For the first time in a long while we look strong up front. I was a bit concerned about the lack of mongrel a while back but I think some players have grown up and become less of a soft touch. Take Mikey Wood, he's really come on and puts himself about a bit now.

The central funding allocation in this division makes me really nervous.
I think there are plans to level the funding out a bit but I still get anxious thinking about what we've budgeted for compared to where we actually end up.
You only need to look at Leigh (and ourselves a couple of years ago) to see what can happen when you get it wrong.

im hoping pickersgill gets more games over mcnally
and i want to see more of storton too, he really impressed when he came in towards the end of the season

I think Fev will be in the same group as us Barrow, Dewsbury, Batley, Sheffield and York. Probably the upper end because even though they've lost a few players they're accustomed to this level and have recruited a few decent players too in the Boas brothers.

Poor Leigh look like they're doomed unless they can rustle up a squad from somewhere quick.

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