You beat me too it, thats why I put him in instead of Walker. That and I missed the Fax game so haven't seen Walker play yet.



I know what you mean, thought I'd be different though! But also we have second rows that can pull stints as props, Langley and Elima aren't that much smaller than Hargreaves and are better players from what I know. Gives us more cover for different positions with Walker on the bench and then Addy able to move into the halves.

1. Kearney
2. Raynor
3. Ah Van
4. Platt
5. Ainscough
6. Briggs
7. Herbert
8. Lynch
9. L'Estrange
10. Hargreaves
11. Elima
12. Whitehead
13. Langley

14. Diskin
15. Scruton
16. Kopczak
17. Walker/Royston/Sibbitt (Take your pick)

Looks good to me Nothus. It will be interesting to see what Potter comes up with though.

I'd say that is looking a strong and balanced squad. Like you, I'd much prefer Kearney at 1 if we are happy with Briggs -which based on today most folk seem to b.

I'd start with Diskin - use Heath to open up the gaps once the initial war of attrition is out of the way - and not seen enough of Hargreaves yet to conclude whether he's a starter. But I'm sure he WILL be in time regardless.

I'd say its Platt or Walker to start at centre, and whichever one doesn't start is on the bench as your 17. But when you start listing who that leaves out, you start to realise what strength in depth we now have!

Most agreement on the forwards and halfss so always going to be the backs where the discussion is going to be. But what is good to see is that theres no dreams about an aussie superstar back coming in to save us all, just solid discussion of what we have got, signed up and ready to play. My few thoughts without having seen either games are the hooker issue is a real one, and wings - Ainscough may be fast and elusive in attack but defence? So its more horses for courses - as with a loose forward, one game you may want a Langley the next an Addy, depends who you are playing and therefore how you want to play.

I suspect you will be proved dead right there. You hope (and I expect) Potter will have the skill and judgment to decide which tweaks are needed for each match in turn. At least he should have the player pool to do that; last season it was pretty well the main 17 plus the academy, and heaven help us when injuries hit.

Anyone remember the "Mission Impossible" series from the late 1960s/early 1970s? Where, having been given the next Impossible Mission, Peter Graves went through his files on all his team members and selected the ones - taken together - most likely to get the job done? I can sort of see Potter doing the same! Although hopefully nothing will qualify as an "impossible mission"...

Kearney
Raynor
Walker/Platt (who shows up best in the next 2 friendlies)
Ah Van
Finigan
Briggs
Herbert
Lynch
Diskin
Scruton
Whitehead
Elima
Langley

L'Estrange
Hargreaves
Kopzcak
Sibbit

Kearney
Ah Van
Platt
Walker
Raynor
Briggs
Herbert
Scruton
Diskin
Lynch
Elima
Whitehead
Langely

Hargreaves
Koppy
Heath
Addy

Kearney
Raynor
Ah Van
Platt
Ainscough
Briggs
Herbert
Hargreaves
Diskin
Lynch
Elima
Whitehead
Langely

Scruton
Koppy
L'Estrange
Walker

The only difficult decision for me was either Ainscough or Finigan on the wing, Finigan looked the best in the two friendlies but I've gone with Ainscough and Finigan pressurising him for the wing spot. I've also gone with Hargreaves as a starter, his strengths are in defence as he's an absolute rock and I feel we need to be more solid at the start of games this year. I would much prefer to see Scruton coming on as impact and running at tired defences than his energy being used up in defence.

Wow how everyone has just decided to forget about Donaldson this season! I thought he was one of our best/most consistent performers last year until his injury!!

and Ewwenorfolk you can not be serious starting Finnigan ahead of the other people we have in the squad!

thing to remember with donaldson is he's coming back from a serious injury. We dont know yet just how much that will have effected his game. Think in short term addy has probably overtaken him in pecking order and its down to donno to catch up now.

Kearney
Ah Van
Platt
Walker
Raynor
Briggs
Herbert
Scruton
Diskin
Lynch
Elima
Whitehead
Langley

L'estrange
Hargreaves
Sykes
Kopzcak

Ah Van before Ainscough at the start of the season because our first couple of games are really tough and I feel he would be targetted by the opposition.

Diskin to start because he is a calming influence at dummy half and I feel Heath is more effective running at tired defences.

Scruton starting before Hargreaves because he is our pack leader in defence. He often sets the pace of our defensive line and he loves to put a shot on!!

Sykes on the bence because he gives us plenty of options if we get an injury in the back line.

swap sykes for royston, who gives same cover as sykes plus more attacking threat, and I'd go along with that line up initially.