I agree with most of that, but I think our backline is our weakest place at the moment. Kear is a very underrated player and Kearney when on form can be one of the best fullbacks in the league. Jamie Foster similarly, when on form, can be excellent, but he does seem to disappear a bit when his centre isn't doing anything for him. The rest I think are either a poor quality (Purtell), unproven/gambles (Henry / George), or kids (Wood / potentially Saltonstall).
It looks to me like we need the likes of Foster, Henry and Purtell to shine to make our back line look any good. I certainly think we still have the problem of having centres who will run the ball in hard, but don't have a tendency to put a winger away. Unless Henry turns out to be a sensation of course.

Hooker is also somewhere that's going to depend a lot on how well O'Brien steps up, as to how much we miss Heath.

The halves and the rest of the forwards though, as the squads stands, I agree, I'm very happy with.

Robbie/Henry/Deacs have forgot Robbie/Henry/Deacs. Come on that was at least 2 (Bradford fans) lives ago.

There's also Blythe in the right centre who's a genuinely good player. I grant you it's hit and miss but far from the worst we've seen.

What about Jeffries/Gale/Sammut in 2012?

Agree we need Henry to be a successful signing. Hopefully he'll be more like Lulia than Platt/Sykes.

A lot rests on O'Brien this year too.

Blythe I thought about, but it's not completely clear where he'll play. With more options in the centres, Blythe may end up in the second row (which he's played a bit of for us already). If he does play centre, I agree, he's a good player. But he probably falls into that category of the strong running centre that will make hard yards and power over from near the line, but won't necessarily create space and put a winger away.

Injuries will probably dictate where Blythe plays. I suppose we should be grateful for his versatility.
I'm thinking that FC is more likely to start with Purtell in the centres, if only to try and get his money's worth.

That was my thinking too. Purtell and Henry are likely to be our first choice centres, at least at first. I wouldn't be surprised to see Blythe in the second row, especially with Winterstein no longer an option. I think that may be his best position anyway.

I thought Blythe looked good in the second row in the few games I got to see. What swap him into the second row and Addy to loose from the previous team sheet. Think that would also take pressure off O'Brien with Addy at loose rather than Chev.

I'd forgot Gale was even there.

A common complaint!

Would be happier with addy at loose and Donno in the 2nd just to give us the option and on other kicking game.

Can't Henry also play at 6 sure I heard this elsewhere?

Yeah he's played in the halves before, not sure how many times or how successful he was though.
But with Gale, Sammut, Gaskell, Addy and even Kearney all capable of playing there, I'd say we'd have to be in some serious trouble injury wise before we see Henry at 6.

Agree with above I doubt we'll need to utilise Henry as a halfback. And if Purtell is selected at centre I would still want Blythe in the 17 - he runs the ball very hard.

They said the same about Ah Van when he first turned up over here.

Kearney, Kear, Blythe, Henry, Foster, Gaskell, Sammut, Scruton, Diskin, Carvell, Ferguson, Walker, Addy is what I would choose.


I think it will be more like this though.

Kearney, Kear, Blythe, Henry, Foster, Gaskell, Gale, Scruton, Disk in, Manese, Ferguson, Olbison, Walker