and be kept match fresh as an option.

But then I think how many other squads have more than one or two back up halves? Not many.

Your squad looks pretty decent likewise I'm happy with ours I think we'll be top two comfortably might need a SL club to implode to go up looking forward to a nice big crowd for the opener

Uh-oh. Rervers fan on the board. Expect the FC fans to start squabbling!

Given the quotes around Peltier and how he's basically given up two months income so that he can concentrate on getting into shape just for pre-season, it kind of tells you the mentality of the guy. I don't expect him to go missing when we need some heavy hitting done

I think Peltier could be a real plus. He can't be worse than Lauaki whatever he does.

Losing an international scrum half to hull KR is a big loss

kavanagh did well in the middle tonight for Scotland

Think the season is about survival and nothing else.